South West Water says it has supplied homes in the Birxham area with water that may have contained the parasite cryptosporidium, following reports that four residents were hospitalised with cryptosporidiosis. The illness is associated with contaminated drinking water and can cause symptoms such as diarrhoea, stomach cramps and related sickness. The reports allege that residents were told the water was safe to drink before they became ill. The company’s admission relates to the circumstances around the contaminated water and how it was communicated to customers at the time. Regulators are considering potential enforcement action, including fines, as a result of the incident. The case focuses on both the presence of the parasite in the supply and the public information given to households. The company has not been represented in these accounts as disputing the overall outcome that residents became sick and required hospital treatment. The matter is being handled through the water regulator’s compliance and enforcement processes.