Page 7 - Foundation for Water Research Winter Newsletter 2020

WWT Drinking Water Quality Conference

Mike Waite, FWR Water Supply Co-ordinator
ater & Wastewater Treatment’s 4 annual Drinking to be learned. The water source was only
th
WWater Conference was held on 27 November 2019 monitored monthly, being categorised as
in Birmingham, and once again it provided a range of ‘secure’ and received no treatment nor
interesting topics with several expert speakers. The disinfection despite obvious contamination
theme of the morning session was Adapting to new risks. Despite an outbreak of campylobacter
drinking water regulation and emerging trends. in 1998 and more than 5% of samples in
the distribution system being positive for
The welcome from Paul Vallely (Anglian scheme to encourage customers to replace E.coli, the regulator detemined the source
Water) took the form of a short paper in their service pipes by offering to cover part to be secure and no enforcement action was
which he mentioned that AW was nearing full of the cost but there was limited take up and taken. A sample from a tanker which tested
compliance for metaldehyde and described the scheme is being reviewed. The company positive for E.coli was attributed to tanker
the company’s use of the Newmarket area as gives leaflets on lead to expectant mothers contamination and even though a sample
a trial zone for innovation. as part of a ‘Bounty Pack’ and shows videos from the distribution system the following
in some maternity hospital waiting areas. day was positive for E.coli, the decision to
Marcus Rink (DWI Chief Inspector) covered Clair also posed the question of whether wait for further samples was taken. When,
Drinking water regulation and the new a national approach is necessary. Andrew finally, advice to boil water was issued it
Directive which is presently being developed. Dunbar (Scottish Water) pointed out that was because of increased GP visits, school
He noted that Brexit introduces a measure of most customers believe there are no longer absences and sales of anti-diarrhoea
uncertainty for the UK. Although compliance any lead pipes and under 30s are unaware of medicines. The root cause of the problem
across the EU with the current Directive is lead as a problem, never having encountered was lack of regulation and enforcement and
>99%, in deciding to recast the Drinking leaded petrol. Paul Hampton (Southern despite further (small) outbreaks, progress
Water Directive the Commission decided that Water), having noted that DWI does not on regulation has been dilatory.
although the current Directive was working consider long-term dosing as a solution,
well there was room for improvement. The posed several questions: Is universal pipe Isabel Douterelo Soler (University of
aim of the recast is to improve the quality replacement feasible, even with grants? Is Sheffield) then addressed the subject of
of drinking water and provide citizens with pipe lining a suitable strategy? And what if antimicrobial resistance in drinking
greater access to water and information about the PCV (Prescribed Concentration or Value) water systems. Indiscriminate use of
it. A total of 18 new parameters are under is reduced? antibiotics and inadequacy of waste water
consideration (none are microbiological). treatment has prompted the inclusion
It aims to update the existing standards, The afternoon theme explored New of antibiotics in the EU list of emerging
introduce a risk-based safety assessment developments in water treatment contaminants. Biofilms can be a reservoir
to the monitoring of water, harmonise processes and technologies. of antimicrobial resistant genes (ARG).
standards for products in contact with Disinfection can increase the transfer of
drinking water, improve rules on transparency Colin Fricker (Consultant) covered Water ARG and promote horizontal gene transfer
and consumers’ access to information, and network safety – the impact on public to pathogens. Oxidative treatment appears
improve access for all people to drinking health when it all goes wrong. He promising for detroying ARG as does novel
water. One radical idea is to make available described a large waterborne disease pipe materials to minimise biofilms. The
free access to Drinking Water in public spaces. outbreak in Havelock, New Zealand which suggestion of a probiotic approach could
(This comes full circle from the widespread highlighted several deficiencies and lessons prove problematic with public acceptability.
removal of public drinking fountains in the A key point is that antibiotic resistance is
latter part of the 20 century!) reversible and bacteria tend to lose ARG in
th
the absence of continued selection pressure.
At the end of the morning there were (Read more about antibiotic resistance
breakout sessions and I participated in in our lead article.)
Tackling lead in drinking water. Clair Dunn All in all, an interesting day with lots of
(Anglian Water) described the initiatives in information to digest!
AW. A total of 98% of AW region now has
supplies which are phosphate dosed, and Note: a longer version of this article
there were only four lead failures in 2018. The can be accessed here: www.fwr.org/
company introduced a customer contribution E.coli bacteria. Credit: Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock.com drnkwater/4thdwqNov19.htm

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