Contaminated Water and Cryptosporidium Claims

Symptoms you might have after being exposed to contaminated water include:

• Watery diarrhoea
• Stomach cramps or pain
• Dehydration
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Weight loss.

If you have developed any of these symptoms, you should seek medical attention.

Our lawyers have years of experience in waterborne illness claims and can help determine when you were exposed to the parasite and who is responsible.

Cryptosporidium

Cryptosporidium is a very common cause of water contamination. This parasite is carried in infected faeces and passed onto those who come into contact with it, for example, in swimming pool water.

The parasite mainly spreads to other people through accidental ingestion. This can happen if you eat contaminated food or drink contaminated water. The largest outbreaks of cryptosporidium have occurred when drinking water becomes contaminated with raw sewage.

Swimming in infected water can also cause transmission—both swimming pools and natural bodies of water can contain cryptosporidium organisms.

Cryptosporidium has an incubation period of between two and 10 days, which means it might take over a week for symptoms to show. Some holidaymakers who catch an infection abroad, such as from the hotel swimming pool, don’t show symptoms until they have arrived home. Our expert team can help you work out where the water contamination took place and who is responsible, even if you are not sure. We can represent you whether you became ill in the UK or abroad.

Nontuberculous Mycobacteria

Nontuberculous Mycobacteria are commonly found in soil and water. Although this form of bacteria is generally harmless to most, it can have debilitating effects on those with weakened immune systems or pre-existing lung conditions. To help avoid the build-up of bacteria in water systems, routine flushing and the removal of dead legs is crucial to avoid stagnant water where bacteria can grow.

Nontuberculous Mycobacteria can be ingested through infected drinking water or inhaled through aerosolised droplets of infected water, such as from showers or hot tubs.

The incubation period for Nontuberculous Mycobacteria varies depending on the species of the bacteria. Don’t worry, though, we can help you get to the bottom of it and put things right.

Giardia

Giardia is commonly contracted through drinking water infected with faeces from infected animals or individuals. This can occur in lakes, rivers and poorly treated water supplies. It can also be contracted from direct contact with an infected person or through food washed in contaminated water or handled by someone who’s infected.

Symptoms usually arise seven to 10 days after exposure to Giardia, but it can be as quick as three days or as slow as 25 days.

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection commonly passed on through the urine of infected animals, primarily rodents, dogs and cattle. It’s commonly contracted through contact with contaminated water or soil, such as during freshwater swimming in lakes or rivers. You could become infected through contaminated water coming into contact with your mouth, eyes or cuts or abrasions on the skin.

Symptoms include a high fever, muscle aches, headaches, nausea, diarrhoea and redness to the white part of your eyes. In more serious cases, it can develop into a condition known as Weil’s Disease, which can impact your kidneys and lungs and, in some cases, can cause jaundice.

You should contact your GP or call 111 if you develop symptoms and treatment is likely to include antibiotics.

The time it takes to develop symptoms is commonly between seven and 14 days after infection, but the incubation period can be as short as two to three days or as long as 30 days.

Contaminated water outbreaks are often caused or made worse by poor hygiene practices.

If drinking water or a swimming pool becomes contaminated, many people can quickly fall ill. In these instances, you may be able to claim compensation from the business or organisation that should have prevented this contamination.

This could include:

• Swimming pool operators
• Hotels or resorts
• Tour operators
• Leisure Centres
• Hospitals
• Schools
• Water companies.

We could help you make a claim, whether you were exposed in the UK or abroad. If you became ill after contracting a waterborne infection while on holiday, it may be possible to claim in the UK if you booked a package holiday with a UK tour operator.

In the UK, you have three years to start your claim. This is either from the date you came into contact with contaminated water or the date you learnt your illness was caused by water contamination.

There are some exceptions to this three-year limit:

• Children under 18 are exempt from this limit until their 18^th birthday. If they choose to make their own claim after this date, they have until their 21^st birthday to begin the process.
• People who lack mental capacity to make their own claim are exempt from the time limit.

The time limits can be shorter in foreign countries. If you became ill through exposure to contaminated water abroad, you may have fewer than three years to start your claim.

Whatever your situation, you should start making your claim as soon as possible, as the details will be fresher in your mind and the evidence will be more readily available.