To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many drinking water supplies in Northern Ireland do not meet the EC water directive 1980.

In Northern Ireland all persons supplied receive water which complies with the overwhelming majority of the EC drinking water directive—80/778/EEC—standards. There is the potential for non-compliance with the aluminium standard in 39 of the Province's 123 supply zones and a general potential for non-compliance with the iron standard and related turbidity standard in all zones, because of the number of iron mains still in service. A programme of works to ensure full compliance with the directive standards is underway.