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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of companies producing tap water are tested by the Drinking Water Inspectorate; what the frequency of testing is; how many companies producing tap water have failed these tests in each of the last six years; and what the safe limits are used by the Drinking Water Inspectorate for (a) minerals and (b) other trace elements found in tap water. [126625] Mr. Morley: The role of the DWI is to audit all the statutory water companies in England and Wales. The companies are required to undertake sampling and analysis of public water supplies in accordance with the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989 and subsequent amendments. These Regulations set out the frequency of monitoring, the locations where the samples have to be taken and the standards that have to be met. The regulatory standards incorporate those set out in the EC Directive on the quality of water intended for human consumption (80/778/EEC), which in turn are based on the World Health Organisation guideline values for drinking water quality. There are currently 26 water companies. In the last six years water companies have only experienced occasional failures of a standard. The level of compliance for all water companies rose from 99.75 per cent. in 1997 to 99.87% in 2002. The WHO guideline values for various constituents of drinking water, including certain minerals, represent the concentration of a constituent that does not result in any significant risk to consumers' health, usually over a lifetime of consumption.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

126625; 409 c828W

Session

2002-03

EC documents

Dir80/778/EEC

Subjects

Inspections EU law Drinking water Drinking Water Inspectorate Quality control Minerals Standards Water Testing Water companies

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk