Historic estate given E.coli all clear

07/12/2007

AN HISTORIC parkland estate and home to one of Essex's grandest mansions has been given the all-clear after the potentially deadly E.coli bacteria was found in its water supply.

Essex and Suffolk Water, in conjunction with Chelmsford Borough Council, completed a site survey and investigation into the plumbing arrangements at the Hylands estate following the discovery of bacterial strains there in September.

The water authority subsequently carried out alteration works to the underground pipes that supply water to the park which has now allowed the removal of temporary water supplies and portable toilets installed after traces of the bug were found.

A spokesman for council said yesterday that the whole of Hylands estate was now once again connected to the mains water supply and operating as normal.

The council's director of Parks and Heritage Services, Sue Ireland said: “While we will never be able to precisely pinpoint how the contamination occurred in the first place, Essex and Suffolk Water have made a number of recommendations that will help us to manage our water services in the park more effectively.

“Once the details have been agreed, this work will be carried out in the very near future.”

She added: “In the meantime Chelmsford Borough Council will continue to co-operate fully with the water authority, to ensure that Hylands remains a safe place for everyone to visit.

“I am delighted that the council has not received any reports of people becoming ill or unwell as result of the earlier water contamination.

“I am quite sure this is thanks to the rapid response of our staff and other officers across the council who ensured that measures were put into place to protect the public and to resolve the situation as soon as possible.”

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