HC Deb 05 November 1996 vol 284 c459W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the principal cause of the pollution of aquifers in the United Kingdom; and how many have been sterilised since 1990. [900]

Mr. Clappison

A recent Environment Agency study suggested that landfills are the most numerous point sources of pollutants affecting aquifers and that chlorinated solvents from a variety of sources may cause the most serious contamination. No aquifers have been wholly taken out of service or sterilised since 11990. Remedial action has been taken in some cases.

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