§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest information he has for each of the water companies of the level of dissolved lead in water pipes; and if he will make a statement. [38995]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe standard for lead in drinking water in England and Wales is a maximum allowable concentration of 50 microgrammes per litre—ug/litre. This standard relates to unflushed samples at consumers's taps and is equivalent to an average concentration of about 20ug/litre. This is more stringent than the 5Oug/litre standard in the European Community directive on water intended for human consumption which relates to flushed samples.
749WThere is no lead in the water that leaves treatment works. Most of the lead is picked up from the consumers own pipework. The drinking water inspectorate has issued a leaflet to advise consumers on simple steps they can take to minimise the levels of lead in their drinking water.
Number of samples containing lead in various concentrations by company for 1994 Company Number of samples taken Lead concentration µg/litre <10 11–20 21–30 31–40 41.–50 51–100 >100 Anglian 2,272 2,181 63 20 4 2 1 1 Bournemouth and West Hampshire 73 71 1 — — — — — Bristol 321 212 39 31 12 10 12 5 Cambridge 247 185 41 14 4 1 — 2 Chester 20 19 1 — — — — — Cholderton 3 3 — — — — — — Dwr Cymru 1,437 1,236 71 40 20 17 27 26 East Surrey 271 252 12 2 2 2 1 — Essex and Suffolk 1,045 981 32 11 9 7 4 1 Folkestone 64 54 6 4 — — — — Hartlepoole 12 12 — — — — — — Mid Kent 137 131 3 2 — — — 1 Mid Southern 179 178 1 — — — — — North East 906 717 112 42 15 9 10 1 North Surrey 73 63 2 4 2 — — — Northumbrian 1,125 941 87 39 22 12 22 2 North West 15,868 12,103 1,426 829 472 320 500 218 Portsmouth 243 193 28 13 4 11 3 1 Severn Trent 4,834 3,645 455 286 148 110 156 34 Southern 869 731 64 22 18 8 15 11 South Staffs 489 406 47 17 8 2 9 — South East Water 345 294 19 11 7 6 8 — South West 671 573 53 17 10 6 10 2 Sutton District 32 31 1 — — — — — Tendring Hundred 268 263 3 — 1 — — 1 Thames 1,082 1,014 50 5 8 1 4 — Three Valles Water 1,599 1,435 90 42 16 6 8 2 Wessex 1,304 1,152 71 33 12 13 10 13 Wrexham 52 49 1 1 1 — — — Yorkshire 2,783 2,235 252 111 54 34 62 35 York Waterworks 113 107 3 — 3 — — — Total samples in 1994 38.737 31,467 3,034 1,596 852 567 862 356 Per cent, of total samples - 81.25 7.85 4.1 2.2 1.5 2.2 0.9