Fluoride: Drinking Water

Mr. Crausby
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many instances of too much fluoride entering the water supply in relation to each water (a) authority and (b) company have been reported since 1997.

Huw Irranca-Davies
I have been asked to reply.

The European standard for the maximum permitted level of fluoride in drinking water (1.5mg/l) is enshrined in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000 (as amended). The Drinking Water Inspectorate is the enforcement body for these regulations.

Water authorities ceased to exist on privatisation of the water industry in 1989. Water companies are required to notify the Inspectorate of any breach of regulatory standards and the Inspectorate independently assesses the actions taken by the company.

Since 1997 there have been three occasions when the Inspectorate has been notified of fluoride exceeding the standard in England or Wales, as follows:

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|    |Occasions of fluoride exceeding the standard|Water company      |
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|1997|None                                        |—                  |
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|1998|None                                        |—                  |
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|1999|None                                        |—                  |
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|2000|1                                           |Three Valleys Water|
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|2001|None                                        |—                  |
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|2002|None                                        |—                  |
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|2003|None                                        |—                  |
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|2004|1                                           |Hartlepool Water   |
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|2005|None                                        |—                  |
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|2006|None                                        |—                  |
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|2007|None                                        |—                  |
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|2008|1                                           |Severn Trent Water |
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