§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the effect in Wales of toxic algae upon water resources and those who use them.
§ Mr. GristThe National Rivers Authority has commenced a major programme, concentrating on public supply reservoirs and inland waters regularly used for water contact sports, to monitor for blue-green algae. If algae is identified in any waters, the authority immediately informs the district council health authority and the owner.
Responsibility for taking any necessary precautions and bringing the matter to the attention of water users and other members of the public lies with the owners.
To supplement the information provided by the NRA, Dwr Cymru Cyf is also carrying out routine monitoring of all susceptible water resources used for public supply. Dwr Cymru advises me that, to date, blue-green algae has been reported in four such reservoirs but the algal scums have been limited to small areas on the surface of the water and have thus not adversely affected the water used for public supply.