§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment has been made of the impact on the safety of(a) the sewerage system, (b) dams and dykes and (c) public water supplies of the countrywide floods in November. [138984]
§ Mr. MeacherOverall, the floods appear to have had little impact on the water supply and sewerage infrastructure. My Department is in discussion with representatives of the water companies to see what lessons can be drawn.
547WWhile the sewerage system in some areas was unable to cope with the volumes of water generated, the safety of the system itself appears to have been largely unaffected.
There appear to have been no significant impacts on dam safety. Research sponsored by my Department is looking at the effect on reservoirs of more frequent and severe storm events. Many river dykes and flood storage areas were severely tested and the initial impression is that most performed to, or beyond, their design standard. A detailed assessment must await the Environment Agency's report on the event once the waters have subsided and immediate actions have been completed.
On water supplies, water companies took all necessary action to safeguard public health in supplying drinking water. This included the issue by four companies of advice to boil water as a precautionary measure where pumping stations or treatment works were flooded and the temporary removal from supply of some groundwater sources due to flooding.