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Water company prosecuted over bug Water company prosecuted over bug
(about 2 hours later)
A water company is facing charges of supplying water unfit for human consumption after a stomach bug left hundreds ill in north Wales. Dwr Cymru Welsh Water is facing charges of supplying water unfit for human consumption after a stomach bug left hundreds ill in north Wales.
A total of 231 people became sick from cryptosporidium in November 2005 after drinking water from a reservoir in Snowdonia. The bug cryptosporidium affected more than 230 who drank water from a Snowdonia reservoir in November 2005.
The Drinking Water Inspectorate is bringing the prosecution against Welsh Water, which faces five charges. The Drinking Water Inspectorate is bringing the prosecution against the company, which faces five charges.
The firm will appear before Caernarfon magistrates in July. The company - to appear before Caernarfon magistrates in July - said it was "disappointed" by the decision.
About 70,000 homes in parts of Gwynedd and Anglesey with water supplied from the Llyn Cwellyn reservoir at Rhyd-ddu were told to boil their drinking water for two months after the outbreak. About 70,000 homes in parts of Gwynedd and Anglesey whose water was supplied from the Llyn Cwellyn reservoir at Rhyd-ddu, were told to boil their drinking water for two months after the outbreak.
"It is crucially important that our customers continue to trust their tap water Welsh Water
A total of 231 people fell ill with the bug which causes vomiting and diarrhoea.
Health experts said at the time that the likely source was the Llyn Cwellyn reservoir, although tests at the lake always proved negative.Health experts said at the time that the likely source was the Llyn Cwellyn reservoir, although tests at the lake always proved negative.
But Welsh Water said in November 2006 that it accepted that the outbreak was linked to the mains water supply from Llyn Cwellyn. In a statement Welsh Water said: "Protecting public health by providing a safe and reliable water supply has always been and will always be out first priority.
However, the company said at the time that there was no failure of equipment and the outbreak could not have been anticipated. "It is crucially important that our customers continue to trust their tap water."
The bug causes diarrhoea and vomiting for about two weeks. The company also said that an independent report into the incident by the Outbreak Control Team - which includes the Environment Agency, councils, Welsh Water and public health bodies - concluded its Cwellyn water treatment works was the likely source of the cryptosporidiosis.
No breach
The firm said that report concluded "it is difficult to see how the outbreak could have been prevented, or its impact reduced, given what was known before the outbreak started and what became apparent as the outbreak developed".
Since the outbreak, the water company has installed new ultra-violet treatment to kill the bug.
Welsh Water added: "Our investigations at the time confirmed that the Cwellyn water treatment works was operating normally, and all testing for water quality showed no breach of regulatory standards in force at the time.
"It is only since the outbreak that the Drinking Water Inspectorate has reviewed and issued new guidance to the industry and has begun a consultation process on changes to the relevant water quality regulations."