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Polzeath's Drinking Water Supply: A Complex Picture
Do you know where your water comes from and where it used to come from?
No neither do I and to be honest I'm still not sure!
However, we are seeking Information from Residents Affected by the 1988 Water Contamination
Were you a resident of the Delank service area in 1988 and had your water tested after the Camelford water incident?
David Thomas, a former resident of Trewethern Farm, is seeking to connect with others who, like him, had their water tested and found concerning levels of contamination despite being outside the initially reported affected area.
He believes that the contamination may have been more widespread than initially acknowledged and that the Delank system, which used a different flocculating agent, was also impacted.
David's water test results, conducted just days after the public announcement, showed 13 times the legal limit for aluminum sulfate. He has gathered information and testimonies suggesting that contaminated water from the Lower Moor system may have been deliberately flushed through the Delank system.
If you were living in the Delank service area in 1988 and had your water tested, please get in touch. Your information could be vital in uncovering the full extent of the contamination and its potential long-term health impacts.
You can contact David Thomas by making a comment here and I will pass it along.
Yes it was a long time ago but this is an important issue. It would be good if all affected individuals receive the recognition and support they deserve and that a mass poisoning incident of thios magnitude never happens again.
If you are asking: Where is the De Lank supply area then the following might help clarify.
The De Lank Water Treatment Works currently serves Harlyn, Padstow, Wadebridge, and Bodmin. The proximity of Polzeath to these locations and the interconnectivity of the water distribution system strongly suggests its inclusion within the broader De Lank service area. The De Lank service area today likely encompasses areas distinct from those primarily served by the Lowermoor system in 1988.
Flushing of the Lowermoor System: David Thomas suspects that contaminated water from the Lowermoor system was deliberately flushed through the Delank system. If his suspicions are accurate, this action could have temporarily expanded the De Lank service area to include locations typically outside its normal boundaries. However, without concrete evidence to support these claims, it remains a speculation.
This 2023 document focusing on Harlyn and Padstow's water supply states that the main source for the area, including Polzeath, is the De Lank River, which can be supplemented by Coliford Lake, Stannon Lake, and Hawks Tor. The SWW document highlights the high quality of the De Lank River water and the robust treatment process at the De Lank Water Treatment Works, ensuring its suitability for consumption.●
Blending with Other Water Sources: However, the same document also mentions the possibility of blending water sources at various service reservoirs, including those supplying Polzeath. Notably, the St. Endellion service reservoir, which potentially feeds Polzeath, can receive water from both the De Lank WTW and the Lowermoor WTW, the source of the 1988 contamination incident. This raises questions about the potential for contaminated water from the Lowermoor system to have reached Polzeath.
The location of Figure 7, which shows the extent of the Lowermoor network model, is on page 10 of the "LOWERMOOR WATER QUALITY MODELLING REPORT (Phase 2)". This report was prepared for the Department of Health's Committee on Toxicity Subgroup, which investigated the health effects of the Lowermoor water pollution incident.●
The figure depicts the extent of the hydraulic model used in the report, encompassing the trunk mains of the Lowermoor supply zone.●
The model includes the Delabole and Rockhead service reservoirs but excludes storage facilities at Boscastle, Davidstow, Michaelstow, and St Endellion, as these were not part of the original model from which the Lowermoor model was derived.●
Smaller distribution pipes feeding Camelford, St Teath, and areas supplied by Boscastle, Davidstow, and Michaelstow reservoirs are also excluded from the model.●
The report emphasizes that the model results do not consider the impact of the excluded components.
The figure is accompanied by a network map, with blue lines representing mains included in the model.
The report also notes that the model's demands are derived from actual flow data recorded between July 5th and 11th, 1988, encompassing the period of the incident and subsequent flushing exercises
The "LOWERMOOR WATER QUALITY MODELLING REPORT (Phase 2)" by Black & Veatch Ltd is dated August 2006. The report went through three revisions:●
Draft version issued on August 30, 2006●
Final version issued on September 7, 2006●
Final Revision A issued on March 16, 2007
This report was commissioned by the Department of Health's Committee on Toxicity Subgroup to better understand the extent and impact of the July 1988 aluminum sulfate contamination incident at the Lowermoor Water Treatment Works. The report specifically focuses on modeling:●
The mixing and dispersion of the aluminum sulfate within the contact and clear water tanks at the treatment works.●
The propagation of the contaminated water through the trunk mains of the Lowermoor supply zone, ultimately reaching consumers.
The report was produced in response to concerns that previous assessments, including those by Crowther Clayton Associates, did not adequately consider these factors, potentially impacting the estimated duration of the incident and the public's level of exposure.
It is worth noting that the report explicitly states that it was prepared solely for the Department of Health and should not be relied upon by any other party without prior written permission from Black & Veatch Ltd. Additionally, Black & Veatch Ltd acknowledges relying on information provided by others, the accuracy and completeness of which they do not guarantee
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