A damning new documentary on BBC Two is set to reveal the full story of what it claims to be Britain's biggest mass poisoning, a harrowing environmental scandal that unfolded in Cornwall in 1988.
A Community's Water Turned Toxic
Carol Wyatt, one of the victims featured in 'Poison Water', makes a heartfelt plea, stating, "Before I die, I want this truth to come out." The film details how residents in north Cornwall found their tap water had turned a disturbing colour, with Wyatt recalling it being the same hue as toilet cleaner.
Distressed complaints poured in from the community. One particularly chilling phone recording featured in the documentary reveals a resident reporting, "Our daughter’s hair has turned green and it’s sticking like glue." Despite the alarming evidence and numerous reports from the public, the authorities at the time maintained that the water supply was safe to use.
The Fight for Accountability and Truth
The documentary provides a platform for a key figure from the era, featuring an interview with the former head of operations at South West Water. The film scrutinises the official response and the subsequent lack of a fully independent public inquiry into the incident.
Many victims and their families have long believed that the aluminium contamination led to severe health consequences, including links to Alzheimer's disease. For decades, they have sought a comprehensive and impartial investigation to establish the full facts and assign responsibility.
Can a Documentary Force Change?
The makers of 'Poison Water' hope that by bringing this story to a national audience, they can reignite the campaign for justice. The film poses a critical question: can this powerful documentary finally be the catalyst that forces the long-overdue public inquiry the victims have been demanding for over three decades?
By presenting firsthand accounts and confronting the official narrative, the programme aims to shed new light on a dark chapter in British public health history and deliver the truth that Carol Wyatt and so many others are waiting for.
