Information Letter

DWI Information Letter 14/2004

25 November 2004

To: Day to Day Contacts of Water and Sewerage Companies and Water Companies in England and Wales and Approved Regulatory Cryptosporidium Analytical Laboratory Contacts

Dear Sir or Madam

CRYPTOSPORIDIUM IN WATER SUPPLIES: ANOMALY REPORTING FOR THE WATER SUPPLY (WATER QUALITY) REGULATIONS 2000 (ENGLAND) AND WATER SUPPLY (WATER QUALITY) REGULATIONS 2001(WALES).

Purpose

1. The purpose of this letter is to advise companies of changes to the:
   
   
   1. notification of Cryptosporidium anomalies to the Inspectorate; and
   
   
   2. Inspectorate's procedure for reporting the outcome of investigations of anomalies.

Introduction

2. This Information Letter sets out the revised arrangements for the recording and reporting of anomalies which will come into effect on 1 January 2005.

Changes to the notification of anomalies by companies

3. A review of the existing procedure for anomaly notification has been undertaken by the Inspectorate with a view to simplifying the current arrangements. The revised procedure and the information required are appended with this information letter and will be included in the next revision of the Standard Operating Protocol. The existing anomaly forms Appendix C and Appendix D have been replaced by a new single anomaly form. The revised anomaly reporting form is now located in the Cryptosporidium forms cabinet on the DWI web site. Companies and laboratories can download the form from the DWI website, when required, using the revised Excel based anomaly form.



4. A new anomaly notification procedure is detailed in Appendix B attached to this information letter. In the new anomaly notification procedure telephone notification is only required for priority 1 notifications. There is no longer a requirement to telephone the anomaly to the Inspectorate for priority 2 and 3 notifications these will now be notified by email. Priority 4 notifications will continue to be submitted on a monthly basis.



5. The list of anomalies is unchanged but is detailed in Appendix C for information.

Notification

6. The Inspectorate will assess the anomalies on a monthly basis and a written report will be sent to the Company. Should any additional information be required to complete the assessment of an anomaly then the Company or Laboratory will be informed.



7. Notification of anomalies should be made to Tony Hallas (020 7082 8044) email: tony.hallas@defra.gsi.gov.uk with a copy to DWIDoc.Controller@defra.gsi.gov.uk.

Enquiries

8. Any enquiries about this letter should be addressed to Tony Hallas (020 7082 8044) email: tony.hallas@defra.gsi.gov.uk.



9. This letter is being sent electronically to board level and day-to-day contacts. Please acknowledge its receipt by e-mail to dwi.informationletters@defra.gsi.gov.uk. Hard copies are not being sent. This letter may be freely copied.



10. Copies of this letter are being sent to Pamela Taylor, Chief Executive, Water UK; Richard Wood, Water Supply and Regulation Division, Department of the Environment Food and Rural Affairs; June Milligan, Environment Division, the National Assembly for Wales; Tim Hooton, Government Regulator for Drinking Water Quality, Scotland; Randal Scott, Drinking Water Inspectorate for Northern Ireland; Rowena Tye, Office of Water Services and Steve Kippin, LGC Teddington Ltd.

Yours sincerely



Prof. Jeni Colbourne MBE
Chief Inspector
Drinking Water Inspectorate





Appendix A - Anomaly form

Appendix B - Anomaly notification procedure

Appendix C - List of anomalies