Written question asked by Countess of Mar (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Henley (Conservative) on Thursday, 27 January 2011.

Water Supply: Toxic Chemicals

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent studies have been conducted on the quality of water in the aquifers that supply major cities in south Wales which may have been subject to leaching of toxic chemicals from Brofiscin Quarry.

Answer: The major cities of South Wales are not supplied with water from aquifers. The public water supply is provided by above-ground reservoirs outside the catchment. Studies continue to be undertaken on the aquifer affected directly by the waste in Brofiscin quarry, which is not exploited for public water supply. The evidence to date shows that the waste is unlikely to impact on the good status under the water framework directive of the south east valleys carboniferous limestone block.

Secondary information