CAMPAIGNERS fighting against the use of borehole water in West Cumbria are one step away from reaching a fundraising target to help their battle.

The campaign group Save Our Water Services is just short of the £2,000 needed to pay for water samples to be taken and sent to an independent company for testing.

Those leading the group are hopeful to reach this target in the next few days.

There was public outrage in June 2017 when United Utilities began mixing water from Ennerdale with Egremont borehole water. A petition was launched which gathered thousands of signatures.

The boreholes are being used to help supply the area with water while United Utilities constructs West Cumbria’s new pipeline from Thirlmere.

Many residents have complained of a raft of health problems including itchy skin, mouth ulcers and upset stomachs.

Colin Burns, who set up the fundraising page, said: “It’s for a great cause. I can’t be more thankful for everybody’s help. Some have made some really good donations.

“Hopefully we’re moving forward. There’s a lot of people getting involved now so it’s all good news.”

Mr Burns said the group would be meeting on Tuesday evening to come up with a strategy to get water samples taken.

Mark Jennings, of the Save Our Water Services campaign group, said he was “very pleased” with the amount raised.

“It’s showing that people are suffering or they wouldn’t be putting the money in,” he said.

“We’re hoping to get the tests done in the next few weeks.”

United Utilities has applied to continue its licence to draw water from the boreholes in Egremont which was strongly opposed by those against the scheme.

A spokesperson for United Utilities said: “We carry out regular monitoring of water supplies at our accredited laboratories and the results show that West Cumbria’s water supply meets the high standards required by the independent regulator, the Drinking Water Inspectorate.”

A spokesperson for the Drinking Water Inspectorate said: “The Drinking Water Inspectorate is aware of campaigning in the West Cumbria area regarding a partial change of source for the drinking water supply to include a proportion of the water from boreholes.

“When the change occurred, and in response to consumers’ concerns, the Drinking Water Inspectorate commissioned independent samples of water from the boreholes and from the treatment works and have published the results.

“The Drinking Water Inspectorate continues to scrutinise the results of further samples taken regularly from the boreholes and from consumer’s taps in the area.

“None of the results have indicated any issues with the quality of the water although it is noted to be slightly ‘harder’ in character.”

To donate to the fundraising page, go to: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/gilliancolin-burns