‘My son is still suffering’: the ill effects of water contamination in ‘Brixham incident’

M ost of the tourists milling around the busy fishing harbour or visiting Agatha Christie’s riverside holiday retreat have probably forgotten what South West Water euphemistically calls the “Brixham incident” . But for residents at the centre of the “incident” – a parasite outbreak that caused perhaps hundreds of people in south Devon to fall ill after they drank contaminated water – the physical and psychological impacts are still keenly felt. People who live in the outbreak zone say they believe that they continue to endure illnesses caused by the contamination, while many vow to never drink tap water again. “So many of us are still suffering,” said Lisa Horswill, 55, who believes her autoimmune issues may be down to the outbreak. “I had an existing health condition before it happened but I have been much worse since.” Her husband, Kris Horswill, 44, had kidney problems before the outbreak in the spring and summer of 2024, but his health has worsened and he is about to start dialysis. They can’t say for certain that the outbreak has caused their health to deteriorate. “But we don’t think it is a coincidence,” Lisa said. The Horswills, who live in Higher Brixham, one of the neighbourhoods worst hit, say they will never drink water straight from the tap again and have invested in a filtration system. “That costs us £450 a year, which stings a bit, especially when our water bills are going up all the time,” Lisa said. …