§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the studies commissioned from the Water Research Centre by his Department in (a) 1979, (b) 1980, (c) 1981, (d) 1982 and (e) 1983, respectively; and if he will place copies of these reports in the Library;
(2) if he will list the titles of the projects commissioned by his Department from the Water Research Centre which 280W are in the process of completion; and if he will undertake to place copies of the reports of these projects in the Library within a month of their completion.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe following is a list of studies commissioned from the Water Research Centre by my Department in each year since 1979. I shall shortly place in the Library of the House copies of those reports which have been completed. As a rule I shall place in the Library of the House the reports of other WRC studies as they are completed, but there may be occasional exceptions where considerations of confidentiality arise. I propose to review the usefulness of this arrangement after two years.
281W
Research Commissions by DOE at Water Research Centre A. Commencing between 1 April 1979 and 31 March 1980 1. Behaviour of marine oil spill residues in landfills. (Joint contractors WRC and AERE, Harwell) Work complete; report awaited 2. Chlorinated non-volatile organic substances in potable water Report completed and results published Work continuing as Determination of non-volatile organics in water supply Not yet complete 3. Asbestos in drinking water Report agreed and being printed 4. Contamination of water by plumbing fittings Report completed; report and press notice to be released by the end of February 5. Swimming pool water treatment Report completed and results published 6. Coleshill advanced waste water treatment studies Report completed 7. Crop trials at Cassington: Effects of metals in sludge Not yet complete 8. Hazardous wastes in landfill sites Not yet complete 9. Collaborative analysis of sewage sludge Report completed B. Commencing between 1 April 1980 and 31 March 1981 1. Methods for the field scale removal of organics Work completed; reported awaited from WRC 2. Determination of pollutants in effluents Report completed continued as Environment quality objectives and pollutants in effluents Not yet complete 3. Analytical quality control co-ordination Not yet complete 4. Coal tar particles in drinking water Report completed 5. Environmental effects of chemicals Not yet complete C. Commencing between 1 April 1981and 31 March 1982 1. Zinc equivalent pot trials: effects of metals in sludge Report completed 2. Sludge disposal on historic sites: effects of metals in sludge. Linked and extended to Work completed; report awaited form WRC Studies of sites with a long history of sewage sludge disposal Not yet complete D. Commencing between 1 April 1982 and 31 March 1983 1. Mobility of metals in sludged soil Not yet complete 2. Hazards due to Arsenic and Selenium in sewage sludges applied to land Not yet complete 3. Destruction of pathogens in sewage sludge Not yet complete 4. Sewer dereliction (part funded by DOE) Work completed; report received and being studied prior to acceptance
Research Commissions by DOE at Water Research Centre 5. Metal flux surveys in Mersey Estuary (part funded by DOE) Not yet complete 6. Methods for field scale removal of organics Work completed; report awaited from WRC 7. Biological denitrification of potable water Not yet complete 8. Treatment and disinfection of small water supplies Not yet complete 9. Remote monitoring and control of water distribution systems (part funded by DOE) Not yet complete E. On-going research commenced since 1 April 1983 1. Sites with a long history of sludge disposal Not yet complete 2. Infectivity of beef tapeworms ova after sludge treatment Not yet complete 3. Sewer renovation techniques Not yet complete 4. Quality of beaches and bathing waters in England and Wales Not yet complete 5. Biological screening tests for drinking water quality Not yet complete 6. Distribution effects of organic contaminants in water supply Not yet complete 7. Galvanic corrosion of lead in copper pipework Not yet complete Total 32 This list does not include research studies commissioned and commenced before 1 April 1979.