SHOPS ran short of bottled water and schools closed their doors in parts of Northants last week after the bug cryptospiridium was found in water supplies in the north of the county.
Anglian Water warned residents, schools and businesses to boil their water before drinking or buy bottled water after traces of the bug was found in tap water supplying Northampton, Daventry and surrounding villages, including Gayton.
The water co
mpany yesterday, Thursday, said the bug had not affected water supplies for Brackley and Towcester residents but it had set up a postcode check on its website www.anglianwater.co.uk so householders can confirm latest advice.
On Wednesday, Northants County Council advised schools to close if they were in the affected area, with many schools re-opening again yesterday, Thursday, after Anglian Water provided bottled water.
Paulerspury CofE Primary School closed on Wednesday as a precaution due to the school being in close proximity to contaminated water supplies.
The school re-opened yesterday, Thursday, following advice from Anglian Water and Northants County Council. Gayton Primary School had remained open and followed advice issued by Anglian Water.
Tesco stores in Brackley and Towcester reported strong sales of bottled water to people travelling to the shops from the Daventry and Northampton areas. A spokesperson from Towcester Tesco said: "We sold out of bottled water on Wednesday and we had to get some brought in from the distribution centre in Lichfield to make sure there was some on site."
Around 108,000 homes around Northampton and Daventry have been affected and the alert is in operation while work is carried out to clean supplies. Water samples showed evidence of cryptospiridium, which can cause sickness and diarrhoea.
The source of the bug is believed to be Pitsford Reservoir, north of Northampton. The cause was still being investigated at the time of going to press yesterday.
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