Poison Water review – a damning tale of greed, incompetence and Britain's biggest mass poisoning

A Disturbing Tale of Neglect and Greed

For decades, residents in north Cornwall have been dealing with the aftermath of a catastrophic failure by the water industry. In 1988, contaminated water laced with toxic amounts of aluminium sulphate was distributed to thousands of households, causing widespread illness and death. The incident, which has come to be known as Britain's biggest mass poisoning, was only discovered after two weeks, when residents began complaining about the strange blue or black water coming out of their taps.

The government's response was woefully inadequate. Residents were initially told that the water was safe to drink, with advice to mix it with orange squash to improve the taste. It wasn't until later that officials finally admitted there was a problem. To this day, many families believe that their loved ones died as a result of drinking contaminated water.

The lack of accountability for this egregious failure has been staggering. Despite numerous calls for a public inquiry, none have been held. The government has offered a meager apology, but the truth behind what really happened remains murky.

Recent investigations into similar cases, such as Toxic Town and Corby in Northamptonshire, suggest that Poison Water is part of a larger pattern of neglect and greed in Britain's water industry. As the program maker points out, it is time for those responsible to be held accountable.

Carole Wyatt, a resident of St Minver who has been struggling with health issues since the incident, is one of the few people willing to speak out about what happened. Her bravery is matched only by that of Doug Cross, a scientist who tried to sound the alarm from the start. His wife's tragic death in 2004 is just one example of the devastating impact this disaster has had on families.

The program also features interviews with Michael Howard, then minister for water and planning under Margaret Thatcher. While he denies any involvement in a cover-up or collusion, many are left wondering how such a catastrophic failure could have been allowed to happen.

Poison Water is a disturbing reminder that some of the most powerful people in our society can get away with neglecting their duties and putting profits over people's lives. The program is a must-watch for anyone concerned about the state of our water industry and the need for real accountability.

the more i learn about this, the more my mind starts to draw out diagrams of how the system failed

imagine a big water tower in the middle, with pipes coming out of it like spokes on a wheel
each spoke represents a household, and at first, they're all connected to the same pipe
but then, some of those pipes start leaking toxic stuff into the water
meanwhile, the water industry is more concerned about keeping profits flowing than fixing the leak
it's like they're trying to keep the whole system afloat on one pipe, while the others are sinking

and what really gets me is how the government responded
like, "oh, don't worry, it's safe to drink... just mix it with orange squash!"
that's not exactly reassuring when you're trying to save a loved one's life
i think we need more investigations, more accountability
and most of all, we need to make sure that the people who get to decide how our water system works are actually looking out for us

omg u guys this is like super disturbing i mean cant believe the govnt didnt do anything about it even tho its been like 30 yrs since the incident lol the fact that they kept ppl in the dark and told them to just mix it w/ orange squash is just wow. and now theres these other cases like toxic town and corby that r showing a larger pattern of neglect & greed in britains water industry i feel so bad for carole wyatt & doug cross who spoke out about their experiences tho they r total heroes i mean how can ppl in power get away w/ this kinda thing? its like, dont they have a responsiblity 2 keep ppl safe??

Still shocking to think about all those ppl affected by contaminated water back in 88 . Govt's response was super poor , and it's crazy no public inquiry's been held . Carole Wyatt & Doug Cross are total heroes for speaking out . Can't believe Michael Howard's still denying anything . It's time for those in power to be held accountable . The water industry needs major overhaul . Every1 deserves access to clean drinking water , not some toxic crap . This "Poison Water" doco is a must-watch

I was just watching this old documentary on my grandfather's old laptop and it made me think, have you guys ever noticed how some older homes in Cornwall still have those weird old pipes that look like they belong in a Victorian novel? Like, I was reading about how those pipes were actually made of lead and had to be replaced like every 20 years or so because of the risk of corrosion. It's crazy how little we've learned from history, right? And speaking of pipes, have you tried those new water filters that are supposed to make your tap water taste like spring water? My aunt swore by one and said it made all the difference in her tea...

