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Information Letters

DWI Information Letter 10/2002

29 August 2002

To: Board level contacts of water and sewerage companies and water companies in England and Wales

Dear Sir or Madam,

THE MICROBIOLOGY OF DRINKING WATER 2002

    Purpose

  1. The purpose of this Information Letter is to provide water companies with information about the publication of The Microbiology of Drinking Water 2002, which supersedes The Microbiology of Water 1994 Part 1 – Drinking Water (commonly referred to as Report 71) as the primary source of guidance on drinking water microbiology in England and Wales.

    2. Background

  2. The Microbiology of Drinking Water 2002 was published by the Standing Committee of Analysts (SCA) – in the series “Methods for the Examination of Waters and Associated Materials” in March 2002. SCA is part of the Environment Agency (EA) and it was expected that the document would quickly be available on the EA website. The EA has decided that this and future SCA publications will be available only in electronic format.

  3. Unfortunately there has been a delay in posting the document on the EA website. Copies are available by e-mail from David Westwood, Environment Agency, Secretary of SCA (Wheatcroft Office Park, Landmere Lane, Edwalton, Nottingham NG12 4DG, Tel 0115 921 3705, Fax 0115 921 3760, E-mail, david.westwood@environment-agency.gov.uk). However, as a temporary measure, the Inspectorate has placed the document on its website (www.dwi.gov.uk) under Business and Technical, where it is available in Adobe Acrobat® format for download.

  4. The Microbiology of Drinking Water 2002 adopts a different format from its predecessors in that it consists of 10 separate parts which will enable future revisions or additions of individual parts to be accomplished without affecting the rest of the document. The parts are as follows:

    5. Part 1 – Water quality and public health

    Part 2 – Practices and procedures for sampling

    Part 3 – Practices and procedures for laboratories

    Part 4 – Methods for the isolation and enumeration of coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli (including E coli O157:H7)

    Part 5 – A method for the isolation and enumeration of enterococci by membrane filtration

    Part 6 – A method for the isolation and enumeration of sulphite-reducing clostridia and Clostridium perfringens by membrane filtration

    Part 7 - Methods for the enumeration of heterotrophic bacteria by pour and spread plate techniques

    Part 8 – Methods for the isolation and enumeration of Aeromonas and Pseudomonas aeuginosa by membrane filtration

    Part 9 – Methods for the isolation and enumeration of Salmonella and Shigella by selective enrichment, membrane filtration and most probable number techniques

    Part 10 – Methods for the isolation and enumeration of Yesinia, Vibrio and Campylobacter by selective enrichment and membrane filtration

    Implementation

  5. The Inspectorate recognises the Microbiology of Drinking Water 2002 as the primary source of guidance on drinking water microbiology in England and Wales and expects water companies and, where appropriate, their analytical contractors, to follow its recommendations. Where necessary, further guidance specifically referring to microbiological implementation of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000 (England) and 2001(Wales) will be given in the new Guidance Document on these Regulations to be published shortly by the Inspectorate.

  6. The Inspectorate will expect water companies and, where appropriate, their analytical contractors, to follow the recommendations and advice in the Microbiology of Drinking Water 2002 by 1 January 2003.

    7. Enquiries

  7. Enquiries concerning this letter should be addressed to David Drury (020 7944 5976).

    8. Circulation

  8. Copies of this letter are being sent to Pamela Taylor, Chief Executive, Water UK; Rodney Anderson, Water Supply and Regulation Division, Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Bob Macey, Environment Division, Welsh Assembly Government; Tim Hooton, Water Services Unit, Scottish Executive; Randal Scott, Drinking Water Inspectorate for Northern Ireland; David Westwood, Environment Agency, and Beryl Brown, Office of Water Services.

  9. This letter is being sent electronically to both Board Level and Day to Day contacts. Please acknowledge receipt by email to dwi.enquiries@defra.gsi.gov.uk. Hard copies are not being sent. This letter may be copied freely. Companies should ensure that all laboratories carrying out regulatory microbiological analysis receive a copy of this letter.

    10. Yours sincerely

    Michael Rouse
    Chief Inspector
    Drinking Water Inspectorate

 
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Drinking Water Inspectorate,
Floor 2/A1, Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6DE
Telephone : 020 7944 5956 - Facsimile : 020 7944 5969
E-mail: dwi.enquiries@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Published 11 September 2002
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