LONDON (AP) — Most residents living near a scenic fishing village in southwestern England where a parasite in the water sickened more than 45 people were told Saturday that they could safely drink the water again.
South West Water said it lifted its boil notice for most of the 17,000 homes and businesses around the Brixham area of Devon that had been affected after cryptosporidium, a microscopic parasite that causes diarrhea, was found in the water.
At least 46 cases of cryptosporidiosis were confirmed and more than 100 other people reported similar symptoms, the U.K. Health Security Agency said. Symptoms can last more than two weeks.
The water company said it consulted with public health officials before lifting the boil warning for all but about 2,500 customers after rigorous testing showed the water was safe for most of the area.
“This situation has caused an immense amount of disruption, distress and anxiety. We are truly sorry this has happened," water company spokesperson Laura Flowerdew said. “The public rightly expect a safe, clean and reliable source of drinking water and on this occasion we have fallen significantly short of expectations."
The outbreak announced Wednesday was unrelated to Britain’s larger ongoing water woes but emblematic of an aging system in distress.
Water companies have been under fire for more than a year to stop frequent sewage overflows into rivers and oceans that have literally caused a stink, sickened swimmers, polluted fishing streams and led to an outcry from the public to clean up their act.
South West Water is facing charges in Plymouth Magistrates’ Court alleging 30 offenses for illegal water discharges or breaches of environmental permits between 2015 and 2021, the Environment Agency said.
Flowerdew on Friday said the outbreak may have come from a damaged air valve in a pipe that runs through a field where cows graze that is close to a reservoir.
A primary school was forced to close Thursday because it didn't have clean drinking water. The water company said it provided 386,000 water bottles to its customers.
People collect bottled water at Broadsands Car Park in Paignton, England, Friday May 17, 2024. Most residents living near a scenic fishing village in southwestern England where a parasite in the water sickened more than 45 people were told Saturday, May 18, 2024, that they could safely drink the water again. South West Water said it lifted its boil notice for most of the 17,000 homes and businesses around the Brixham area of Devon that had been affected after cryptosporidium, a microscopic parasite that causes diarrhea, was found in the water. (Ben Birchall/PA via AP)
A general view of Brixham Harbour, in Brixham, Devon, Friday May 17, 2024. Most residents living near a scenic fishing village in southwestern England where a parasite in the water sickened more than 45 people were told Saturday, May 18, 2024, that they could safely drink the water again. South West Water said it lifted its boil notice for most of the 17,000 homes and businesses around the Brixham area of Devon that had been affected after cryptosporidium, a microscopic parasite that causes diarrhea, was found in the water. (Piers Mucklejohn/PA via AP)
LONDON (AP) — Heavy snow and freezing rain brought widespread disruption across Europe on Sunday, particularly in the U.K. and Germany, with several major airports forced to suspend flights.
With the weather set to stay inclement on Sunday in the U.K., there are concerns that many rural communities, particularly in the north of England, could be cut off, with up to 40 centimeters (15 inches) of snow on the ground above 300 meters (985 feet).
The National Grid, which oversees the country's electricity network, said it had been working to restore power. Outages were reported in the English cities of Birmingham and Bristol and in Cardiff, Wales.
Many sporting events have been postponed, though the heavyweight Premier League fixture between rivals Liverpool and Manchester United is on, following an inspection at Liverpool's Anfield stadium and of local conditions.
Liverpool's John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport had to close runways overnight, but were returning back to normal on Sunday. Leeds Bradford Airport took longer to get flights back in the air.
The road network was heavily impacted too on what would have been a very busy day with many families returning home from the Christmas and New Year's break, and students heading back to universities.
Many roads had been preemptively closed by local authorities, but stranded vehicles and collisions have caused disruption elsewhere.
A number of U.K. train services were canceled, with National Rail warning of disruption continuing into the working week.
Britain's main weather forecaster, the Met Office, says sleet and snow will continue to push north on Sunday and will be heaviest in northern England and into southern Scotland. After experiencing freezing rain, which occurs when super-cold rain freezes on impact, the south will turn milder. The Environment Agency has also issued eight flood warnings across southern England on the Taw and Avon rivers.
Snow and ice were also causing havoc in Germany, where a bout of wintry weather is spreading from the southwest. Authorities have issued black ice warnings for drivers and pedestrians, advising people to stay home where possible.
Frankfurt airport canceled 120 of its 1,090 planned takeoffs and landings on Sunday, according to the Fraport press office. At Munich airport, only one runway was open while the other one was being cleared.
In Baden-Wuerttemberg, eight people were injured when a bus skidded off the road near the town of Hemmingen. Long-distance train connections also experienced irregularities in the Frankfurt area.
