HC Deb 15 November 1989 vol 160 cc363-6W
Mr. Andrew Welsh

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for how long the derogations for aluminium granted under article 20 of the European Commission drinking water directive are; and in each case when they are due to expire.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Applications for delay under article 20 of the directive were made in 1985. Those still remaining and which relate to aluminium are due to expire as follows:

Number
1990 6
1991 5
1992 11
1993 8
1994 2
1995–96 12

Mr. Andrew Welsh

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the water supply areas along with the size of population they serve, in Scotland, which failed, at any time in the last 12 months, to meet the European Commission standard of 200 microgrammes per litre for aluminium and whether they are covered by a derogation under article 20 of the European Commission drinking water directive.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Available details of water supplies which may currently fail to meet the EC standard for aluminium are given in the table, which shows populations served and identifies supplies which are the subject of application for delay under article 20 of the directive. Supplies not so identified exceed the standard only occasionally.

Region and Supply Area served Population served
Borders
Wanton Walls1 Parts of Central 6,000
Alemoor1 Borders 20,000
Knowesdean 15,000
Central
Longhill1 Falkirk 23,000
Sauchie1 Cowie, Plean, part Stirling 20,000
Woodburn1 Kirkintilloch 25,000
Blaefaulds Falkirk, Larbert 36,000
Sunnylaw Bridge of Allan 6,000
Dumfries and Galloway
Areeming1 Springholm 2,600
New Abbey1 South West Nithsdale 1,600
Killylour1 Part Dumfries 31,000
Winterhope1 South East Annandale, Eskdale 6,500
Penwhirn Wigtown District 15,700
Auchneel Stranraer 10,000
Carsphairn Carsphairn 200
Lochinvar Castle Douglas, Dalbeattie 10,600
Lochfoot ICI Drungans
Black Esk West Annandale, Eskdale 25,600
Euchan Kirkconnel, Kelloholm 4,000
Kettleton Central Nithsdale 12,000
Wanlockhead Wanlockhead 100
Grampian
Herricks1 Keith 4,300
Rochomie1 Buckie 5,500
Glenlatterach Elgin area 28,600
Newbigging Inverurie 15,000
Turriff REgional supply 25,000
Bogensourie Fraserburgh 6,500
Craighead Huntly 4,500
Glendye North Kincardine
Black Hills Lossiemouth 6,300
Mannofield Aberdeen 62,000
Highland
Wick1 Wick 8,000
Bonar Bridge Bonar Bridge, Ardgay 1,200
Carrbridge Carrbridge 450
Corpach Corpach, Annat 4,650
Culrain Culrain 90
Garve Garve 200
Roskhill Roskhill, Dunvegan 510
Strathnairn Strathnairn 180
Lothian
Fairmilehead Part Edinburgh 225,000
Hopes East Lothian 11,500
Pateshill West Lothian 42,400
Rosebery East Midlothian 54,100
Whittinghame East Lothian 13,600

Region and Supply Area served Population served
Strathclyde
Afton1 Cumnock and Doon Valley 39,900
Staneley1 Paisley area 37,000
Whinhill1 Greenock 17,100
Bradan1 Ayr, Troon, Irvine 94,300
Greenhead1 Irvine, Kilwinning 18,800
Muirdykes1 Paisley, Johnstone 60,000
Overton1 Gourock, Greenock 11,400
Daer Clydesdale and Motherwell Districts 237,000
Amlaird1 Kilmarnock 14,600
Penwhapple1 Girvan area 1,100
Picketlaw Eaglesham, Newton Mearns, etc. 13,700
Dougiehill1 Port Glasgow 8,300
Prospecthill1 Greenock 7,400
South Moorhouse1 Caldcoats, Newton Mearns 27,800
Aucha Lochy Campbeltown 7,300
Crosbie1 West Kilbride 1,400
Ardrishaig1 Ardrishaig, Lochgilphead 3,780
Pundeavon1 Dunlop, Lugton, etc. 2,800
Cochno Clydebank, Dalmuir 16,500
Larkfield1 Gourock 2,200
Spallander1 Kyle and Carrick 13,000
Tarbert1 Tarbert 1,340
Kelly1 Inverkip, Wemyss Bay 1,390
Torra1 Bowmore, Port Ellen 2,000
Tighnabruaich1 Tighnabruaich 800
Tobermory1 Tobermory 680
Dhu Loch1 Rothesay, Bannatyne 3,000
Inveraray1 Inveraray 450
Furnace1 Furnace 380
Port Charlotte1 Port Charlotte 210
Carradale1 Carradale 480
Muasdale1 Muasdale 150
Garshake1 Dumbarton 25,000
Clachan1 Clachan 150
Kaim Bridge of Weir, Lochwinnoch 12,900
Strachur Strachur 500
Skelmorlie1 Skelmorlie 1,300
Corsehouse; Camphill Stewarton; North Ayrshire 32,000
Neilston Neilston, Barrhead 3,600
Burncrooks Clydebank, Bearsden 13,800
Maukinhill1 Greenock 5,400
Loch Eck Kilmun Inellan 10,600
Orkney
Kirbister Orkney South Mainland 5,000
Wideford Kirkwall 4,400
Boardhouse Orkney North Mainland 2,300
Shetland
Aith Aith, Clousta, Bixter 550
Burra Burra 840
Cullivoe North Yell 350
Quarff Gulberwick, Quarff 360
Sandness Sandness 200
Walls Walls 600
1 Supplies are the subject of applications under article 20.

Mr. Andrew Welsh

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the water supply areas along with the size of population they serve, in Scotland, which fail to meet the revised action limit for lead in drimking water of 50 microgrammes per litre, and those which do not appear on the Scottish Office lead identification survey which was presented to the European Commission in December 1987 and the date by which all these areas will comply with 50 microgrammes per litre standard, based on a 100 per cent. compliance with the standard.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Regulations on the quality of drinking water, to be made shortly under the Water (Scotland) Act 1980 as amended by the Water Act 1989, will specify the new standard of 50 microgrammes per litre for lead in all samples of drinking water. Information on any water supply areas which fail to meet this new standard will not be available until water authorities have undertaken the monitoring which will also be required under the regulations.

Mr. Andrew Welsh

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the role of his Department in ensuring that the European Commission standards for drinking water quality in Scotland are established and maintained.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The role of the Scottish Office is to set up the appropriate regulatory framework to enable directives to be applied; to ensure that appropriate resources are available; to maintain contact with the European Commission; and to provide advice and guidance on the implementation of directives.

Mr. Andrew Welsh

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when each water supply area which fails to meet the European Commission limit for aluminium will comply with the maximum admissible concentration laid down in the drinking water directive.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Programmes for full compliance with the aluminium standard are under discussion with water authorities. All supplies are expected to comply by early 1996.