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70,000 given boil water warning 70,000 given boil water warning
(41 minutes later)
About 70,000 households and businesses in two north Wales counties are being advised to boil their drinking water after bacteria were found in supplies.About 70,000 households and businesses in two north Wales counties are being advised to boil their drinking water after bacteria were found in supplies.
Customers in areas of Flintshire and Denbighshire supplied by the Alwen treatment works are affected.Customers in areas of Flintshire and Denbighshire supplied by the Alwen treatment works are affected.
Welsh Water issued the precautionary notice following routine tests.Welsh Water issued the precautionary notice following routine tests.
Delyn AM Sandy Mewies wants an assembly government statement and Clwyd West AM Darren Millar voiced concerns about new water problems in north Wales.Delyn AM Sandy Mewies wants an assembly government statement and Clwyd West AM Darren Millar voiced concerns about new water problems in north Wales.
People have been told to boil any tap water used for drinking or food preparation until further notice.People have been told to boil any tap water used for drinking or food preparation until further notice.
Labour AM Mrs Mewies said: "I am hoping that the assembly government will be able to give a statement outlining the position and the steps being taken to resolve it.Labour AM Mrs Mewies said: "I am hoping that the assembly government will be able to give a statement outlining the position and the steps being taken to resolve it.
She said Welsh Water had acted quickly, "but customers will want supplies to return to normal quickly and will want assurances over the safety of their water."She said Welsh Water had acted quickly, "but customers will want supplies to return to normal quickly and will want assurances over the safety of their water."
Mr Millar, a Conservative, said: "I am disappointed that this is yet another serious water quality issue affecting people in north Wales.Mr Millar, a Conservative, said: "I am disappointed that this is yet another serious water quality issue affecting people in north Wales.
"This is despite recent increases in water prices where consumers were told this would safeguard and improve water quality.""This is despite recent increases in water prices where consumers were told this would safeguard and improve water quality."
Tim Masters, from Welsh Water, said the company detected the bacteria in water supplies.Tim Masters, from Welsh Water, said the company detected the bacteria in water supplies.
"It's a species of bacteria called coliform, and they're generally present in the environment around us, but they shouldn't be found in water supplies."It's a species of bacteria called coliform, and they're generally present in the environment around us, but they shouldn't be found in water supplies.
"We had some information from some samples that we took that we were finding them in the water."We had some information from some samples that we took that we were finding them in the water.
"So, until we identify why they're there and what the cause of them is, we're just taking a precautionary, prudent approach and advising customers in the areas affected to boil their water," he said."So, until we identify why they're there and what the cause of them is, we're just taking a precautionary, prudent approach and advising customers in the areas affected to boil their water," he said.
Necessary precautionsNecessary precautions
Customers should boil all drinking water and water used for brushing their teeth, he added.Customers should boil all drinking water and water used for brushing their teeth, he added.
The company is writing to all customers affected by the boiling advice and will also keep its website updated.The company is writing to all customers affected by the boiling advice and will also keep its website updated.
Vans with loud hailers are touring areas with large centres of population.
In a statement it said people with special medical needs will be supplied with bottled water.In a statement it said people with special medical needs will be supplied with bottled water.
The company said it was working with the local authorities to ensure hospitals, nursing homes, food manufacturers and educational establishments affected are notified and able to take the necessary precautions.The company said it was working with the local authorities to ensure hospitals, nursing homes, food manufacturers and educational establishments affected are notified and able to take the necessary precautions.
"We are making every effort to find the source of the contamination and are undertaking extensive further water sampling in the affected areas so that we can restore supplies back to normal as quickly as we are able," the statement said."We are making every effort to find the source of the contamination and are undertaking extensive further water sampling in the affected areas so that we can restore supplies back to normal as quickly as we are able," the statement said.
There is no evidence that anyone has any illness as a result of drinking the water and so it is not being treated as a public health incident, it addedThere is no evidence that anyone has any illness as a result of drinking the water and so it is not being treated as a public health incident, it added
The National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHSW) has been informed and will maintain close surveillance of the population affected to monitor for any illness.The National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHSW) has been informed and will maintain close surveillance of the population affected to monitor for any illness.
