Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Official Report 527KB pdf

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Petition

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Drinking Water Supplies (PE1646)

Agenda item 4 is initial consideration of petition PE1646, by Caroline Hayes, on drinking water supplies in Scotland. The petition calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to review the role of the drinking water quality regulator and to commission independent research into the safety of the chloramination of drinking water.

The petition has been referred to the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee following scrutiny by the Public Petitions Committee, which took evidence on the petition from stakeholders. Paper 5 outlines the previous scrutiny by the Public Petitions Committee and suggests possible options that are available to this committee. Of course, members might wish to suggest alternative actions in relation to the petition. I invite comments.

As the MSP for the area, I have spoken to the petitioners and I confirm the strength of feeling locally. I strongly support considering the issue. There are outstanding questions about the long-standing process as well as the chloramination. Scottish Water changed the source of the water in 2012, and chloramination was a subsequent treatment because of the issues that had been raised about the water.

I agree with Kate Forbes. We should know what we are drinking in our water. People should be advised or consulted before stuff is put into the water that they might not want. I agree with the proposal.

I agree with the proposal. Quite a few of my constituents have raised the chloramination process as well, and I am interested to hear the justification for it.

Concerns have been raised about what the difference is between chlorination and chloramination. Some scientific or chemical analysis needs to be understood, and I do not think that Scottish Water has answered the questions that have been raised over a number of years. I agree with the proposal.

Thank you for teaching me how to pronounce “chloramination”.

I serve on the Public Petitions Committee and I was present when the petitioners gave evidence a few months ago. They presented a very strong case, so I am keen to raise the issue when we speak to Scottish Water after the recess.

To be clear about what I have heard from colleagues, we agree to raise with Scottish Water the concerns that stem from the petition at our next meeting on Tuesday 17 April. Thereafter, we will formally consider the petition at the earliest available opportunity, subject to work programme considerations.

On a point of clarification, can we ensure that the representatives from Scottish Water know that we will ask them about the issue, so that they cannot say, “Oh, we do not know about that”?

I give Richard Lyle the assurance that that matter will be dealt with.

Are we agreed to take the approach that I outlined?

Members indicated agreement.

At its next meeting, on 17 April, the committee will take oral evidence from stakeholders on the Scottish Crown Estate Bill and, as we just discussed, from Scottish Water on its latest annual report and on petition PE1646.

12:15 Meeting continued in private until 12:45.