§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will include in theOfficial Report his estimate of the proportionate contribution to the pollution of the water supply in toxic or other terms as defined by the European Economic Community regulations or otherwise made by (a) manufacturing industry, (b) agriculture, (c) sewage works and (d) domestic consumers of water.
§ Mr. HowardPollution incidents from manufacturing industry, agriculture and sewage treatments works rarely affect water supplies, because water undertakers take effective precautionary measures to prevent this. A few supplies are affected by nitrate pollution from agriculture and very low levels of pesticides have been detected in some supplies as a result of activity by a variety of bodies including local authorities, farmers and nationalised industries. Water in individual properties may have a high lead concentration because of lead communication and supply pipes. There have been occasional instances of pollution from chlorinated solvents derived from de-greasing activities or dry cleaning businesses. Further information about the quality of groundwater sources is contained in the report "Assessment of Groundwater in England and Wales" prepared for the Department by Sir William Halcrow and Partners Ltd. and published last December.