LNTM 09-24 – Cryptosporidium – Boil Water advice – Kingswear water supply.

All customers are advised:

Final Update as of 27th June 2024 – LNTM Cancelled.

Following the lifting of the boil water notice from SWW, we have completed our works to flush the water system that supplies our Kingswear Dinghy Rack, Kingswear island pontoons and the Waste pontoon taps.

This now means that vessels can be filled using the above taps. Please see below the guidance issued by SWW on how to flush boat tanks, this is taken from their leaflet issued here.

Flushing out boats and caravans
Please drain your water tank and system. Then fill the tank with clean water. Turn on all the taps and empty the tank again – this will flush the system. Once you’ve done that, you can refill the tank and use as normal.

Update as of 26th June 2024

Please be aware – whilst the boil water notice has now been lifted in Kingswear, South West Water have given us advice on how to ensure that our storage break tanks and pipework are clear.

These works will hopefully be competed by Saturday the 29th June 2024, however, a LNTM cancellation will be sent out to confirm when the work is complete along with advice on what to do, to clear your vessels tanks.

Until this notice has been issued, the advice still stands that the water from these taps should not be consumed, and water tanks should not be filled until further notice.

Update as of 25th June 2024

As the contamination issue to the water supply on the Kingswear side of the river (including the supply that feeds the waste pontoon water taps) is still ongoing, we are allowing vessels who need to top up their water, to do so from the Dartmouth Town Jetty.

The Town Jetty opens to visiting vessels from 17:00 until 08:45, however, if between ferry traffic there is a spot alongside, please call VHF Ch11 DartNav and request to go alongside for water.

Please be aware, that during the hours of 08:45 – 17:00, the ferry traffic have priority alongside, therefore vessels watering up must:

Remain with the vessel whilst taking water.
Maintain a watch on VHF Ch11
May be instructed to slip the berth whilst the ferries load/unload, this process can take upwards of 30 minutes.
Be able to slip at short notice.

Update as of 3rd June 2024

South West Water are making progress, but are still cleaning the system. Kingswear (and our pontoon supply) is still within the boil water area. We are still advising vessels against filling their tanks from the Kingswear side. Dartmouth Town Jetty is not connected to the impacted supply, and is safe for use. You are welcome to moor briefly on the outside of Town Jetty during the day to fill up with water, providing you do not impact passenger vessels. Boats must not be left unattended, and must be moved if a passenger vessel requires the berth.

We have received the following advice from SWW for boats that have filled their tanks with water from the boil water area:

I’ve filled my boat with water from the harbour. What do I need to do to ensure it is safe?

Once we have told you that you no longer need to boil your water, storage tanks that hold drinking water need to be drained, filled with clean water, emptied again (to flush the system) and then refilled to use for drinking.

We recommend any filters in place for tanks are replaced after flushing the tanks through if they have used water from the affected area.

Update as of 22nd May 2024.

Hoodown pontoons, Kingswear Dinghy rack and the Waste Pontoon water is supplied via our pump room, which has an inline UV treatment process. (other Marinas may not have this treatment)

Please see the email below from our water testing contractor.

“Further to our conversation and a conversation with South West Water Scientific Department today. The UV system after the break tank will take out the Cryptosporidium so your water Pontoon should be clear.

They did also say that any other waters should still be boiled until the Notice is removed.”

Please note, supplies to these pontoons is still within the boil water notice area, so we suggest still following this advice.

We have had our pontoon water supply privately tested, and the results are likely to be back with us in 5-7 days. When we have the results we will update this page.

With regards to cleaning tanks, the advice we have been given is that flushing will be required, but this is likely to be enough to remove any remaining Cryptosporidium, that may have survived the UV treatment process.

We are still unfortunately waiting for advice from South West Water and Environmental Health to confirm the above, and suggest that those who have concerns also contact these organisations particularly before drinking the water.

Update as of 20th May 2024.

Whilst South West Water have now scaled back the boil water notice, Kingswear (and our pontoon supply) is still within the boil water area. We are still advising vessels against filling their tanks from the Kingswear side.

We are in conversation with South West Water and Environmental Health to find information on how to remove any potential contamination from a vessel water tank, and once we have a reply will again update this notice.

Please see the latest reply from South West Water:

“For the Marina sites in the Kingswear area, they are in the Hillhead supply area. Our advice, regardless of when the tanks were filled, is that the tanks should be emptied, cleaned and refilled. The refill should only take place once the area is under the clear notice (no longer under a boil notice).
With regards to the treatment and cleaning process, we would advise that they speak with Environmental Health as processes we would use may not be suitable for smaller scale domestic dwellings.”

Issued 16th May 2024

Following an outbreak of Cryptosporidium, SWW has urged residents across Brixham, Boohay, Kingswear, Roseland and north-east Paignton to boil their tap water, when it used to drink, cook and clean their teeth with.

The water provided on our Hoodown dinghy rack, Kingswear island residential pontoons, our waste pontoon and other sources on the Kingswear side of the river are included in the area that are being advised to boil their drinking water before consuming following new test results for cryptosporidium.

Please see the image provided by South West Water (correct at time of issue), to show the map of the areas affected. For updates, please see the SWW website link: https://www.southwestwater.co.uk/in-your-area

Supplies to the Dartmouth side of the river are currently unaffected.