Torbay Council, South West Water, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), NHS Devon and the Environment Agency are investigating the outbreak of Cryptosporidium linked to contaminated water.
Addressing the House of Commons on 20 May, Secretary of State for the Environment, Steve Barclay confirmed there are currently 46 cases of waterborne illness Cryptosporidium, with this number expected to grow and two people have been hospitalised.
South West Water initially said that water quality data at the treatment works indicated there were no issues with treated water. However, traces of cryptosporidium were later found in the Hillhead section of their network. A damaged valve on private land in the Hillhead supply area has been identified as the possible cause of contamination, which has since been repaired.
South West Water has said a damaged valve on its network was the most probable cause of the contamination.
Some 16,000 properties were originally told to boil their water before drinking last week, after dozens of reports of people becoming ill. The majority of households have now had their boil notice lifted.
