§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the water supplies in England and Wales that are in breach of the EEC directive on water quality in respect of safety limits on lead in drinking water; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoynihanNo water leaving water mains in England breaches the EC directives standard for lead. However, certain types of water can dissolve lead from lead service pipes and plumbing in properties. In areas where such water is supplied water undertakers investigate whether additional water treatment would reduce lead levels significantly. In most of these areas action has already been successfully taken, but in the following areas action is still being investigated:
Water Authority Area Anglian Water Authority Eriswell Yorkshire Water Authority Haisthorpe East Hull North West Water Authority Swinden Crosby Parts of Greater Manchester and Lancashire (served by Lake District supplies) Longridge and Ribchester (served by Dilworth source) Preston (served by White Bull Treatment Works) Parts of Blackpool and Wyre (Barnacre source) Blackburn, parts of Blackpool and Flyde (fed from H odder Treatment Works) Rainhill (Vyrnwy source)
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number and location of breaches in the precautionary standard for pesticides in drinking water in 1988 for each division in supplies provided by the Severn-Trent water authority; and if he will list by location how much these breaches exceeded the standard laid down.
§ Mr. MoynihanI am informed that during the period December 1987 to November 1988 there were breaches of standard of 0.1 microgram per litre for pesticides, specified in the EC drinking water directive, in water supplies leaving the following treatment works of the Severn Trent water authority: Barbourne, Mitcheldean, Mythe, Witcombe, Campion, Strensham, Rugby, Melbourne, Hallgates, Nanpanton, Wing, Church Wilne, Whitacre, Trimpley, Costford, Bomere, Ford, Meolfre, Astley, Norton, Elkesley, Far Baulker, Farnsfield and Fishpool. I understand that Witcombe is now not used for public supply and that breaches of the standard at Bomere, Ford, Moelfre, Astley, Norton, Elkesley, Far Baulker, Farnsfield and Fishpool were transient and that most samples from these works complied with the directive.
776WThe levels of pesticides in these supplies were below those which would be considered a risk to health.