I'm still getting chills thinking about this toxic water scandal . It's mind-boggling that it took two weeks for residents to figure out their taps were spewing out contaminated water, and even then, they were told it was safe to drink . Can you imagine having orange squash mixed into your poisoned water? Ugh! The government's response was woefully inadequate, imo . It's staggering that no one has been held accountable for this mass poisoning incident.

These cases, like Toxic Town and Corby, are really raising some red flags about the state of Britain's water industry . We need to know what happened and who was responsible for this negligence. Carole Wyatt and Doug Cross are total heroes for speaking out, and I'm so glad they're sharing their stories . It's time for real accountability, not just a half-hearted apology .

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this Poison Water thing, but I think it's super messed up that nobody was held accountable back in 1988 . Like, how can you ignore a situation where thousands of people are getting sick from drinking contaminated water? It's just not right.

And what's with the government's response? Telling people to mix it with orange squash to make it taste better? That's just insane . I mean, I know we've had our share of scandals and whatnot over the years, but this one seems particularly egregious.

I feel bad for all the families who have been affected by this disaster. Carole Wyatt and Doug Cross are total heroes for speaking out about what really happened. And it's crazy to think that Michael Howard might have been involved in a cover-up or something . Either way, I think we need some real accountability and answers on this one.

It's also got me thinking about Toxic Town and Corby... seems like there's a pattern of neglect and greed at play here . We need to make sure that our water industry is held up to higher standards and that people are truly accountable for their actions.

Anyway, I'd defo watch this Poison Water program if I had the chance . It sounds like it's gonna be a wild ride into some really dark stuff.

I'm still fumin' about this one . It's like, how could they have let that happen in 1988?! Contaminated water with aluminium sulphate just chillin' in our taps? And what really grinds my gears is that we're still waitin' for answers and accountability today . The government's response was pretty laughable back then - "just mix it with orange squash" yeah right!

And the fact that there hasn't been a public inquiry into this massive poisoning incident is just unacceptable. I mean, if you had toxic waste dumped in your backyard, wouldn't you want to know what was goin' on and who was responsible? These families have been sufferin' for decades because of corporate greed and negligence .

I'm so glad some people like Carole Wyatt and Doug Cross are speakin' out about this. It's about time the truth came out, even if it's 30+ years late . We need to know who was behind this cover-up and make sure they're held accountable. This Poison Water exposé is a major wake-up call for our water industry .

man this is so messed up like how can you just ignore something that's killing people left & right? it's not just the alu sulphate poisoning back in 88, there are still cases popping up everywhere like toxic town & corby, it's a pattern of neglect & greed thats been going on for decades and what does the gov do? nothing. they offer a meager apology but that doesn't make it right we need real accountability here, not just some token gesture to placate ppl

omg this is so messed up like what kinda system lets something like this happen? thousands of ppl dying from contaminated water and no one held accountable? it's literally insane that they got away with telling people their water was safe to drink lol. and now we're hearing more cases of this happening in other towns like toxic town in northamptonshire... it's like a pattern of neglect and greed that's just being ignored . i'm so angry for carole wyatt and doug cross and all the others who've suffered because of this disaster. it's time for some real accountability . can't believe they're still offering apologies but no actual justice for the families affected... it's just not right

I'm still getting chills thinking about what happened back in 88 . Like, who does that? And to think they told ppl it was safe to drink . Orange squash was supposed to be the solution? . I mean, I get it, governments are slow to act, but this is just basic human decency. And now all these years later, people are still fighting for answers and justice .

I'm so tired of all these cases popping up like Toxic Town and Corby in Northamptonshire. It's like we're seeing a pattern here . Greed and neglect at the highest levels, putting lives at risk. We need to hold our leaders accountable . I think it's time for some real transparency and accountability in our water industry. People like Carole Wyatt are the real heroes here . And Doug Cross, man... that's just crazy .

I do wonder how many more people died due to this contaminated water... I mean, we're talking thousands of households affected, but what was the actual death toll? . More needs to be done to uncover the truth and give these families justice . This Poison Water doco is giving me chills, man . We need more of this kind of investigative journalism .

I'm still getting chills thinking about what happened in Cornwall back in '88 . I mean, can you believe they told people to mix the toxic water with orange squash like it was some kind of joke?! It's disgusting that no one has been held accountable for such a massive failure. All these years later and families are still suffering because of it . It's like the government just washed their hands of the whole thing and moved on. I'm definitely watching this documentary, it needs to be brought out into the open so we can get some answers .

