HC Deb 03 May 1994 vol 242 cc438-9W
Mr. Luff

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to co-ordinate the investigation and eventual reports into the pollution of water supplies in the Worcester area, now being conducted by the drinking water inspectorate, the National Rivers Authority, Severn-Trent Water plc, the West Midlands regional health authority and Worcester and district health authority.

Mr. Atkins

We shall ensure that, taking into account the investigations that the various bodies concerned have in hand, the incident is fully and thoroughly investigated.

Mr. Luff

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the pollutants which reached consumers' water supplies in the Worcester area on 15 April.

Mr. Atkins

On 29 April, Severn Trent Water Ltd. in a communication to the drinking water inspectorate, reported the contaminants as 2-ethyl–4-methyl–1, 3-dioxolane and 2-ethyl–5, 5-dimethy1–1, 3-dioxane.

The drinking water inspectorate, as part of its investigation, is requiring Severn Trent Water Ltd. to provide full data from its analysis of samples of drinking water supplies taken in association with the incident. The inspectorate will be checking the validity of the methods of analysis used.

Mr. Luff

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the role of the Director General of the Office of Water Supplies in relation to the water pollution incident at Worcester on 15 April; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Atkins

The director general has no role in the immediate investigation of the incident. He may, however, consider in conjunction with the customer service committee, whether the company responded adequately to the needs of its customers, particularly the elderly and the disabled, during the incident and whether appropriate levels of compensation have been offered.