§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the adequacy of(a) controls and (b) the enforcement regime relating to drinking water from private suppliers. [83380]
§ Mr. MorleyDrinking water quality standards of private water supplies and requirements for sampling and analysis of supplies are set out in the Private Water Supplies Regulations 1991. The 1998 Drinking Water Directive (98/83/EC) introduced some new and some revised standards for drinking water quality. My Department will be consulting next year on draft proposals to implement the new and revised standards for the purposes of private water supplies.
Local authorities are responsible for monitoring at the frequencies set out in the Regulations and, where necessary, enforcement of regulatory standards. Local authorities have powers in primary legislation to serve formal notice, requiring specified remedial action where a private supply is unwholesome, or is insufficient for the domestic purposes of people living in a house. Where a private supply is, or may become, so polluted that it is prejudicial to health, an authority may also apply to the court for an order for steps be taken to prevent injury or danger to health.
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§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of domestic customers it is estimated rely on lead pipes for connections to company supplies of drinking water. [83381]
§ Mr. MorleyIn England and Wales, there are an estimated 21 million properties. Information provided by water companies recently indicates an estimated total of some 7.5 million lead communication pipes connecting properties to water mains.