§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which is his policy as to the acceptable level of(a) salmonella campylobacter, (b) E. coli and (c) cryptosporidium in potable water. [10340]
§ Mr. HoramStandards are laid down in legislation for faecal coliforms, which would include E. coli. The legislation also requires that water does not contain any organism at a concentration detrimental to public health. Water which meets legislative requirements for faecal coliforms indicator organisms is unlikely to contain salmonella or campylobacter. Research has shown that well operated treatment plants reduce cryptosporidium to very low levels. If cryptosporidium is detected, water companies, in discussion with local public health and environmental health officials, are responsible for making decisions.