§ Ms. QuinTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all those water supplies in Northern Ireland which fail to meet the standards set out in the European Economic Community directives on the quality of drinking water and whether or not these are the subject of derogations; how and when it is proposed for each of these water supplies to meet the standards laid down; and what the latest estimated cost of complying with the standards is in each case.
§ Mr. NeedhamThere are 114 water supply areas in Northern Ireland of which 13 are subject to derogations made under the EC drinking water directive. Requests for seven delays under the directive were made in 1985; subsequent remedial works enabled three to be withdrawn. A programme of works to enable the remaining four delays to be also withdrawn should be completed by 1992.
Where derogations or delays apply, a small number of directive parameter values for non-toxic substances may be exceeded on a regular basis. In the supply areas for which there are no derogations or delays there are occasions when a value for a non-toxic substance is exceeded for a short time. The directive values for toxic substances are not exceeded. A programme of works over 10 to 12 years has been identified to ensure compliance with the directive. The estimated cost is £200 million.