A COUNCIL is to urge the Government to get tough on water companies after people in the area were hit by a dangerous stomach bug.

Town hall bosses in Wigan want the law changed so that North West Water could face prosecution if their supplies contain a high reading of Cryptosporidiosis.

The infection led to 67 people from the Wigan and Bolton Health Authority being struck down with diarrhoea last year.

Five months ago, monitoring equipment at the Lostock treatment plant showed levels of the bug exceeded the safe 18 per cent mark.

Wigan Council has argued that if the water is not fit for human consumption, NWW should be liable to prosecution. A meeting of the cabinet tomorrow is likely to agree that a letter be sent to the Department of Environment, Transport and Regions asking for a change in the law.

Councillors read a report from Ashley Crumbley, director of environmental health and consumer protection, which said: "There appears to be a legal loophole that needs closing to ensure water companies can be prosecuted when they supply water which is unfit for human consumption."

The local authority would like to see the Drinking Water Inspectorate, the industry watchdog, given powers to require companies to implement and maintain improvements to catchment areas to minimise the risk of the bacteria entering the supply.

The document states that Cryptosporidiosis is an infection associated with the consumption of contaminated water supply, unpasteurised milk, visits to farms and swimming baths.

An outbreak of the illness in the borough was recorded in June last year and investigations led to the supply of drinking water from NWW's reservoir at Thirlmere.

NWW said it did not want to comment on the letter because any change in legislation would not affect it directly.

A spokeswoman said new laws would affect the DWI.