§ Mr. HepburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which water companies have been found to have been providing water not fit for human consumption in each year since 1997; and what action was taken against them. [168876]
§ Mr. MorleyIt is an offence under section 70 of the Water Industry Act 1991 for a water company to supply water unfit for human consumption, subject to a due diligence defence. The meaning of water "unfit for human consumption" is not defined in the Act and is a matter for the courts to decide on a case-by-case basis. It is usually taken to mean that the water has caused ill health or is rejected for drinking by consumers on the grounds of taste, smell or appearance.
All incidents affecting drinking water quality are investigated by the Drinking Water Inspectorate and proceedings are instituted as appropriate. Since 1997 10 companies have been prosecuted for supplying water unfit for human consumption in respect of 29 separate incidents, with six further incidents taken into consideration. Eight companies have also been cautioned in respect of 16 incidents.
1672W
Date of incident Date of court case Company Offence 20 February 1997 20 March 1998 Yorkshire Water Section 70 Supply of water unfit (discoloured) 6 May 1997 5 November1998 North West Section 70 Supply of water unfit (discoloured) 16 May 1997 1 April 1998 Dwr Cymru Section 70 Supply of water unfit (discoloured) 12 June 1997 10 June 1998 Dwr Cymru Section 70 Supply of water unfit (discoloured) 24 July 1997 26 January 2000 Thames Water Section 70 Supply of water unfit (discoloured) 25 July 1997 15 July 1998 Dwr Cymru Section 70 Supply of water unfit (low pH &discoloured) 31 July 1997 19 October 1998 Severn Trent Section 70 Supply of water unfit (discoloured) 1 October 1997 5 October 1998 Northumbrian Water Section 70 Supply of water unfit (discoloured) 22 October 1997 17 May 1999 South West Section 70 Supply of water unfit (discoloured) 31 October 1997 6 April 1999 South West Section 70 Supply of water unfit (discoloured) 14 November 1977 15 November 1999 North West Section 70 Supply of water unfit (discoloured) 15 December 1997 23 April 1999 Severn Trent Section 70 Supply of water unfit (discoloured) 16 December 5 January 1997 Anglian Section 70 Supply of water unfit (discoloured) 18 December 1997 3 November North West Section 70 Supply of water unfit (discoloured) 19 December 1997 11 January 1999 Anglian Section 70 Supply of water unfit (untreated river discoloured) 29 January 1998 16 August 1999 South East Section 70 Supply of water unfit (discoloured)
Date of incident Date of court case Company Offence 6 March 1998 5 November 1999 South East Section 70 supply of water unfit (discoloured) 21 April 1998 6 October 2000 North West Section 70 supply of water unfit (discoloured) 8 May 1998 1 June 1998
2 July 1998
5 November 1998
10 December 2000 Yorkshire Water Section 70 supply of water unfit (discoloured) (Four separate incidents) June/July 1998 12 March 2001 Mid Kent Water Section 70 supply of water unfit (discoloured) 13 December 1998 25 January 2000 North West Section 70 supply of water unfit (discoloured) 13 January 1999 13 October 2000 North West Section 70 supply of water unfit (taste and odour) February 1999 11 January 2001 Yorkshire Section 70 supply of water unfit (discoloured) July 2000 18 June 2001 Dwr Cymru Cyf Section 70 supply of water unfit (discoloured) 28 August 2000 5 September 2001 Anglian Section 70 supply of water unfit (discoloured) 3 April 2002 26 March 2004 Anglian Section 70 supply of water unfit (taste)
§ Mr. HepburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what checks are made to ensure that the water companies provide water that is fit for human consumption; and how often they are made. [168877]
§ Mr. MorleyWater companies in England and Wales have a duty to supply wholesome water. The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000, or in Wales the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2001 set out the numbers and types of samples that water companies must take to fulfil this duty. One of the roles of the Drinking Water Inspectorate is to ensure that water companies carry out the requisite checks. During 2002 more than 2,973,500 regulatory tests were carried out, of which 99.87 per cent. demonstrated compliance with the relevant water quality standards. The Drinking Water Inspectorate investigates all incidents affecting water quality which includes an assessment of additional samples taken to determine water quality.