Those unexpected happenings and occurrences are rarely to be welcomed. This past week has been one of enormous frustration and anger for the people of Brixham and the surrounding area, who never would have thought their water supply would be so badly restricted.
At the start of last week, people began reporting that the water was tasting funny and that they and their families had fallen ill, in some cases seriously so. The complaints that reached South West Water were dismissed initially and even when the investigation began there was still a call from the water company that the water was safe to drink. Only twenty-four hours after the investigation began were forty thousand people, at last, placed under a “boil water notice”.
The fault, which was relatively quickly identified as a damaged air valve, had allowed Cryptosporidium to enter the water source and contaminate the supply. While South West Water management oscillated, the remarkable speed at which bottled water stations were opened and began serving residents was a remarkable sight to behold, showing what can be achieved when organisations are forced to act.
Over two hundred engineers and contractors descended onto South Devon to isolate the contamination and check the local water sources. Quite quickly it became apparent that Alston reservoir was in the clear, and after rigorous testing and independent verification of the water quality, on Saturday South West Water was able to lift the “boil water notice” and therefore allow some 32,000 residents to return to using their water supply. Unfortunately, the 8,000 properties within the Hillhead supply area have remained under these restrictions as the system is emptied, flushed, cleaned, refilled and extensively tested.
The impact on the community has been palpable. People are now even more distrusting of water companies and their drinking water. Serious questions must be asked about South West Water’s handling, from their initial denial and poor ongoing communication, to how a broken part of their system could remain unnoticed for any significant length of time.
Over the past week, I have been working extensively with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and the Environment Agency, as well as local and national health organisations, to ensure residents are supported and the investigation can begin as soon as possible to reveal what has taken place, and to ensure that those responsible are held to account.
For the residents and businesses of Brixham, it has been a devastating week. The national focus on our great coastal community has seen tourists stay away, bookings cancelled and reservations deferred. Already, economic data shows a huge decline in local business transactions. While the compensation to residents is to be welcomed, there will need to be a significant and meaningful offer to businesses. South West Water has made it clear that they will consider compensation claims on a case-by-case basis, but we shall have to see what this means in practice and whether businesses are satisfied.
Furthermore, the reputational damage to Brixham has been significant and that too should come at a cost for South West Water. However, from my point of view, it is essential we now transition from this period of crisis to showing that the town and its businesses are open and welcoming to residents and visitors alike. Businesses have adapted quickly and we must make the case at a national level that our beloved town will require the support of people across the country in its moment of need, to come and help make up for this costly week.
Unforeseen events such as this do show the character of a community. Throughout last week and the weekend I saw extraordinary community spirit in which neighbours helped one another, humour abounded and residents took the week’s event in their stride. It is moments like these that define a community, and Brixham once again showed itself to be a kind, compassionate and welcoming place, even in the face of illness and anger.