§ Mr. Andrew WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide details of the progress of the programme of action required by the European Community water directive, to bring Scotland's water supply up to the European Community standard; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonAll Scottish water authorities have now given undertakings, which my right hon. and learned Friend has accepted, to carry out improvement programmes to meet the standards set in the Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 1990. The regulations incorporate the quality requirements of the European Community drinking water directive.
The programmes mainly concern improvements to meet the standards for aluminium and for iron derived from unlined cast-iron pipes. Improvements in respect of aluminium are mostly due for completion by 1996, while 246W those in respect of iron will be completed over a longer period. Improvements to disinfection will also be made, especially to rural supplies, to ensure that microbiological standards are met at all times. Much of this work will be completed within the next two years.
Programmes for meeting the European Community standard for lead should be complete by the end of this year except in two small supplies and three where major improvement works are in progress.