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29
Oct
US military base and school among Nidderdale addresses told not to drink tapwater
Residents of 34 properties in Nidderdale – including RAF Menwith Hill and Belmont Grosvenor School – have been told not to drink tapwater under any circumstances, while Yorkshire Water continues to investigate the cause of pollution in the area.
As we reported earlier this month, the utility company told people in about 1,000 homes to boil their tapwater before drinking it, after it found low levels of coliform contamination during routine sampling on October 10. Coliform bacteria comprise several genera, including E.coli.
That advice, which applies to properties in the HG3 2R, HG3 2Q, HG3 2J, and HG3 2L postcodes around Darley and High Birstwith, is still in place.
But now Yorkshire Water has identified a separate pollution ‘hot spot’ in the same area, has issued Do Not Drink advice, and is supplying affected homes with bottled water.
Ten days ago, we asked Yorkshire Water what the problem was, what action was being taken, and when the situation would be resolved. We received a response today.
Belmont Grosvenor School in Nidderdale.
A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said:
We have been working hard to trace the source of the coliforms have taken several proactive steps, including flushing the network, testing private supplies to rule out any contribution to the reading, and fitting non-return valves where needed.
During our investigation into the source of the coliforms, we’ve been conducting additional water sampling, as is normal protocol. These tests have identified elevated physiochemical anomalies in one area.
In accordance with regulatory requirements and our internal procedures, we have advised customers in that area not to consume the water under any circumstances. This is known as issuing Do Not Drink advice. This advice has been issued to 34 properties, and they have been informed directly.
Darley in Nidderdale.
But although Yorkshire Water has narrowed down its field of interest to a smaller area, it doesn’t not yet appear to have identified the source of the problem.
The spokesperson added:
We are continuing our investigations to determine the source of this secondary issue. This is a rural area and there are a number of properties that have both Yorkshire Water supplies and their own private borehole supplies. We are working to ensure that the Water Regulations are being met in these properties and that there are no cross connections between the two that could give rise to the issues experienced.
We understand this is frustrating for the customers impacted and we’d like to thank them for their patience while we carry out our investigations. We are continuing to support residents in the area with bottled water where required.
If customers are unsure whether they are impacted by either the Do Not Drink or Boil Water advice, they can check Yorkshire Water's website for more information.
This is a list of the properties affected by the Do Not Drink advice:
- Dwelling houses, Forest Moor, Darley HG3 2QF
- Building 20, RAF Menwith Hill, Forest Moor, Darley HG3 2QF
- Turpins Fold, Menwith Hill Road, Darley HG3 2RA
- RAF Menwith Hill, Forest Moor, Darley HG3 2RF
- Turpins Lair, Menwith Hill Road, Darley HG3 2RA
- Radio Field Station, HG3
- Houses (10), Menwith Hill Station, HG3 2RJ
- Coronation Farm, Cote Hill Road, Birstwith HG3 2LN
- North Pole, Menwith Hill Road, Darley HG3 2LJ
- Cote Hill, Cote Hill Road, Birstwith HG3 2LN
- Wayside House Farm, Back Road, Birstwith HG3 2LJ
- Millstone Cottage, Stumps Lane, Darley HG3 2RR
- Stone Beds, Stumps Lane, Darley HG3 2RR
- Springfield Farm, Langer Hill Lane, High Birstwith HG3 205
- Lolly Bogs, Menwith Hill Road, Darley HG3 2LJ
- Sleights Barn Fields, HG3 2LJ
- Springfield Farm, Sleights Lane, High Birstwith HG3 2LH
- Sleights Farm, High Birstwith HG3 2LJ
- The Water Tower, Back Road, Birstwith HG3 2JH
- Brackenwood, High Birstwith HG3 2JH
- Well House, Cote Hill Road, Birstwith HG3 2LN
- The Barn, Adj Well House Farm, Cote Hill Road, Birstwith HG3 2LN
- 4 Woodside, Back Road High, Birstwith HG3 2JH
- Sports Field Back Road, Birstwith HG3 2JG
- 3 Woodside Back Road, High Birstwith HG3 2JH
- Homelea, 2 Woodside Back Road, High Birstwith HG3 2JH
- 1 Woodside Back Road, High Birstwith HG3 2JH
- Brackenthwaite Farm, Back Road, Birstwith HG3 2JH
- Dickens Dyke Farm, Stumps Lane, Darley HG3 2RR
- Staupes Farm, Cote Hill Road, Staupes Road, Felliscliffe HG3 2LN
- Crow Tree Farm, Sleights Lane, High Birstwith HG3 2LH
- Somerset House, Back Road, Birstwith HG3 2JH
- Cinder Hills Farm, Langer Hill Lane, Darley HG3 2LL
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