Chamber and committees

Speciation of the cryptosporidium oocysts detected in the water from Mugdock reservoir was carried out by the Scottish Parasitic Diagnostic Laboratory (SPDL) and reported to the Incident Control Team (ICT) on 29 August. Interpretation of the data presented by SPDL is a matter for the ICT and any relevant facts will be included in the final report being prepared by the ICT.

The roles and responsibilities of Scottish Water and other statutory bodies in relation to sustainable urban drainage systems are clearly set out in Planning Advice Note 61, and in the Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems Design Manual for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Fuller details of the events during the cryptosporidium incident in Glasgow will become available on the publication of both the report by the relevant Incident Control Team, and the report by the Water Industry Commissioner into communication with Scottish Water's customers.

The Food Standards Agency is the central competent authority responsible for legislation in relation to bottled drinking water. Local authorities in Scotland enforce the regulations, which govern the composition of bottled drinking water on behalf of the agency. The agency has the function of monitoring and auditing the performance of local authorities.

This is a matter for Scottish Water. I have asked the Chief Executive of Scottish Water to respond. The Chief Executive's response is as follows:The Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) report advised that 80 per cent of the estimated potential numbers of cryptosporidium oocysts entering the Katrine water supply system during high risk periods were associated with all wild and farm animals in the catchment area of Loch Katrine, Loch Arklet and Glen Finglas reservoir. This covers a land mass of some 27,000 acres. In addition, there is potential risk of contamination associated with the 11 farms that carry out agricultural activities along the 26-mile route of the aqueducts from Loch Katrine down to the Milngavie water treatment works. Scottish Water has held meetings with landowners to discuss possible changes in farming practice to try to reduce risk as far as possible. In addition, a number of the recommendations made by the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) for improvements to farm and water management have been implemented. These include the removal of the sheep waste, installing fences to prevent grazing near the water and changes to the use of Loch Arklet and Glen Finglas reservoir. The SAC reviewed the actions taken and estimated that the potential movement of oocysts will be reduced by 95% or greater as a result of the actions taken.To build on the work from the SAC report we will look at any further viable risk minimisation measures to reduce the risk of cryptosporidium.Any further necessary works will be developed into an action plan. Scottish Water's prime objective is to protect and provide clean, wholesome water to the 700,000 people of Greater Glasgow.

Breweries which have an average finished production capacity greater than 300 tonnes per day are regulated under the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (PPC). This includes the control of emissions to air. New breweries and those that undergo substantial changes in operation come under PPC regulation immediately. Existing breweries will be subject to PPC controls from 2005. Odour and noise from all breweries are regulated by the local authority, either through conditions in a planning consent or through the statutory nuisance controls in Part III of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Targets can be set under the negotiated agreements procedure whereby companies get a discount on climate change levy in return for meeting agreed targets. Only companies using processes (irrespective of thresholds) covered by Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) are entitled to enter into such agreements with the Government.Apart from some waste sites, the water industry is not covered by IPPC. It is already regulated by a number of other European Environment Directives, and was excluded to avoid duplication of regulation. Specifically in relation to Scottish Water, it is not a private company and thus does not benefit from enhanced capital allowances, this is because it does not pay corporation tax nor is it in profit.

The performance data from the pilot water treatment plant at Milngavie is highly technical in nature and consequently Scottish Water has no plans to publish it. However, the Water Research Centre (WRc) has carried out an expert review of the treatment process selection and design, and this is publicly available. The WRc report has previously been submitted to East Dunbartonshire Council, by Scottish Water, in support of the planning application for a new treatment works.

The Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland checks that the requirements of the Cryptosporidium Directions are being met and will enforce compliance if shortcomings are found.

The Outbreak Control Team (OCT) investigating the cause of the outbreak has not yet published its findings. The Scottish Executive has written to the chairman of the OCT, from Grampian NHS board, asking if the final report could be complete by 16 October 2002.