§ Ms. EagleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department has under-taken on the use of salt water in fire hydrants, street cleaning or domestic sewerage.
§ Mr. MacleanNone. The Water Industry Act 1991 requires water companies to make available supplies of water for fire fighting, cleansing and watering highways, and other public purposes, in addition to their duty to supply water for domestic purposes. To deliver non-potable water for certain of these purposes would require the development of a separate supply system to avoid contamination of drinking water. The use of salt water for such purposes could also have implications for the contamination of land.