E-coli: all clear for Oxted water supply

I am very pleased to say that we now have final confirmation that the precautionary boil notice has now been lifted with immediate effect. We are in the process of informing our customers in as many ways as possible and appreciate everyone's assistance in getting this message out.

Each year we carry out 130,000 tests on around 13,000 samples at every point from source to tap and incidents like this are extremely rare.

Our investigations into the isolated sample result continue but there is no indication of contaminated water leaving the treatment works.

We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and concern this situation has caused to some of our customers, but putting a precautionary measure in place was the right thing to do, based on the information available at the time, to safeguard public safety”.

“Following a positive result for E-coli from one sample at our Westwood Water Treatment Works on Thursday, we put in place a precautionary boil notice for customers whose mains water is supplied from the site – this is around 6,500 properties in and around Oxted in Surrey.

“We apologise for the inconvenience and concern this may be causing to some of our customers, but it was the right thing to do, based on the information available at the time.

“I am pleased to say that through our investigations over the last 24 hours, involving sampling and analysis of water quality throughout the area covered by the precautionary boil notice, there is no indication of contaminated water leaving the treatment works.

Our customers in and around Oxted are being advised to boil their tap water after tests showed that water supplies could be affected by the bacteria E-coli.

The issue was discovered during routine tests, and our teams are working to investigate the problem and restore supplies to their usual high standards.

While we await further test results which will confirm the scale of any contamination, customers should boil their water – and then let it cool – before using it for drinking, preparing food or cleaning their teeth. Pets should also be given boiled tap water. Boiled water can be kept in the fridge, and should be covered and used within 24 hours. See our advice and guidance on boiling water click here

We would like to encourage our Oxted customers to talk to their neighbours and share this advice with them. To see all affected postcodes click here

As well as posting information on our website, we are contacting customers in the affected postcodes through email, SMS messages, targeted social media messages and advertising, direct mail, the media and word of mouth.

We will be supplying bottled water to our most vulnerable customers who live in the area.

We would like to offer apologies to everyone who is being affected. Everything possible is being done to return the water quality to normal and we will keep everyone informed via this website and our Twitter account @SESWater.