Residents in Bramley say they’ve been plagued by problems from a fuel leak (Picture: SWNS)
More than 600 homes have been told to stop drinking their tap water after tests revealed a ‘concerning’ contamination.
Thames Water issued the warning to 616 properties in Bramley, Surrey – almost half the households in the village.
It said the advice is a precuationary measure in response to ‘a fuel leak which has been plaguing the town of Bramley for quite some time’.
Recent tests found ‘elevated’ levels of hydrocarbons – the main compounds found in petrol – in three areas.
Thames Water has been delivering supplies of bottled water while the problem is addressed (Picture: SWNS)
Thames Water said the ‘concerning results’ suggest some water feeds could be dangerous.
When ingested with water, hydrocarbons ‘may lead to nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, however low levels of exposure are not expected to cause long term health effects,’ the company explained.
Residents were told the water is still safe for showering and hand-washing but not for drinking, cooking or brushing teeth.
The supplier has been delivering bottled water to affected homes.
Jane Austin, a Conservative councillor for Waverley Borough Council, said the waterning is ‘yet another horrible thing that’s happened to our village because of this fuel leak’.
She told BBC Radio Surrey: ‘We are so frustrated by what’s been thrown at us by something that’s completely… not of our choosing.’
The council says it is working with Thames Water and other agencies to ‘mitigate the impact on residents’.
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