Campaigners are continuing their fight against borehole water being used in West Cumbria.

For more than three years, members of the West Cumbria Water Supply group have been sharing their concerns and fears over United Utilities’ decision to mix harder borehole water from Egremont with soft water from Ennerdale.

Although United Utilities has confirmed the water supply meets strict water quality standards, the battle continues, as residents are once again appealing for the boreholes to be sealed.

In December 2017 the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) carried out an investigation into the water amid claims of popping kettles, upset stomachs and skin rashes.

Its report found that “although some customers rejected their tap water, the supplies were safe to drink and there was no evidence that anyone was made ill” by the water.

Mark Jennings, of the campaign group, repeated some of the health claims however, and urged the company to change its policy.

“Look at all the rain we’ve had,” he continued, “and they still insist on using boreholes.

“They’re not needed. If the rivers and lakes were dry then I would understand, but the water levels are absolutely fine at the moment, so they should seal the boreholes until they’re absolutely necessary.”

The water currently supplies properties in Workington, Whitehaven, Distington, Cleator Moor, Moresby, Egremont, Frizington, Seascale, Gosforth, Bootle, St Bees, Ennerdale Bridge and other villages in between.

And with 7,000 people behind him, Mr Jennings doesn’t plan on giving up anytime soon.

“So many people have come to me to share how the water’s affecting them,” he said.

“There are people with dermatitis that they said they never had before, and loads of us have noticed a black film covering kettles and showers and other appliances.

“How can all the organisations in charge keep telling us there’s nothing to worry about?”

Mr Jennings added that many people across West Cumbria have been forced to buy their own bottled water, as they feel the borehole water mixture is “too disgusting” to drink, with a strange smell and taste.

He said: “These people are truly suffering – every day I get messages through the [Facebook] page saying how hard it is, and it’s really frustrating that nobody’s doing anything about it.”

A spokesperson for United Utilities responded to the claims, and said: “We understand that the group does not like the change to slightly harder water, however the supply meets all the strict water quality standards that apply to drinking water in the UK.

“We routinely monitor the water quality and have not identified any cause for concern.

“We are in regular communication with Public Health England, which has confirmed it has not seen any increase in cases of illness amongst the community that could be attributed to the water supply.”