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| Bloodworms found in water supply | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| People in Oban have complained to Scottish Water after finding midge larvae in their drinking supply. | |
| Customers claim about two or three of the tiny organisms, up to 6mm long, are being found in every glass of water. | Customers claim about two or three of the tiny organisms, up to 6mm long, are being found in every glass of water. |
| The problem occurred after a large amount of the larvae clogged a filter at the local reservoir. | |
| Scottish Water said the creatures, known as bloodworms, are harmless and it has added a backwash of chlorine to the supply to stop them from breeding. | |
| Up to 30 customers in parts of Oban have contacted Scottish Water in recent days querying the quality of their drinking water. | |
| What they've started to do is cluster together into balls and it's very, very easy to see balls of 20 or 30 of these. Scott Hetheringtonresident | |
| Local resident Scott Hetherington, 35, said the worms were difficult to see. | |
| "In a glass of water they are very, very difficult to spot," he said. | |
| "In the quantities they're coming through, what they've started to do is cluster together into balls and it's very, very easy to see balls of 20 or 30 of these. | |
| "It is still a serious problem and Scottish Water are not informing their customers at all." | |
| Some residents have been offered bottle water until the problem improves. | Some residents have been offered bottle water until the problem improves. |
| No risk | |
| Scottish Water said it had taken samples from the homes of all those who have complained. | Scottish Water said it had taken samples from the homes of all those who have complained. |
| Regional manager Steven Fraser said: "The particles in the water are the larvae of midges. | Regional manager Steven Fraser said: "The particles in the water are the larvae of midges. |
| "Normally these are filtered out at the treatment works but an abnormal amount appears to have clogged one of our filters, allowing some to enter the supply." | "Normally these are filtered out at the treatment works but an abnormal amount appears to have clogged one of our filters, allowing some to enter the supply." |
| Mr Fraser apologised for any stress it had caused customers but said it was an "aesthetic issue" and there was no risk to health. | Mr Fraser apologised for any stress it had caused customers but said it was an "aesthetic issue" and there was no risk to health. |
| Scottish Water said it has increased the frequency of filter cleaning and they are confident the problem won't happen again. |