The story of Britain’s biggest mass poisoning

In 1988, Cornwall experienced a devastating public health crisis when its tap water supply became contaminated, leading to a mass poisoning incident. The event, which affected a significant portion of the population, triggered widespread illness and raised serious questions about the safety of public utilities. Investigations into the cause of the contamination pointed to a failure in the water treatment process. As the scale of the disaster became apparent, accusations of a cover-up emerged, with many believing that authorities were slow to acknowledge the severity of the situation and to implement necessary corrective measures. The incident highlighted critical vulnerabilities in infrastructure and oversight, leaving a lasting impact on public trust and the regulatory landscape for water safety in Britain.