Following the discovery of the microscopic bug cryptosporidium at a water treatment plant in Lancashire, residents were urged to boil water for drinking, brushing teeth and food preparation until further notice.

The advice was issued by United Utilities after testing identified the presence of cryptosporidium in Franklaw water treatment works outside Preston.

The warning, and the measures many households have had to take, highlights how a reliable and safe water supply can easily be taken for granted.

Such contamination is always of particular concern to those responsible for running facilities such as hospitals, care homes, schools and nurseries, where germs and illnesses can spread easily. In larger premises such as these, the ability to follow preventative procedures such as boiling water before use, is also more difficult to follow.

Testing and treating cryptosporidium in water supplies

Thankfully, it is possible to test for cryptosporidium, which is known to cause gastrointestinal illness such as diarrhoea and abdominal cramps, and take alternative action accordingly.

By carrying out water sampling, a process that involves collecting a measurement in a sterile container for laboratory testing, definitive results can be obtained quickly. At Brodex, our samples are labelled and taken to laboratories accredited by UKAS, the national body for the accreditation of testing and calibration laboratories.

The importance of regular water testing

The discovery of cryptosporidium in this case has been limited to the water supply of a particular geographical location. But despite this, it serves as a reminder to organisations across the whole country about the importance of water management strategy. United Utilities confirmed the bacteria was discovered during routine testing, highlighting the need to regularly and thoroughly monitor water supplies.

For more information on how Brodex can help test your water supply, speak to one of our team of experts here.