Water on Marleigh estate contaminated by fuel, firm says
A letter from the company says it was found in six locations
Last updated 27th Mar 2024
Investigations into water pollution at an estate in Cambridge which was without safe drinking water for almost a week has concluded the water was contaminated by fuel.
Independent Water Networks (IWN) says it was found in 6 locations on the Marleigh estate.
It noted the contamination was inside healthy limits but was eliminated with a flushing programme.
Charlie Thackeray, water network director at IWN, told residents that "within 24 hours of connecting the new water mains, we received reports of a diesel-like smell in the water.
"On receiving these reports, we initiated several immediate steps to protect public health. These included issuing a ‘Do not use’ order to residents, immediately disconnecting the newly added water mains, taking water samples from many points around Marleigh for laboratory analysis, and making alternative bottled water supplies available."
IWN not certain where contamination came from
Mr Thackeray said IWN then flushed and retested the water every day while use restrictions were in place until laboratory results confirmed the water was safe.
The letter said more than 150 tests of soils within the construction area have been carried out, focusing on the area where the water main is or was due to be laid.
Residents were told it's not possible to know exactly where the contamination came from, but Mr Thackeray said the fuel contamination in the soil was "sufficient to allow very small quantities of permeate into the newly laid water system.
"Our tests prior to the flushing programme indicated contamination was present at levels inside health limits, however the flushing eliminated the contamination completely.
"The safety of our customers is always our first priority, and we hope the explanation above will help you understand what happened and the immediate steps we took to protect public safety."
Mr Thackeray said plans to replace all the mains laid in construction areas with a barrier pipe have been organised and "will ensure the water supplied will meet all water quality requirements."