A South West Water boss has refused to give a timeline on when a notice to boil tap water will be lifted after a parasite was found in a key reservoir.

Speaking to Sky News, Laura Flowerdue, the company’s chief customer officer, confirmed the suggestion it was likely a broken air valve that had been contaminated by animal faeces.

However, she refused to give a timeframe on how long the incident would run on for – leaving locals facing an uncertain future.

She said the company would have to take steps to repair the damage and ensure “any issues” were flushed through the network, and water quality was assured, before the boil tap water notice was lifted.

This comes after residents in parts of south Devon were told to boil their drinking water on Wednesday after the water firm found “small traces” of the parasite cryptosporidium – which causes cryptosporidiosis – in the Hillhead reservoir.

At first, they said the water was safe to drink, but then backtracked and had to issue a boil notice to 16,000 households and businesses in Brixham, Boohay, Kingswear, Roseland and North West Paignton.

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The UK Health Security Agency said 22 people are confirmed to have the disease, with as many as 70 other cases under investigation.

Brixham: Water firm apologises after parasite detected in reservoir – as cause of outbreak found

What is cryptosporidium? The diarrhoea-causing parasite found in Devon drinking water

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Ms Flowerdue added: “We have identified that there is a damaged air valve on the network near the Hillhead Reservoir. But we absolutely want to make sure that’s the only source [of the contamination].

“We understand this a valve on one of the pipes heading towards the reservoir in a farmer’s field, there are cattle in the field and it’s a possibility that’s the source of the contamination.”

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