HC Deb 15 March 1989 vol 149 cc241-2W
Mr. Harry Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which water abstraction plants for domestic use in the Yorkshire and Severn Trent regions are complying with EEC limits on the nitrate levels in water supply; which are not; and on what dates each of the plants which are not complying will comply with the limits.

Mr. Moynihan

[holding answer 13 March 1989]: The EC drinking water directive nitrate standard applies to water as supplied to the consumer, not to water as it leaves the abstraction plant as this takes no account of subsequent blending with other water. The standard is therefore, measured in relation to water supply areas rather than abstraction plants.

All water supply areas in Yorkshire water authority comply with the EC directive nitrate standard. In the Severn-Trent water authority area the following supplies do not comply but should do so by the date shown.

Date
Parts of Leamington, Kenilworth, Warwick and Stratford district councils 1989
Parts of Stourbridge (supply used only at times of peak demand) end 1989
Malvern Hills/Wyre Forest district council area 1989
Parts of Wrekin DC area 1989
Parts of Lichfield DC area, Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham Metropolitan) area, North Warwickshire and Walsall metropolitan area1 1993–94
Parts of Worksop and Mansfield Woodhouse (Bassetlaw and Mansfield DC areas) 1991
Parts of South Shropshire DC area 1990
Parts of Newark district council area 1989
1 These supplies are made by the South Staffordshire waterworks company.