§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate what percentage of drinking water in Wales is contaminated by faecal organisms.
§ Mr. GristI have been informed by Dwr Cymru that between January 1989 and March 1990 the company examined some 52,000 samples of treated public water supplies in its area of which 0.66 per cent. showed possible faecal contamination. Water quality standards and sampling regimes relating to public supplies are prescribed by the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989 (SI 1989 No. 1147). Advice on remedial action to be taken in the event of water quality standards being infringed is contained in the Department of Environment-Welsh Office publication "Guidance on Safeguarding the Quality of Public Water Supplies".
Local authorities have a duty to monitor the quality of water supplied for domestic purposes in their areas, including private supplies. Information on the results of samples taken by authorities is not held centrally.