Businesses in Douglas are now counting the cost after their tap water supply was contaminated.

Cafes and restaurants were among the businesses hit when sea water and oil were accidentally pumped into their fresh water supply during the washing down of the Ben-my-Chree.

Customers within the contamination zone, which stretched from the east side of the North Quay to the Villa Marina, were warned not to use their tap water.

As the Examiner reported, a joint statement was released earlier this week by the Steam Packet Company and Manx Utilities Authority (MUA) apologising to people affected by the incident.

Directors Nigel and Phil Taylor, who manage Little Fish Cafe on North Quay, said their staff faced a ’very difficult service’ on Thursday last week when the contamination was discovered.

Phil Taylor, who also runs 14North and Bath & Bottle with his father, Nigel, said: ’We had a lot of bookings that night and made an early decision to not take in additional customers because we wanted to deal with a small amount of people.

’Some dishes we weren’t able to do because our steam cooker was out of use, as well as our glass washer and coffee machine.

’We also weren’t able to sell coffee. Instead we gave our customers instant coffee using water from bottles and had to buy ice for our cocktails and cold drinks,’ he added. ’It was mentally and physically quite demanding.’

Nigel added: ’Customers were very understanding, but it involves a major disruption.

’We had to close business on Friday because by the end of the Thursday service we were piled with plates and needed to be ready to hit the ground running the next morning.’

Nigel found out about the water pollution on a radio broadcast and immediately alerted his staff members.

’It's beggars belief that oil and sea water could get into the fresh water supply. How on earth could this happen?

’We acted very quickly, so nobody would’ve been affected by us.’

Nearby Noa Bakehouse was also affected and had to shut temporarily until the staff managed to get emergency non-mains water supplies from the MUA.

Miles Petitt, owner of the bakery, said: ’Members of the team noticed a funny taste to the water on Thursday and got onto Manx Utilities straightaway. The MUA were very on it and kept good communication with us.

’Luckily the bread was already made before the contamination happened. We lost trade, but we did our best to offer an alternative and remain open, especially as there were people stranded in Douglas due to the snow.

’Our bread also went to the supermarkets a little later then usual, but we were back to normal service by Saturday,’ he added.

The MUA has declined to say whether it has a compensation policy but told the Courier that customers should contact them with any complaints they may have.

The MUA is still investigating what exactly contaminated the water.

The Steam Packet said that it was ’updating’ the way it was working to avoid it happening again.