United Utilities is under fire after 300,000 homes were unable to drink tap water due to an outbreak of the cryptosporidium bug in 2015. The outbreak was estimated to affect 700,000 people and charges have been brought by DWI- Drinking Water Inspectorate. The bug, which causes gastrointestinal issues, can be found during routine testing and UU is said to have failed to design an adequate treatment process, resulting in water unfit for human consumption that had to be boiled before ingesting to kill any bacteria.

Read more: United Utilities faces charges over Franklaw water bug outbreak – BBC News