Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water: Cryptosporidiosis outbreak in Gwynedd and Anglesey

On 29 November 2005, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, on the recommendation of the Outbreak Control Team, issued a Boil Water Notice to customers supplied with water from its Cwellyn water treatment works. The Notice was introduced because two studies showed that Llyn Cwellyn was the likely source of the cryptosporidiosis outbreak in Gwynedd and Anglesey. Further investigations have strengthened this view as does the dropping off of the number of new cases of cryptosporidiosis being diagnosed since the Boil Notice was issued. Nonetheless, at this stage the water supply remains as the presumed rather than the confirmed cause of the outbreak.

Dwr Cymru has been a member of the Outbreak Control Team from the start of the outbreak and has provided detailed information on the water supply routes and the results of water treatment testing at and around Llyn Cwellyn. Records show that the water treatment works has been functioning normally and that there has been no breach of water quality standards.

The decision to extend the Boil Water Notice was taken because extensive investigations have not confirmed a single point source for the outbreak and consequently, no actions have been identified that would remove the source.

However, as a further safeguard, Dwr Cymru has installed additional treatment to water supplies from Llyn Cwellyn. As soon as the company has ensured that the new equipment is working properly, and the Outbreak Control Team is confident that the water supply can no longer be a possible source of any illness due to cryptosporidium the Boil Notice will be lifted, which is currently envisaged to be towards the end of January.

In the interim, Dwr Cymru has made an ex gratia payment to all customers affected by the Boil Notice. The payment is for the inconvenience that has been experienced and for the additional energy costs that customers have incurred by having to boil water from the tap for drinking and for food preparation purposes. The payment should not be interpreted as an acceptance by Dwr Cymru that its water supply or treatment is necessarily the cause of the outbreak.  

The Drinking Water Inspectorate, which acts on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales, is currently carrying out investigations into the outbreak and in drawing its conclusions will take account of the epidemiological findings of the Outbreak Control Team together with all other relevant information gathered in the course of its formal investigation. The Inspectorate will advise the Assembly of its findings, including whether there are grounds for it to initiate either prosecution or enforcement action.  

Other matters raised in recent press reports linking this incident in some way to water price rises and remuneration levels of Dwr Cymru Directors have no foundation.

The limits for water price rises are determined by the water industry regulator – the Director General of Water Services - and the conclusion of his latest price review –for 2005 to 2010- was announced in December 2004.  Dwr Cymru, uniquely of any other water company in England and Wales, has been able to provide a discount of £18 per annum for its customers as against the price limits set by the regulator.

The remuneration package for Dwr Cymru’s Executive Directors comprises a base salary, a potential annual performance related bonus and a potential separate long-term performance related bonus. Approval of the company’s remuneration policy is a matter for the Board of Glas Cymru.