United Utilities water supplies have been contaminated with cryptosporidium parasites. Experts believe that animal waste is the most probable cause for the contamination that has left over 300,000 UK homes in Preston, South Ribble, Chorley, the Flyde Coast, and parts of Blackburn without clean tap water.

Officials are testing the purification systems at the Franklaw Treatment Plant, but tell consumers it might be a few days before the entire system is fully flushed and cleansed. In the meantime, those living in the troubled areas are told to boil their water before use and use bottled water for drinking. For more on this story, click here:: Animal poo to blame for water contamination affecting 300k homes, say experts