Anxiety for residents told not to use tap water

11 hours ago

Curtis LancasterSouth of England

News image — Residents have been supplied with bottled water by the council

Catherine A tap with the paper warning not to use the tap water next to it. There is a blue glove tied around the end of the tap and a bottle of water on the right of the image. — Residents have been supplied with bottled water by the council

Residents in a block of flats have been warned by the council not to drink the tap water.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council has told people in Sterte Court in Holes Bay, Poole, to avoid drinking, cooking or brushing their teeth with the water.

Residents were first told on Saturday morning after Dorset Police began investigating reports of damage to a water pump room in the building.

BCP Council said it is working closely with Wessex Water "to resolve a temporary, isolated water quality issue".

Catherine Catherine stood in a black t-shirt with red scarf and glasses stood in her kitchen. — Catherine says she is "anxious" about the situation

"We're still stuck," says Catherine, who is one of the residents at the site adding that "anxiety is through the roof" in the tower block.

She said their main frustration is that they have not been given any explanation.

"We don't know what this contamination is," she said.

She added that she wanted to know whether it was a bacterial issue or whether something toxic had been put in the water.

Catherine Multiple blocks of flats with grass areas outside. — The water at Sterte Court in Poole has been undrinkable since Saturday

Catherine said: "We've been given no information as to any symptoms we ought to look out for and it's really poor, this should be an emergency situation here."

She said the nine-storey site has about 50 different households, including elderly residents and families with children.

She added that they were initially warned not to wash with the water and were advised to use the local laundrette to wash their clothes and the nearby leisure centre for showers.

"It's absolutely ridiculous," Catherine said.

"The anxiety is through the roof because we don't know where we are."

A BCP Council spokesperson said: "We are working closely with Wessex Water to resolve a temporary, isolated water quality issue at Sterte Court. The wellbeing of residents remains our priority.

"We are supplying bottled water to residents for drinking and cooking, with staff distributing supplies and additional bottles available in the foyer."

A Wessex Water spokesperson said: "We're supporting BCP Council and have issued a 'do not drink' notice as a precaution. We can confirm that public water supply to the wider area is unaffected."