Efforts to address the challenge posed by antimicrobial resistance to the water industry
Dear Welsh Water,
I would be most grateful if you could respond to the following request for information:
Are there any activities you have initiated since 2019 in response to the challenge posed by antimicrobial resistance in wastewater and/or specifically in response to the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance? (link to the gov't doc here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio... )
For clarity, these activities could include (but aren't limited to):
1) Better understand how AMR spreads between and among humans, animals and the environment
2) Minimise spread of AMR through the environment
3) Develop an improved evidence base on AMR in the environment
4) To deepen understanding about AMR in the environment
5) Minimise antimicrobial contamination
Many thanks for your time in considering this request. It is greatly appreciated.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Andrew Singer
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB
Our Reference: EIR/1196/2022
Dear Dr Singer,
Request for Information
We refer to your request for information received the 13^th July 2022.
We are dealing with your request as one made under the Environmental
Information Regulations 2004.
In accordance with the Regulations, we will respond to your request within
20 working days (calculated from the first working day after receipt).
We have assigned reference EIR/1196/2022 to your request. Please kindly
note this in all correspondence with us regarding this matter.
In the meantime, if you have any queries, you can contact us on email
[1][email address].
Yours faithfully,
Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water
_______________________________________________________ Dwr Cymru Welsh
Water is firmly committed to water conservation and promoting water
efficiency. Please log on to our website www.dwrcymru.com/waterefficiency
to find out how you can become water wise. Mae Dwr Cymru Welsh Water wedi
ymrwymo i warchod adnoddau dwr a hyrwyddo defnydd dwr effeithiol. Mae
cyngor i' ch helpu i ddefnyddio dwr yn ddoeth yn
www.dwrcymru.com/waterefficiency
Our Reference: EIR/1196/2022
Dear Mr Singer,
Request for Information
We write further to your request for information dated 13^th of July 2022,
which we have been considering under
the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
To explain, DCWW participated in an Antimicrobial Resistance study as part
of the Chemical Investigations Programme (CIP). This UK national study
sampled 10 wastewater treatment works at various points throughout the
treatment process, specifically for metals and pharmaceuticals known to
influence AMR (genes). This was to better understand the abundance (genes
per litre), total (genes per cell) and richness of AMR genes (numbers of
types of genes) in wastewater processes as well as final effluent. This
report aligns with knowledge gaps identified in Government actions plans
such as the UK AMR National Action plan and the Welsh Government AMR 5
Implementation Plan for Wales.
The sampling programme began in autumn 2021 and was concluded earlier this
year. The programme was slightly delayed by the pandemic. The UK Centre of
Hydrology and Ecology led this investigation, and their report will be
available via the UKWIR website. To our knowledge, it is currently
undergoing publication checks so should be available fairly soon, but
we’re not aware of the exact date at this time.
The next round of CIP will include a continuation of the previous study,
expanding on the conclusions and recommendations. DCWW plan to continue
our research into the prevalence of AMR to better understand the impact of
our treatment processes by including AMR analysis in other investigations.
This will form part of our next 5-year plan whereby we work with our
regulators to focus on priority research gaps. The full scope of these
investigations is still in discussion.
We hope that this response is clear. Should you have any questions, you
can contact us via email at
[1][email address].
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the
right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be
submitted within 40 working days of the date of receipt of this response
and should be addressed to Company Secretary, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water Linea,
Fortran Road, St. Mellons, Cardiff, Wales, CF3 0LT.
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision.
Yours faithfully
Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water
_______________________________________________________ Dwr Cymru Welsh
Water is firmly committed to water conservation and promoting water
efficiency. Please log on to our website www.dwrcymru.com/waterefficiency
to find out how you can become water wise. Mae Dwr Cymru Welsh Water wedi
ymrwymo i warchod adnoddau dwr a hyrwyddo defnydd dwr effeithiol. Mae
cyngor i' ch helpu i ddefnyddio dwr yn ddoeth yn
www.dwrcymru.com/waterefficiency
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