HC Deb 16 January 1979 vol 960 c719W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what tests are undertaken by water authorities for viral contamination;

(2) if he will make a statement on the progress of the discussions regarding the establishment of new bacterial and viral standards for drinking water.

Mr. Denis Howell

The EEC directive on drinking water standards, agreed at the Council of Ministers on 19th December, gives some guidance here, but I am also considering the implications of the recent article in the bulletin of World Health Organisation which my hon. Friend presumably has in mind, and I shall write to him further about it.

There is no standard practice among water undertakers on testing for viral contamination, but a substantial amount of testing is carried out, particularly by the Thames water authority.