Smelly tap water was tainted by ‘glue’ chemicals

Thames Water could face prosecution after it was discovered that supplies to homes in parts of London were contaminated with industrial chemicals.

Two million people in the north and the east of the capital may have been affected by the discoloured and strange smelling water this month and hundreds have complained.

The chemicals, 2-EDD and 2-EMD, are often used for making glue and can cause diarrhoea, sickness, skin irritation and itchy eyes.

The Drinking Water Inspectorate is investigating and says Thames Water could face fines of thousands of pounds if the water is found to be unfit for consumption or inadequately treated or disinfected.

Customer Rachel Lewis, 31, a chemical researcher from Blackwall, said: "I contacted Thames Water and they just sent me a link to their website. The website just gives a list of two chemicals and doesn't explain what they are."

The contamination is thought to have come from the river Lee and the company has now started using the Thames instead.

A spokesman for the Drinking Water Inspectorate said the Health Protection Agency had advised that the concentrations recorded in the water samples pose no significant risk to health.

A Thames Water spokesman said: "Our customer centre was emailed by Ms Lewis on February 19. We tried repeatedly over the next two days to call her, as we prefer to talk to customers in person. Having not managed to get hold of her by phone, we sent Ms Lewis an email on February 25, four working days later – and well inside the 10-day response deadline for written queries.

"We're really sorry to Ms Lewis and to all other customers who have been affected by this."

"Our most recent tests indicate that the levels of these substances in water going to customers in north-east London have significantly reduced and are now almost undetectable. We're confident the problem is now almost completely resolved."