§ Mr. FallonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many gallons of water have been extracted by Thames Water from the River Darenth in each of the last five years; and how many gallons it is estimated will be extracted in each of the next five years. [66008]
§ Mr. MealeThames Water Utilities Ltd. make no direct abstractions from the River Darenth itself but the company does abstract groundwater from the river's catchment. The actual and forecast groundwater abstractions by the company from this catchment are set out below. Phase 1 of the Darenth Action Plan came into operation on 1 January 1997 and the forecast figures assume that Phase 2 will become operational, as planned, in 2001–02.
million gallons Year Actual abstraction 1993–94 5002.3 1994–95 6231.7 1995–96 6339.8 1996–97 5499.6 1997–98 4792.1
million gallons Year Forecast abstraction 1998–99 4818.0 1999–2000 4818.0 2000–01 4818.0 2001–02 4095.0 2002–03 4095.0