§ Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to how much the Thames water authority spent in each of the last five years on controlling the levels of nitrites and nitrates in rivers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoynihanMy Department does not hold such information.
§ Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to(a) nitrate levels, and (b) nitrite levels in the rivers within the Thames water authority in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. MoynihanThe information held by the Department on nitrite and nitrate levels in rivers within Thames water authority over the last five years is as follows:
Mean annual levels of nitrate expressed in milligrams of nitrogen per litre 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 Cherwell Oxford 7.1 7.8 10.0 8.2 8.6 Thame Dorchester bridge 8.9 9.8 9.3 8.8 8.3 Kennet 4.8 5.4 4.8 4.8 4.5 Loddon, Twyford 6.8 7.1 7.1 6.1 6.0 Thames, Egham 7.0 7.7 7.8 6.9 7.0 Colne 6.8 7.1 6.1 7.3 6.8 Wey 5.6 6.2 6.2 5.6 5.4 Mole 7.4 7.6 7.0 6.5 6.3 Thames, Teddington 7.1 7.5 7.5 6.9 6.9 Lee Waterhall 10.7 9.9 12.4 11.6 11.6 Lee, Ware 7.7 7.5 7.8 8.8 8.4 Lee, Springfield 12.5 13.0 12.8 9.7 10.8 Roding, Redbridge 9.8 11.5 8.2 10.9 9.5
Mean annual levels of nitrite expressed in milligrams of nitrogen per litre 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 Cherwell, Oxford — — — <0.07 0.09 Thame, Dorchester bridge — — — <0.05 0.05 Kennet — — — — 0.07 Lodden, Twyford — — — — 0.08 Thames Egham — — — <0.07 0.07 Colne <0.08 <0.10 <0.13 <0.67 <0.10 Wey — — 0.14 <0.13 0.12 Mole — — <0.22 <0.17 0.13 Thames, Teddington — — <0.13 <0.10 0.10 Lee, Waterhall 0.15 <0.10 0.17 <0.10 0.18 Lee, Ware <0.08 <0.07 <0.07 <0.12 0.06 Lee, Springfield <0.17 0.29 0.25 — — Roding, Redbridge 0.54 <0.60 0.20 0.68 — < signifies - less than.