Monika Scislowska reported from Warsaw, Poland.
Lowson Robinson is pictured in the heavy snow with his scaled miniature famous landmarks which are located in his garden in Nenthead, England, as the severe weather continues across England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
Lowson Robinson is pictured in the heavy snow with his scaled miniature famous landmarks which are located in his garden in Nenthead, England, as the severe weather continues across England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
Lowson Robinson is pictured in the heavy snow with his scaled miniature famous landmarks which are located in his garden in Nenthead, England, as the severe weather continues across England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
A woman has her umbrella upturned by the wind whilst walking near Parliament Square, London, Sunday Jan. 5, 2025. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)
People stroll on the beach at the Baltic Sea in Timmendorfer Strand, Germany, during heavy snowfalls on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
A fox sits in the snow in Rudolph Wilde Park in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Kay Nietfeld/dpa via AP)
People walk in the snow in Studley Royal park in Ripon, North Yorkshire, England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)
People stroll on the beach at the Baltic Sea in Timmendorfer Strand, Germany, during heavy snowfalls on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
A man walk's his dog in the heavy snow past scaled miniature famous landmarks which are located in Nenthead, England, as the severe weather continues across England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
Dogs, Ziggy, left and Digby play in the snow in Studley Royal park in Ripon, North Yorkshire, England, Sunday Jan. 5, 2025. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)
Snow falls on the roofs of the half-timbered houses in the historic city center in Freudenberg, Germany, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (Federico Gambarini/dpa via AP)
A tree lies over a creek that meanders through a small valley in the Taunus region near Frankfurt, Germany, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Snow falls on the roofs of the half-timbered houses in the historic city center in Freudenberg, Germany, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025 . (Federico Gambarini/dpa via AP)
Snow blankets the meadow near a chapel in the Taunus region near Frankfurt, Germany, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
A man on skis is pulled through the snowy landscape of the Swabian Alb by a horse, in Münsingen, Germany, Saturday Jan. 4, 2025. (Thomas Warnack/dpa via AP)
A man is seen with his son as they sledge on a hill with Durham Cathedral which is surrounded by heavy snow in Durham, North East England, as the severe weather continues across England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
Members of the public are seen sledging on a hill with Durham Cathedral which is surrounded by heavy snow in Durham, North East England, as the severe weather continues across England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
People sledging near Durham Cathedral in Durham, north England, Sunday Jan. 5, 2025, as heavy overnight snow causes disruption across the UK as the cold start to the new year continues. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
A snowman in the sunshine on the Swabian Alb, Lichtenstein, Saturday Jan. 4, 2025. (Thomas Warnack/dpa via AP)
People walk through the snow-covered Thuringian Forest, Suhl-Schmiedefeld, Germany, Saturday Jan. 4, 2025. (Michael Reichel/dpa via AP)
Tobogganers at the top of the Fichtelberg, Oberwiesentha, Germany, Saturday Jan. 4, 2025. (Sebastian Willnow/dpa via AP)
Snow blankets Lee Park in Liverpool, England, Sunday Jan. 5, 2025. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
Members of the public are seen sledging on a hill with Durham Cathedral which is surrounded by heavy snow in Durham, North East England, as the severe weather continues across England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
A worker clears snow from a sidewalk in front of the stadium of the premier league soccer club FC Liverpool in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
Members of the public are seen sledging on a hill with Durham Cathedral which is surrounded by heavy snow in Durham, North East England, as the severe weather continues across England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
Snow covers houses and the 'Knaresborough Viaduct' in Knaresborough, England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)
Vehicles on the A1(M) near Hopperton, north England, Sunday Jan. 5, 2025, as heavy overnight snow causes disruption across the UK as the cold start to the new year continues. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)
Boys are seen with a sledge on a hill with Durham Cathedral which is surrounded by heavy snow in Durham, North East England, as the severe weather continues across England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
Boys are seen with a sledge on a hill with Durham Cathedral which is surrounded by heavy snow in Durham, North East England, as the severe weather continues across England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
A man is seen with his son as they ski and sledge on a hill with Durham Cathedral which is surrounded by heavy snow in Durham, North East England, as the severe weather continues across England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
A blanket of snow covers houses in Blackpool, England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Michael Holmes/PA via AP)
A lady is seen with her dog in front of Anthony Gormley's sculpture, the Angel of the North, which is surrounded by heavy snow in Gateshead, North East England, as the severe weather continues across England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
People help to push cars stuck in snow in Leeds, England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)
A lady is seen pulling her child along on a sledge as they admire Anthony Gormley's sculpture, the Angel of the North, which is surrounded by heavy snow in Gateshead, North East England, as the severe weather continues across England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
