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70,000 given boil water warning Bacteria probed after water alert
(about 9 hours 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. An investigation into the cause of bacteria in water supplies to parts of two north Wales counties is continuing, a water company has said.
Customers in areas of Flintshire and Denbighshire supplied by the Alwen treatment works are affected. About 70,000 households and businesses in areas of Flintshire and Denbighshire are being advised to boil their drinking water until further notice.
Welsh Water issued the precautionary notice following routine tests. Customers supplied by the Alwen treatment works are affected.
Delyn AM Sandy Mewies will ask an urgent question in the Welsh assembly later, urging the environment minister to make a statement. Welsh Water issued the precautionary notice to boil any tap water following routine tests.
People have been told to boil any tap water used for drinking or food preparation until further notice. The company said a further update on the situation would be provided at 1000 BST on Thursday.
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. A spokesperson for Welsh Water said: "We apologise for the inconvenience caused to our customers and assure them that we are doing all we can to resolve this issue as quickly as possible, so that the Boil Water Notice can be removed."
Delyn AM Sandy Mewies asked an urgent question in the Welsh assembly, and wants "assurances that action will be taken to prevent future contamination".
Mrs Mewies asked Environment Minister Jane Davies to outline what was being done by Welsh Water to restore supplies as quickly as possible.
Mrs Mewies said she had spoken to Welsh Water and it was "working hard to contain and resolve this issue".
"But it will be a cause for concern to everyone affected and they must be assured that everything is being done, particularly as I understand some areas which are affected have not been clearly identified this morning and that in recent months there have been a number of similar problems in north Wales."
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."
Clwyd West Conservative AM Darren Millar said: "I am disappointed that this is yet another serious water quality issue affecting people in north Wales.Clwyd West Conservative AM Darren Millar 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.
Welsh Water vans have broadcast advice in affected areas
"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.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.