Residents in parts of North Yorkshire have been instructed to boil their tap water after tests revealed high levels of bacteria.
Yorkshire Water has issued a "boil order" for customers in High Bentham, Low Bentham, and Burton in Lonsdale after routine testing showed the water supply did not meet "usual standards".
People in the affected areas have been told to boil their tap water "until further notice".
The order follows the discovery of "higher than usual levels of the coliform bacteria" during standard water quality tests.
No timeline has been provided for when the boil order might be lifted
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According to the UK-based water quality testing provider Drinking Water Testing, Coliform bacteria comprise a broad range of microorganisms.
The company states they are “commonly found in soil, on plants and in surface water as well as in the intestines of humans and warm-blooded animals.
“While most are considered not to be harmful, there are varieties, such as some strains of E.Coli, which can be fatal.”
A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said the firm was "really sorry" about the test results and was "working hard to resolve this issue".
The company stated that boiling water would offer "sufficient protection", though they acknowledged this "can be inconvenient" for customers.
Residents affected by the "boil order" have been notified about the issue through multiple channels, including social media, text messages and leaflets.
However, one local business owner noted that the information provided "didn't really explain what the issue was", the BBC reported.
The situation has led to panic buying of bottled water in the area, according to local reports.
A shopkeeper in Bentham said they had "sold out of bottled water" on Sunday, sharing: "We sold about 88 individual bottles and 19 six-packs, but we've restocked today."
A hotel staff member in Bentham reported: "People are panic buying. We've been told to boil all our drinking water. I think it's because we've had so little rain lately."
Local businesses have been forced to adapt quickly to the situation. Meanwhile, Yorkshire Water has taken several measures to support affected customers during the crisis.
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The water provider has also established bottled water stations
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The company has delivered bottled water to all customers on its priority services register.
Every affected property "has had a hand-delivered notice of the boil order", according to a spokesperson.
The water provider has also established bottled water stations at three locations in the affected areas.
These include the Lair Gill Car Park on Butts Lane in High Bentham, the playing field on Wenning Ave in High Bentham, and at the Recreation Ground in Burton In Lonsdale. No timeline has been provided for when the boil order might be lifted.
