On the 1st April 2007 the UKWTA entered into a two-and-half-year-contract with Nottingham University to carry out a clinical field trial to quantify the health benefits of softened water against other treatments on childhood atopic eczema. The Softened Water Eczema Trial (SWET) is being administered by the Centre of Evidenced Based Dermatology at Nottingham University.
The clinical trial, led by Professor Hywel Williams and Dr. Kim Thomas of the University of Nottingham, will compare the effect of softened water with normal eczema care, such as corticosteroid creams.
The study will involve more than 310 children with moderate to severe eczema selected from four hard water regions in the UK: Nottingham/Leicester, Cambridge, North East London and the Isle of Wight. Each household, where the children live, will have a water softener installed for either a four or twelve-week period. Their eczema will be assessed at regular intervals with night scratching movements recorded by a special wristwatch.
The trial will span a two-and-half year period with £862k of funding support provided by the Department of Health and £117k to be contributed by companies in the water treatment industry.
The UKWTA is currently actively raising the industry sponsorship and site surveys and softener installations are being carried out by engineers from member companies European Watercare Limited on mainland UK, and MG Heating on the Isle of Wight.
A positive outcome from the trial would be a substantive health benefit claim from softener installation which could potentially result in softeners being prescribed to help treat severe cases. For detailed information visit www.swet-trial.co.uk