Water: Pollution
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of people who have become ill as a result of water pollution in each year since 2020.
Answered by Mrs Sharon Hodgson
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) undertakes surveillance of illnesses that could be a result of water pollution including infectious diseases, chemical and toxicological hazards. Attribution to a specific cause is not available for individual cases unless they are epidemiologically linked to an outbreak, due to multiple possible sources or factors that could contribute to an illness.
There was one outbreak of Cryptosporidium parvum with 143 laboratory confirmed cases in 2024. This was due to the contamination of mains drinking water, the cause is still under investigation. There were no other gastrointestinal infection outbreaks reported to or investigated by UKHSA through the period 2020-24 that are likely due to water pollution. Data on gastrointestinal outbreaks and likely causes are reported annually with the 2025 report due to be published in Summer 2026. Data is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gastrointestinal-infections-in-england
Since 2020, UKHSA has received no reports of ill health related to chemicals from users of recreational or other waters.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →