The boss of South West Water has issued a groveling apology after contaminated water caused dozens of customers to suffer from diarrhea and vomiting.
Susan Davey, chief executive of South West Water, said she was “very sorry that this had to happen” after 17,000 homes in Brixham, Devon, were ordered to boil their drinking water at the continuation of 46 cases of cryptosporidium.
In a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, Ms Davey apologized directly to those affected by the infected water tank.
She said: “You expect a clean, safe water supply. It’s not a lot to ask, but for those in the Brixham area, we haven’t been able to meet those expectations and I’m sorry.
The CEO, who took home a salary of more than half a million last year, tried to reassure customers by saying it is “fortunately very rare” for drinking water to be contaminated with bacteria which can be captured by the stool.
Susan Davey, chief executive of South West Water, said she was “very sorry that this had to happen” after 17,000 homes in Brixham, Devon, were ordered to boil their drinking water at the continuation of 46 cases of cryptosporidium.
In a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, Ms Davey apologized directly to those affected by the infected water tank. She said: “You expect a clean, safe water supply. This is not a lot to ask, but for those in the Brixham area we have not been able to provide this and I am sorry for that.
Cryptosporidiosis is caused by a tiny parasite and can cause vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea that can last for a fortnight.
Brixham and surrounding areas have had to boil their drinking water. On Saturday afternoon, boil-before-drinking warnings were lifted in 14,500 homes, in effect since last Wednesday. Currently, 2,500 households do not have access to drinking water
Ms Davey then admitted the contamination “should not have happened”.
She said: “Our engineers and specialists are working around the clock to find and resolve the problem.
“And we are making good progress. Bottled water was delivered to customers’ homes, businesses and schools.
Ms Davey reassured customers that the private water company, which provides water to more than a million customers, “will not stop operating until drinking water is restored to everyone”.
On Saturday afternoon, boil-before-drinking warnings were lifted in 14,500 homes, in effect since last Wednesday.
Currently, 2,500 households must continue to boil their water before drinking it.
Cryptosporidiosis is caused by a tiny parasite and can cause vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea that can last for a fortnight.
The CEO, who took home a salary of more than half a million last year, tried to reassure customers that it is “fortunately very rare” for drinking water to be contaminated with bacteria which can be caught in the stool.
Ms Davey told South West Water: “We are making good progress. Bottled water was delivered to customers’ homes, businesses and schools.
The number of reported cases is expected to increase from the current 46 cases due to a delay in the onset of symptoms in patients. Sky News reports that more than 100 people in the area reported symptoms yesterday.
South West Water believes the parasite may have entered the water supply through a damaged pipe running through a field containing animal droppings.
Ms Davey, 55, lives in a large house in Devon bought for around £560,000 more than 15 years ago, around 30 miles from the affected area.
Alongside other water bosses, Ms Davy gave up her six-figure bonus amid public and political anger over the dumping of sewage into the country’s waterways.
Ms Davy still took home £543,000 for the 2022/23 financial year. A year earlier, she received £1.53 million, including a bonus of £968,000. And his net salary for 2020/21 was £1.93 million.
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