Water Pollution (Hansard, 10 March 1997)

§ Mr. Moss

Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Environment and Heritage Service under its chief executive, Mr. Robert C. Martin. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Robert C. Martin to Mr. Roy Beggs, dated 6 March 1997:

As Chief Executive of Environment and Heritage Service (EHS), I am responsible for all operational aspects of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland's environmental policies. I am therefore responding to the Parliamentary Question which you put down in the House of Commons on 28 February 1997 "to ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what records of chemicals used or stored for industrial purposes are held by DOE (NI) for use when investigating the cause of pollution incidents affecting watercourses. The Chief Executive of this Department's Water Service has also contributed to this reply. Within the United Kingdom the Government is committed to minimising any escape to water of those chemicals identified as especially hazardous, more commonly referred to as Red List substances. In Northern Ireland, my service is currently aware of 188 premises which use or store Red List substances and a detailed record is held for each sites. These records include Information on each substance, quantities stored, the purpose for which they are used and the measures in place to prevent pollution of waterways. EHS also hold records of all agrochemical retailers in Northern Ireland registered under the BASIS agrochemical scheme and regularly inspects their stores to ensure that they pose a minimal water pollution risk. BASIS, as a voluntary scheme managed by the agrochemical manufacturers, which sets stringent standards for pollution prevention and general safety. All industries which discharge either effluent to the public sewer or treated effluent to a watercourse must have the consent of this Department. In either case, strict limits are set on the type and maximum concentration of materials which can be discharged. The application form for Water Act consent requires that chemicals stored on premises are listed. The Water Service has confirmed that they maintain records of all chemicals used in the course of its functional work and stored on its premises. The only other information held by Water Service about chemicals used or stored in premises is in respect of those premises where a discharge to a public sewerage network is subject to the consent of the Department, through the system of trade effluent consents. Those making application for such a consent are required to provide details of whatever chemicals are being used for any industrial process being conducted on their premises. I trust you will find this reply helpful.

60W