§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is Government policy with regard to the dumping of industrial effluent into sewerage systems.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryI have been asked to reply.
Treatment in a sewage works may be an appropriate solution for certain industrial effluents. The discharge of any such effluents to a public sewer requires the consent of the water service company under section 2 of the Public Health (Drainage of Trade Premises) Act 1937, and it may impose conditions. Discharges from sewage works or sewers to rivers or coastal waters require the consent of the National Rivers Authority.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the Government plan to build more incinerators to dispose of sewage sludge as sea dumping is phased out.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryI have been asked to reply.
It is the responsibility of the water service companies to make provision for the disposal of sewage sludge. It is likely that a greater proportion of sewage sludge will be incinerated as dumping of sludge at sea is terminated.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if heavy metal and other contaminants are released into the environment at the same level in sewage sludge as in sea dumping.
471W
§ Mr. MacleanIn excess of 95 per cent. of sewage sludge is water. The solid element is largely organic matter which will decompose in the environment whether on land or in the sea. Contaminants associated with this organic matter are likely to be released into the environment. In many cases, however, contaminants such as heavy metals are rapidly reabsorbed on to other solid materials such as clay particles.