Affected properties have been handed “boil order” notices after high levels of bacteria were found.
Residents affected are advised to boil water for drinking, cleaning teeth and preparing food (Image: Getty)
Hundreds of UK residents have been urged to boil their tap water after tests revealed high levels of bacteria. Houses in North Yorkshire were issued a “boil order” in High Bentham, Low Bentham and Burton in Lonsdale after Yorkshire Water failed to meet its “usual standards”.
The issue is in place until “further notice” as testing revealed “higher than usual levels of the coliform bacteria” during routine water testing. Drinking Water Testing, a UK water testing provider, explained that coliform bacteria is made up of a wide range of microorganisms. These are commonly found in soil, on plants and in surface water as well as in the intestines of humans and warm-blooded animals”. The company added: “While most are considered not to be harmful, there are varieties, such as some strains of E.Coli, which can be fatal.”
Households are urged to boil their water until further notice (Image: Getty)
A spokesperson for Yorkshire Water said the company was “really sorry” about the results and order issued, insisting that it is “working hard to resolve the issue”.
Despite the test results, the provider reassured that boiling the tap water would provide “sufficient protection” against bacteria, although it “can be inconvenient”.
Locals are advised to boil all tap water used for: Drinking, cleaning teeth and preparing foods which will be eaten uncooked (such as salads).
Those affected have received a boil order through multiple means of communication, such as leaflets through their doors, social media and text messages.
However, one business owner in the affected area said the information provided “didn’t really explain what the issue was”.
Local reports have stated the situation has now led to residents panic buying bottled water in the area, instead of boiling their tap water.
One shopkeeper said they had to restock their supply after selling out. “We sold about 88 individual bottles and 19 six-packs, but we’ve restocked today,” they said.
The water company has also delivered bottled water to all customers affected on its priority services register, a spokesperson has confirmed.
The provider has also established bottle water stations in three locations that residents can visit. These can be found at the Lair Gill Car Park on Butts Lane in High Bentham, the playing field on Wenning Ave in High Bentham, and at the Recreation Ground in Burton In Lonsdale.
Full list of postcodes affected:
- LA2 0JH
- LA2 7AB
- LA2 7AD
- LA2 7AE
- LA2 7AF
- LA2 7AG
- LA2 7AH
- LA2 7AQ
- LA2 7AW
- LA2 7AX
- LA2 7AY
- LA2 7AZ
- LA2 7BF
- LA2 7BH
- LA2 7BJ
- LA2 7BL
- LA2 7BN
- LA2 7BP
- LA2 7BS
- LA2 7BT
- LA2 7BU
- LA2 7BW
- LA2 7BX
- LA2 7BY
- LA2 7BZ
- LA2 7DA
- LA2 7DD
- LA2 7DE
- LA2 7DF
- LA2 7DG
- LA2 7DH
- LA2 7DJ
- LA2 7DL
- LA2 7DN
- LA2 7DP
- LA2 7DQ
- LA2 7DR
- LA2 7DS
- LA2 7DT
- LA2 7DU
- LA2 7DW
- LA2 7DX
- LA2 7DY
- LA2 7DZ
- LA2 7EA
- LA2 7EB
- LA2 7ED
- LA2 7EE
- LA2 7EF
- LA2 7EG
- LA2 7EH
- LA2 7EJ
- LA2 7EL
- LA2 7EN
- LA2 7EP
- LA2 7EQ
- LA2 7ER
- LA2 7ES
- LA2 7ET
- LA2 7EU
- LA2 7EW
- LA2 7EX
- LA2 7EY
- LA2 7EZ
- LA2 7FD
- LA2 7FE
- LA2 7FF
- LA2 7FG
- LA2 7FJ
- LA2 7FL
- LA2 7FN
- LA2 7FP
- LA2 7FQ
- LA2 7FR
- LA2 7FS
- LA2 7FT
- LA2 7GH
- LA2 7HA
- LA2 7HB
- LA2 7HD
- LA2 7HE
- LA2 7HF
- LA2 7HG
- LA2 7HH
- LA2 7HJ
- LA2 7HL
- LA2 7HN
- LA2 7HP
- LA2 7HQ
- LA2 7HR
- LA2 7HS
- LA2 7HT
- LA2 7HU
- LA2 7HW
- LA2 7HX
- LA2 7HY
- LA2 7HZ
- LA2 7JA
- LA2 7JB
- LA2 7JD
- LA2 7JE
- LA2 7JF
- LA2 7JG
- LA2 7JH
- LA2 7JJ
- LA2 7JL
- LA2 7JN
- LA2 7JP
- LA2 7JQ
- LA2 7JS
- LA2 7JT
- LA2 7JU
- LA2 7JW
- LA2 7JX
- LA2 7JY
- LA2 7JZ
- LA2 7LA
- LA2 7LB
- LA2 7LD
- LA2 7LE
- LA2 7LF
- LA2 7LG
- LA2 7LH
- LA2 7LJ
- LA2 7LL
- LA2 7LP
- LA2 7LQ
- LA2 7LR
- LA2 7LS
- LA2 7LT
- LA2 7LU
- LA2 7LW
- LA2 7LX
- LA2 7LZ
- LA2 7NA
- LA2 7NB
- LA2 7ND
- LA2 7NE
- LA2 7NF
- LA2 7NG
- LA2 7NH
- LA2 7NJ
- LA2 7NR
- LA2 7PR
- LA2 6DQ
- LA2 8DQ
- LA2 8NZ
- LA2 8PJ
- LA2 8PL
- LA2 8PR
- LA2 8QB
- LA2 8RB
- LA6 1BA
- LA6 2DY
- LA6 3
- LA6 3DS
- LA6 3FT
- LA6 3FW
- LA6 3JP
- LA6 3JR
- LA6 3JS
- LA6 3JT
- LA6 3JU
- LA6 3JX
- LA6 3JY
- LA6 3JZ
- LA6 3LA
- LA6 3LB
- LA6 3LD
- LA6 3LE
- LA6 3LF
- LA6 3LG
- LA6 3LH
- LA6 3LJ
- LA6 3LL
- LA6 3LN
- LA6 3LP
- LA6 3LQ
- LA6 3LR
- LA6 3LS
- LA6 3LT
- LA6 3LU
- LA6 3LW
- LA6 3LY
- LA6 3LZ
- LA6 3NA
- LA6 3NB
- LA6 3ND
- LA6 3NE
- LA6 3NL
- LA6 3NS
- LA6 3NX
- LA6 3PG
- LA6 3PQ
