All the dangerous pathogens that could be hiding in tap water – as hundreds of people fall ill in Devon’s ‘cryptocrisis’

The whole of the UK is currently at risk from the nasty virus that has infiltrated tap water in Devonwarned an expert.

People in the area are experiencing severe symptoms after Cryptosporidium, also called crypto, was found in the water supply.

The waterborne parasite can cause diarrhea and violent vomiting for weeks and can be transmitted from person to person.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is investigating 46 cases of virus infections in South Devon, and hundreds more are feared to be ill.

Local residents were urged to “not drink” tap water without boiling it.

Experts have warned that further outbreaks of the virus could emerge in other parts of the UK if infected people carry the virus away from Devon.

So how safe is the water in your area?

There is no geographic data available for detections of Cryptosporidium in UK water supplies, but there is data for other potentially dangerous pathogens.

As part of an annual investigation carried out by the Government Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), investigators found that 34 E. coli and Enterococci breaches occurred in England and Wales in 2021.

The agency sets safe limits for each substance – for E. coli and Enterococci, this limit was 0, meaning no traces should be found in drinking water.

Both are types of bacteria that indicate that water has been contaminated by feces, which can make humans and animals very sick.

The data shows that twelve breaches were recorded in the North West area served by Severn Trent Water.

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Next came Anglian Water in the east of England, which recorded six breaches, while Northumbrian, Essex and Suffolk Water had four.

Figures show that at least 5,577 Brits drank water contaminated with faecal matter in 2022.

Professor Paul Hunter, from the University of East Anglia, who has advised the World Health Organization on drinking water standards, told MailOnline that these pathogens are unlikely to make people sick, but point to contamination of water sources. water.

“They are generally not dangerous in and of themselves, but are an indication that the water may have been contaminated by fecal matter,” he said.

“There are some types of E.coli that can cause potentially serious diarrhea, but the most common type often does not test positive, even if it is present.

“Therefore, the presence of an E.coli or Enterococcus indicator does not mean that disease-causing bacteria are present, just that we cannot say they are absent.

“You could probably drink water with some indicator bacteria in it without getting sick.”

He highlighted that, in general, UK tap water is very safe – demonstrated by the fact that only 27 tests have come back positive out of 150,000 or so carried out.

What else was found in tap water?

Exposure to the metal, known as arsenic poisoning, is believed to cause cancer in the body. bladder and lungs.

Researchers also found dangerous levels of aluminum, which — if exposed in high amounts — may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s, some studies suggest.

High levels of other metals, including iron, lead and nickel, have also been found in the water supply.

Drinking water containing high levels of copper can cause stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

However, iron – which has also been found in some drinking water at levels above acceptable levels – is part of a well-balanced diet.

It produces red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. Iron also plays an important role in brain development, fighting infections, and growth.

However, too much iron can be bad for you and consuming more than 20 mg per day can leave you with a stomach ache.

Lead, also detected in some samples, is known to negatively affect brain development in children, affecting their IQ later in life.

In adults, heavy metal poisoning can also cause heart and kidney disease and high blood pressure.

Drinking large amounts of nickel, which has been detected in several water samples, can cause skin irritation.

Nitrites are naturally occurring chemical compounds.

But consuming too much nitrite can be harmful, especially for babies.

Investigators said some water samples showed higher than acceptable levels of the compound.

Excessive intake can trigger a condition called methemoglobinemia, also called blue baby syndrome, in very young children.

This is a potentially fatal disease in which nitrites are converted to nitrites in the child’s intestine and interfere with the absorption of oxygen into the blood.

Cryptosporidium is a parasite that can live in the intestines and feces of infected humans and animals.

It can be spread directly from another person or animal by touching their feces.

The insect can also spread by swimming or consuming contaminated water and food.

Professor Paul told the Sun that tourists in Devon could spread the disease to other parts of the UK.

“The infection can also spread if visitors drink the water while in the area.

“A classic theme in the past was wedding receptions,” he said.

“If there were such receptions in the area and people were given tap water to drink, they would only get sick when they returned home, wherever they lived in the UK or around the world,” he added.

On Wednesday, South West Water asked residents in Brixham, Boohay, Kingswear, Roseland and North East Paignton to boil their tap water.

The water company apologized for the outbreak. It is feared that the precipitation of dirty water could ruin the semester and cause an exodus of tourists.

It turns out a map reveals how more than 44.5 million Brits received water from a company that suffered at least one bacteria breach in 2022.