§ Mr. RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) lakes, (b) rivers and (c) waterways have been affected by blue-green algae in each of the past 20 years; and if he will make a statement. [141190]
§ Mr. MullinData are only available since 1991, and the Environment Agency does not collate information in the format requested. The following table shows for each of the last nine years the total number of water bodies in England and Wales which the Environment Agency is aware have suffered from blue-green algae, either through
Number of water supply disconnections made by water undertakers for non-payment of a water bill (a) Total disconnections (b) Non-households (c) Households Percentage of households 1989–90 n/a n/a 8,426 10.042 1990–91 n/a n/a 7,673 10.038 1991–92 n/a n/a 21,282 10.105 1992–93 21,735 3,099 18,636 10.092 1993–94 15,088 2,636 12,452 10.062 1994–95 12,832 2,785 10,047 10.050 1995–96 7,822 1,996 5,826 10.029 1996–97 4,691 1,543 3,148 0.016 1997–98 3,681 1,774 1,907 0.009 1998–99 2,877 1,748 1,129 0.005 1999–2000 3,582 3,455 2127 0.001 n/a = Not available 1Totals numbers of households before 1 April 1996 are estimated 2Number to 30 June 1999, when household disconnections for non-payment were made unlawful by the Water Industry Act 1999 Notes
Information has not been kept in the form above for 1980–89 (before privatisation)
No figures are available of disconnections caused by cut-off valves in pre-payment units