Cambridge: Residents endure fifth day without drinkable water

A "do not use" warning delivered to more than 300 houses as a precaution has now been modified to "do not drink"

Hundreds of people who live on a housing development have faced a fifth day without drinkable tap water after concerns about contamination.

Independent Water Networks (IWN) said on Thursday that the incident had affected about 320 homes on the Marleigh development near Cambridge.

Bottled water has been used for everything other than flushing toilets.

The company said tap water could now be used for everything other than drinking, giving to pets and cooking.

Earlier, IWN said it could be two more days before full analysis of samples might determine the cause of the potential contamination.

Contractors are on site testing and checking the water in the area

However, on Monday afternoon it revised its guidance, saying while the "do not drink" precautionary notice was in place, residents could now use water for bathing, dishwashing and laundry, it was still not suitable for drinking, cleaning teeth, giving to pets or preparing and cooking food.

The local school, Marleigh Primary Academy, closed on Friday and again on Monday. However, a spokeswoman for the school said it would be able to reopen on Tuesday.

"Together, we have efficiently drained, disinfected, refilled, and retested our water systems, resulting in our interim water supply receiving approval from both the water network and public health teams," she said.

Meanwhile, residents continue to try and work around the challenges they face in day-to-day life on the estate.

Tulikka Varma Marlka said she noticed the water tasted "extremely different" on Wednesday night

One resident, Tulikka Varma Marlka, said she first noticed the water tasted "extremely different" on Wednesday night and contacted the supplier, IWN, on Thursday.

"It's been really hard. It just brings everything into perspective about how important water is, and we just take it for granted that everything that comes out of the tap is great," she said.

Ms Varma Marlka and her family had to stay with friends over the weekend so they could wash and do their laundry.

"It has been a real struggle to figure out how to get by this," she said.

She said IWN staff had been "really good" and investigated the complaints immediately and supplied households with bottled water.

The community centre is home to bottled water, being handed out to residents

"We had massive amounts of water sent through and they have been available to speak with us at the community centre.

"[IWN] has been very good in terms of keeping the communications open.

"I guess we just need to hear what was wrong with the water - and when we will actually get the all-clear.

Hundreds of homes on the development, which is close to Fen Ditton, have been affected

However, that does not seem to be a question the water company can easily answer.

John Trounson, IWN's group managing director, told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "We have been working really hard over the weekend, flushing out the system, taking samples and liaising with the laboratories to test them, and [working with] the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) so that as soon as we possibly can, we can change those restrictions from a 'do not use' to something much better... and get to back to the way things were."

In terms of finding out the problem, he said a range of different samples had been taken and each "takes a different period of time" to investigate.

Mr Trounson said some of the samples had "failed the threshold for different characteristics". Some of these involved a "chemical or petrol smell" to the water, he said.

When asked what people who had drunk and used the water before the restrictions came in should do, he said: "If people are feeling unwell we would urge them to go and see their GP as soon as they possibly can."

Mr Trounson said it could be two more days before the full chemical analysis was received.

He said financial assistance was available to residents for alternative accommodation if they were unable to stay in their own homes, which also applied to transport costs, laundry services and buying food.

Javier Rodriguez told the BBC's Jozef Hall he wanted more information about the tests being carried out on the water

Asked how the past few days had been for his family, resident Javier Rodriguez, a father of two, admitted: "It's not been good, mate."

He, his wife and family have been coming to terms with the lack of water, but he said: "You don't get for granted, things that you normally would - water - and then you get deprived of it - it's a big change.

"There is no information about what tests have been conducted. What is the cause?

"What's going on - and when will this come to an end?"

He said he had been told IWN would cover accommodation "up to £100 per night, which seems pretty ridiculous - especially for a family of four - I don't think I can find [accommodation like] that".

Nadia Arnaudo has lived in the Marleigh area for five years and has a baby daughter

Nadia Arnaudo, who has lived on the Marleigh development for five years and has a baby daughter, said it had been "difficult".

She said she had used the dishwasher and done laundry, but then felt she had to rinse everything again in bottled water.

"It is very frustrating and worrying and we hope the situation gets better soon."

IWN has advised residents affected by the incident to check updates on its website.

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