More than 600 households in Surrey have been told not to drink their tap water after tests carried out by Thames Water . The company said results on Thursday indicated “a possible deterioration in quality” of drinking water “in some areas”. A total of 616 houses in and around the village of Bramley have been given the “precautionary” instruction not to use their water supply for drinking, cooking or brushing their teeth – although they can continue to use it to shower and wash hands.
It comes after the collection and assessment of drinking water in the village following a historical fuel leak from its petrol station. The notice will remain in place while further investigations are carried out, Thames Water said. The utility company added that letters and bottled water would be delivered to the affected properties.
The chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, said bottled water stations were being set up in the village. Bramley is part of the South West Surrey constituency that he represented until parliament was dissolved on Thursday. Hunt said he had spoken with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Thames Water, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, a local councillor and Asda – which operates a petrol station on the site of the fuel leak.
Complaints from local people about the fuel leak date back to 2021, and Hunt said it posed a risk to the broadband and telephone services of 880 BT customers as the company’s ductwork passes the site. Tess Fayers, Tha.
