More than a year after a cryptosporidium contamination incident affected drinking water supplies in parts of Devon, residents in some of the hardest-hit communities say they continue to face health challenges and remain dissatisfied with the response from water provider South West Water.

The outbreak, which affected communities including Higher Brixham and Kingswear, prompted boil-water notices and led to hundreds of reported illnesses. While official figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recorded 143 confirmed cases, many residents believe the true number of people affected was significantly higher.

The controversy resurfaced after South West Water admitted supplying water unfit for human consumption and was subsequently fined by a court. The company has stated that a damaged air valve and unauthorized pipework on a farm were believed to have caused the contamination.For some families, however, the consequences extend well beyond the legal proceedings.

Michelle, a foster carer in Higher Brixham, recalled the distress of discovering that a child in her care had contracted cryptosporidiosis after consuming contaminated water. She said one of the most difficult moments was informing the child’s birth family about what had happened.According to Michelle, she continues to feel guilt over the incident despite having had no knowledge that the water supply had been compromised at the time.

Residents have also reported longer-term health complications that they associate with the outbreak.Jen Watts, who lives in Higher Brixham, said her 10-year-old son spent four days in hospital after becoming ill during the contamination event. She said he subsequently developed avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder and continues to experience health challenges.

Watts described the impact on her family as ongoing and severe. While welcoming the court-imposed fine against South West Water, she argued that the punishment did not directly address the continuing difficulties faced by affected residents.She said stronger penalties should have been considered given the scale of the incident and the lasting consequences experienced by some families.

South West Water has maintained that it acted once contamination was identified. The company previously stated that it received its first notification of illness from the UK Health Security Agency on the afternoon of 13 May 2024. According to the company, cryptosporidium was detected during the early hours of 15 May, after which affected residents were advised to boil drinking water.

The company has also said it implemented additional safeguards designed to prevent a similar incident from occurring in the future.In Kingswear, another community significantly affected by the outbreak, residents continue to describe both physical and emotional consequences.

Jo Byrne, manager of the village post office, said she initially believed she was suffering from food poisoning before learning of the contamination. She reported severe illness and substantial weight loss over a short period.Although she returned to work as quickly as possible, Byrne recalled struggling with exhaustion and said she now lives with irritable bowel syndrome.

She remains highly critical of South West Water and said she no longer trusts the company’s drinking water supply.Christopher Dawes, a member of Kingswear Parish Council, also fell ill during the outbreak. He described several days of severe gastrointestinal symptoms but said most residents had eventually resumed drinking tap water.

Even so, Dawes noted that anger toward the company remains widespread within the community more than a year after the incident.The scale of the outbreak remains a point of contention among local residents.Several people interviewed questioned the official case count, arguing that many individuals who became sick may never have been formally diagnosed or included in official statistics.

Zanne Henderson, who operates a seafood business in Kingswear, said she believed the number of affected residents was substantially higher than the figure reported by health authorities.Henderson said she began experiencing symptoms on 10 May 2024 and described the illness as particularly severe.

Like many people suffering from gastrointestinal infections, she increased her water intake during the early stages of illness, unaware that the water itself was the source of contamination.More than a year later, she believes her immune system remains affected.

While there is currently no formally recognized medical condition known as “long crypto,” Henderson said ongoing symptoms have left her feeling as though she has never fully recovered.The outbreak also had economic implications for local businesses and tourism-dependent communities.Kingswear and surrounding areas rely heavily on visitors, particularly during the warmer months.

Henderson said the contamination incident damaged local morale at a time when businesses were still recovering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.Residents said concerns about water safety created uncertainty for both visitors and local enterprises during a critical period for the area’s economy.

The incident has become part of a broader national debate over water infrastructure, regulatory oversight and accountability among privately owned water companies in England.For affected residents, however, the issue remains deeply personal. While the court case and fine represent an acknowledgment that contaminated water entered the public supply, many say the legal outcome does not fully reflect the disruption, illness and anxiety they experienced.

Questions about the precise number of people affected, the speed of the company’s response and the long-term health implications continue to shape local perceptions of the outbreak.

As communities in Higher Brixham and Kingswear move further from the events of May 2024, many residents say their confidence in the drinking water system has not been fully restored, and for some families the effects of the contamination remain an ongoing part of daily life.