§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the recent pollution of the north-west water supply.
§ Mr. Loydenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will set up an inquiry into the recent discharge of pollutants into the north-west water supply;
(2) if he will make a statement on the recent pollution of the north-west water supply.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneOn Tuesday 8 January, pollution was detected in the river Dee. The North-West water 5W authority, and the other three water undertakers concerned (the Welsh water authority, the Wrexham and East Denbighshire water company, and the Chester waterworks company) closed their river intakes in good time to prevent any of the polluting substances from entering the public water supply. Alternative supplies were introduced, and consumers were asked to economise in the use of water, in order to conserve those resources.
The Welsh water authority quickly identified the source of the pollution, and took immediate steps to control it. The contaminating substances were identified, and their toxicological effects were assessed without delay. Throughout the incident the lessons of earlier pollution incidents were applied, and there was good liaison between the four undertakings concerned.
I am advised that analysis of the river water shows that it is now safe for the four undertakers to reopen their intakes in the river Dee, and they have now done so. I see no need to set up an inquiry.