Chamber and committees

Two studies have been commissioned by Scottish Water:1. Loch Katrine Cryptosporidium Risk Assessment, Scottish Agricultural College, April 20012. Katrine Old and New Aqueducts Water Quality Risk Assessment, Babtie Group, September 2002.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29505 on 2 October 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

Scottish Water is responsible for monitoring the level of cryptosporidium in public drinking water supplies at risk from the parasite. The Cryptosporidium Directions require any detection of the parasite to be reported to the Drinking Water Quality Unit at the Executive. The maximum level of cryptosporidium reported in the Aberdeen water supply, during the outbreak that occurred between January and March 2002, was 0.022 oocysts per 10 litres. No cryptosporidium has been reported in the Thurso water supply this year.The maximum level of cryptosporidium reported in the old aqueduct, referred to in Scottish Water's Board papers of 19 June, is 11.21 oocysts per 10 litres. This was reported during the incident in Glasgow in August 2002. The old aqueduct carries Loch Katrine water to Mugdock reservoir, which in turn supplies the Milngavie works. The maximum level of cryptosporidium reported in the Glasgow supply during the incident was 0.353 oocysts per 10 litres.

Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report on the Burncrooks incident is a matter for Scottish Water. However, the Drinking Water Quality Regulator advises that Scottish Water does not yet have full detailed information on its water supply network. The network comprises of nearly 50,000 km of water mains across Scotland. The collection and cleansing of data is an on-going task. The problem that arose in Glasgow in August, regarding the source of the water being supplied to part of Clydebank, regrettably occurred as a result of nomenclature and misidentification of a valve on the Geographic Information System.

The legislative requirements regarding drinking water quality at the proposed water treatment plant at Milngavie shall be the same as those applied elsewhere in the public water supply system. There is a body of relevant legislation and a list has been deposited with the Parliament's Reference Centre. Key legislation includes:

• The Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002
• The Cryptosporidium (Scottish Water) Directions 2002
• The Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 2001
• The Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2001
• The Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994

The Water (Scotland) Act 1980.

Following the recent cryptosporidium incidents in Glasgow and Edinburgh, the Drinking Water Quality Regulator appointed a consultant to carry out an audit of the implementation of the cryptosporidium directions by Scottish Water. The consultant is due to report to the Regulator by the beginning of next month and the report will be made public shortly thereafter.

There is currently no regulatory provision that requires Scottish Water to notify customers of drinking water quality failures, which occur as a result of the domestic distribution system. However, Scottish Water does notify customers of any failures where there is a significant risk to health. The new water quality regulations will place a requirement on Scottish Water to notify customers of breaches of the regulations when they come into force on 25 December 2003.

The Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland does not approve treatment processes used by Scottish Water. The selection of appropriate treatment is a matter for Scottish Water. The Drinking Water Quality Regulator has indicated that in his opinion, based on the evidence from the pilot plant trials, the treatment process proposed for the new water treatment plant at Milngavie, if operated effectively, will meet the drinking water quality standards and the requirements of the cryptosporidium direction.

The relevant authorities have considered the recommendations contained in the Outbreak Control Team report, published by Greater Glasgow NHS Board, into the outbreak of cryptosporidiosis that occurred in the Glasgow area in spring 2000 and, where they have judged it appropriate to do so, they have taken appropriate action.

I have asked Dr Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water to respond. His response is as follows:Scottish Water consults as a matter of course in relation to statutory requirements, for example planning applications, repairs and renewals of infrastructure. Staff attend public meetings and other functions. I understand that the three former water authorities consulted in a similar manner.Assembling the information requested in relation to Scottish Water and the three former water authorities could not be undertaken without difficulty because of the volume of information requested. If there are specific instances of public consultation in which the member is interested, we will be happy to address his questions. Meantime, he will wish to know that the Consultation Code of Practice will be sent to the Convener of the Water Customer Consultation Panels in the near future.