I'm really gutted to hear about this . I mean, 35+ years on and no one's been held accountable? That's just not right . It's like they're saying it was all just a big mistake and that's it . But the truth is, there were people who knew something was wrong back in the day and didn't speak up .

It's heartbreaking to think about the families who've lost loved ones because of this . I mean, can you imagine having to tell your kids that their mum/dad died from drinking water that shouldn't have been there? It's just devastating .

And what really gets me is that we're only hearing about it now . Like, why didn't they do anything back then? It's like they were more concerned with covering up the scandal than actually fixing the problem .

I think this programme needs to be shown to everyone in the UK . We need to know what happened and why no one was held accountable. It's time for some real change .

I'm still getting chills thinking about what happened in 1988. It's crazy that it's been decades and no one has been held accountable . The lack of transparency and action from the government is staggering, especially considering how many people were affected . Carole Wyatt and Doug Cross are real heroes for speaking out about their experiences . We need to see more like them who aren't afraid to call out negligence and corruption in our systems . The water industry needs a serious overhaul, not just a slap on the wrist . Until we have real accountability and change, this kind of tragedy can keep happening .

The recent exposé on Britain's biggest mass poisoning is a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked greed and negligence in our water industry . It's appalling that the government's response to this catastrophic failure was so woefully inadequate, with residents being misled into believing the contaminated water was safe to drink . The lack of accountability for those responsible is staggering, and it's high time we see real consequences for their actions .

The fact that a public inquiry has not been held is a clear indication of the government's reluctance to confront the truth about this disaster . It's also concerning to note that similar cases in other parts of the country suggest that this is part of a larger pattern of neglect and greed that needs to be addressed .

The bravery of individuals like Carole Wyatt, who have been struggling with health issues since the incident, should not be overlooked . Their stories serve as a powerful reminder of the devastating impact this disaster has had on families and communities. We need to see real action taken to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and that measures are put in place to prevent such disasters from happening again .

This story is giving me so much grief, you know? Like, how can one company be so reckless with people's health? I mean, who wants to drink blue or black water thinking it's safe?! And the fact that they had to tell people to mix it with orange squash is just mind-blowing. It's like, come on!

And don't even get me started on the government's response... or lack thereof. An apology doesn't cut it when there are families who have lost loved ones because of this disaster. I'm all for accountability and real answers, you know? It's time to shine a light on what really went down.

I'm also super impressed by people like Carole Wyatt and Doug Cross who have been speaking out about this for years. Their bravery is truly inspiring, even if it's not easy to watch or hear.

I mean, come on! It's been like 37 years since this toxic nightmare went down in north Cornwall and we're still hearing crickets from the government . The fact that people are still struggling with health issues and families have lost loved ones due to contaminated water is just heartbreaking . And to think they were initially told it was safe to drink?! Unbelievable! The lack of accountability is, like, totally unacceptable . We need real answers and real consequences for those responsible. This Poison Water doco is giving me all the feels - it's a must-watch for anyone who cares about holding our water industry accountable

This toxic tale got me thinking, did you guys know that some tap water tastes better when mixed with OJ? Like, who thought orange squash was a good idea?! Anyway, seriously though, it's wild that the gov't didn't take this seriously back in '88. I mean, two weeks without telling people their water is toxic? That's like leaving a puppy alone for two weeks... not a good look! And now we're hearing similar stories from other places? It's time to get real about accountability and hold those responsible for it. Maybe next time someone wants to cover up a big mess, they'll think twice before saying "mix it with orange squash"

The thought of knowing what really happened to those families is still so shocking, you know? Like, can't believe they were told it was safe to drink and had to wait weeks before finding out otherwise. And now, all these years later, we're still hearing about the lack of accountability from the government... it's just not right.

It's wild how similar this case is to others like Toxic Town and Corby in Northamptonshire. It feels like a pattern of neglect and greed is being uncovered, which is super concerning. We need more people like Carole Wyatt and Doug Cross who are willing to speak out and demand answers.