This is the updated list issued by Welsh Water of towns and villages affected by the advice:This is the updated list issued by Welsh Water of towns and villages affected by the advice:
Afonwen, Babell, Bagillt, Bodfari, Betws Gwerfyl Goch, Bryn Eglwys, Brynford, Bryn y Baal, Buckley, Cadole, Caerwys, Carmel, Cefn Meiriadog, Cilcain, Clawddnewydd, Clocaenog, Corwen, Cyffylliog, Cynwyd,Afonwen, Babell, Bagillt, Bodfari, Betws Gwerfyl Goch, Bryn Eglwys, Brynford, Bryn y Baal, Buckley, Cadole, Caerwys, Carmel, Cefn Meiriadog, Cilcain, Clawddnewydd, Clocaenog, Corwen, Cyffylliog, Cynwyd,
Denbigh, Derwen, Derwydd, Efenechtyd, Eryrys, Ewloe, Flint, Ffynnongroyw, Glyndyfrdwy, Graigfechan, Greenfield, Gronant, Gwernaffield, Gwernymynydd, Gwespyr, Gwyddelwern, Halkyn, Henllan, Holywell,Denbigh, Derwen, Derwydd, Efenechtyd, Eryrys, Ewloe, Flint, Ffynnongroyw, Glyndyfrdwy, Graigfechan, Greenfield, Gronant, Gwernaffield, Gwernymynydd, Gwespyr, Gwyddelwern, Halkyn, Henllan, Holywell,
Lixwm, Llanarmon-yn-Ial, Llanasa, Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd, Llandegla, Llandrillo, Llandyrnog, Llanefydd, Llanelidan, Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, Llanferres, Llanfihangel Glyn Myrfyr, Llanfwrog, Llangwyfan, Llanrhaeadr, Llansannan,Lixwm, Llanarmon-yn-Ial, Llanasa, Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd, Llandegla, Llandrillo, Llandyrnog, Llanefydd, Llanelidan, Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, Llanferres, Llanfihangel Glyn Myrfyr, Llanfwrog, Llangwyfan, Llanrhaeadr, Llansannan,
Melin-y-wig, Mold Town, Mostyn, Mynydd Isa, Nannerch, Nercwys, Northop, Oakenholt, Pantymwyn, Pentrecelyn, Pentrellyncymmer, Pwllglas, Rhes-y-cae, Rhosesmor, Rhydymwyn, Ruthin, Sychdyn, Talacre, Trelawnyd, Upper Connah's Quay, Whitford, Ysceifiog.Melin-y-wig, Mold Town, Mostyn, Mynydd Isa, Nannerch, Nercwys, Northop, Oakenholt, Pantymwyn, Pentrecelyn, Pentrellyncymmer, Pwllglas, Rhes-y-cae, Rhosesmor, Rhydymwyn, Ruthin, Sychdyn, Talacre, Trelawnyd, Upper Connah's Quay, Whitford, Ysceifiog.
This is the latest problem to affect Welsh Water's supplies in the north of the country over the last few years.This is the latest problem to affect Welsh Water's supplies in the north of the country over the last few years.
Last August and September there were separate boil water warnings issued for customers in areas of Bangor, Gwynedd, and in parts of Anglesey.Last August and September there were separate boil water warnings issued for customers in areas of Bangor, Gwynedd, and in parts of Anglesey.
In November 2005 a total of 231 people were left ill in Gwynedd and Anglesey after cryptosporidium affected a Snowdonia reservoir.In November 2005 a total of 231 people were left ill in Gwynedd and Anglesey after cryptosporidium affected a Snowdonia reservoir.
The water company, which is implementing a £150m programme to improve treatment works, was fined £50,000 after admitting supplying unfit water in that case.The water company, which is implementing a £150m programme to improve treatment works, was fined £50,000 after admitting supplying unfit water in that case.