John Lewis has been forced to supply months’ worth of bottled water to residents in a Hampshire village after fertiliser pollution made the local supply unsafe to drink.
For the past four months, the retailer has delivered bottled water to homes in Longstock, near Andover, after tests revealed high levels of nitrates in drinking water drawn from its Leckford Estate, a 2,800-acre farm owned by the John Lewis Partnership since 1929.
The estate, known as the “Waitrose Farm”, produces fruit and other goods for the supermarket. About half the homes in Longstock are supplied directly with water from the site.
Nitrates, widely used in fertilisers, can seep into groundwater when washed out of soil by rainfall. Elevated concentrations in drinking water reduce the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, posing particular risks to infants — who may develop “blue baby syndrome” — as well as pregnant women.
Local authorities have told villagers they can continue to drink tap water only if it is supplemented by bottled supplies. Expectant mothers and young children have been advised not to consume the tap water at all.
The Leckford Estate has installed new filtration systems at its boreholes, which are partly fed by the River Test, but it expects problems to persist for at least another month while testing continues.
A spokesperson for the estate said: “The presence of nitrates is unfortunately a nationwide issue. We’re in regular contact with residents and have supplied free bottled water while new systems are installed. As a long-term solution, we are exploring options to connect Longstock to the local water provider.”
The government has previously warned of a rise in nitrate levels across England linked to prolonged dry weather, cropping changes and greater use of fertiliser. More than half the country has now been classified as a “nitrate vulnerable zone”, requiring extra monitoring.
Nearly 30% of water sourced from aquifers rather than rivers must now be treated or blended to meet safety standards.
The contamination at Leckford comes amid wider scrutiny of water quality. Southern Water, which supplies the surrounding region, was responsible for 15 serious pollution incidents last year.
A comparable incident occurred in Bramley, Surrey, when a petrol leak at an Asda filling station forced Thames Water to issue a “do not drink” order and distribute bottled water to residents.
