Press Notice - 1 March 1999
Government announcement is good news for drinking water quality
Today’s announcement is good news in continuing the process of delivering some of the best tap water in the world, Chief Drinking Water Inspector Michael Rouse said today.
Mr Rouse said:
“I welcome the announcement by Michael Meacher today. All of the schemes supported by the Inspectorate are to be included in the water company business plans for the years 2000 to 2005. This investment programme will further enhance the measures to protect public health and meet the requirements of the new Drinking Water Directive.
"Protecting against cryptosporidium is one of the most important areas of investment and the full implementation of the Bouchier Report will reduce further the low risk there may be from water supplies.
"During the five year period £1½ billion will be spent on rehabilitating those parts of the distribution systems which cause ‘rusty’ water. A further billion will be spent in the following five years up to the year 2010 to complete the programme. Also a significant start will be made on the lead pipe replacement programme which will be required to meet EU standards by the year 2013.
"The Inspectorate will ensure that all of the approved schemes are completed in the required timescale and that they deliver the specified quality outputs."
Notes for Editors
1. The Drinking Water Inspectorate was set up in 1990. Its main role is to check that the water companies in England and Wales supply wholesome water and comply with the requirements of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1991.
2. The Inspectorate’s role in the Periodic Review was to specify the detailed technical requirements on drinking water quality and assess over 900 water company proposals against those requirements.
3. The Bouchier Report mentioned above is the third report of the Expert Group on Cryptosporidium in Water Supplies prepared under the chairmanship of Professor Ian Bouchier which was published in November 1998. Its recommendations were accepted fully by Michael Meacher.
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Drinking Water Inspectorate,
Floor 2/A1, Ashdown House,
123 Victoria Street,
London, SW1E 6DE
Telephone : 020 7944 5956
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E-mail: dwi_enquiries@detr.gov.uk
Updated 11 July 2001
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