WATER from a well in Malvern must be boiled before it is drunk after failing recent bacteriological tests.
A notice from the Malvern Hills Trust warned walkers not to drink from Hayslad Spout, near West of England Quarry Car Park, unless they boil the water first.
The sign said: “On advice from Worcestershire Regulatory Services the water from this spring has failed recent bacteriological tests and should be boiled before use.”
The well is close to the car park off West Malvern Road, and is commonly used by walkers going up and down the hills.
NOTICE: The notice at Hayslad Spout, Malvern
A Malvern Hills Trust spokesperson confirmed the water at the wells elsewhere on the hills was regularly tested for purity.
They said: “The notices have been up for a little while following a routine water testing by Worcestershire Regulatory Services.
“In accordance with the notice issued by Worcestershire Regulatory Services, consumers of the water supplied at Hayslad Spout are advised to boil the water before consumption.”
The wells in Malvern have provided a source of fresh drinking water for centuries.
Since at least the Middle Ages, Malvern spring water has been valued for its purity and health-giving properties.
In Victorian times, the town became famous for its water, being described as containing “nothing at all”.
CLEAN: The Malvhina fountain in Malvern
In the centre of Malvern, the Malvhina fountain has a plaque installed saying how clean the water is.
It says: “This drinking spout of pure water is piped directly from three springs above the town at Happy Valley, Rushey Vally and Ivy Scar Rock.
“The water is thought to come from so deep down that underground pressure forces it upwards, filtering it through the ancient Malvern stone of the hills, removing any impurities.
“This supply is continuously filtered and tested so that it is always of the purest quality.”
The Malvhina fountain is kept clean by a filtering system managed by the district council.
In recent times there have been issues with the springs.
In November 2014, notices went up on 12 public water sources around the Hills after water samples proved to be contaminated by the bacteria.
