§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that lead pipes carrying water into domestic properties in Lancashire are replaced; and if he will make a statement. [152276]
Mr. Robert AinsworthUnder Regulations laid before Parliament in December 2000, North West Water and other water companies are embarking on major programmes of new and improved treatment to minimise the capacity of water to dissolve lead from pipes. These programmes should enable the Drinking Water Directive's interim standard of 25 microgrammes of lead per litre of water (25 µgPb/l) to be substantially met by December 2003, and will go a long way towards meeting the final standard of 10 µgPb/l which has to be complied with by December 2013. Where the standards are not met, water companies will need to replace (or line) their own lead pipes and advise consumers as to any action that it is desirable that they take in the interests of their health. We shall know the full extent to which these additional measures will be needed when the treatment programmes have been completed. Property owners remain responsible for the pipes within their own properties.