asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which water authorities have applied for derogations in respect of organochlorines under the European Commission directive relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption (80/778/EEC); in respect of each authority, what were the sources of the organochlorines which give rise to the application for these derogations; and whether he intends to permit these derogations.
I have received five applications from Anglian water authority, two from Thames water authority and one each from the Mid Kent and the Sunderland and South Shields water companies for derogations under the directive in respect of chlorine containing trihalomethanes, a group of organochlorine compounds covered by parameter 32 of the directive. These organochlorine compounds arise as a result of reaction between organic compounds naturally present in the source water and chlorine which is added to ensure that the water supplied is free from harmful bacteria. After taking medical advice, I have granted these derogation applications and I shall review them in three years.