The Scottish Government

This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

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Report on drinking water quality

04/09/2002

Major improvements have been made to the public water supply but more can and should be done, according to a report by the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland (DWQRfS).

The report, published today was requested by the Ad Hoc Ministerial Group on Public Health and Public Water Supply as one of its early actions, and was discussed at today's meeting of Cabinet.

Commenting on the report, Environment Minister Ross Finnie said:

"The report does not shy away from spelling out the challenges that have to be met before everyone across Scotland benefits from a high quality public water supply. At the same time it recognises that the huge investment programme planned by Scottish Water will go a long way towards achieving this end.

"The DWQRfS confirms that the existing regulations and directions on the quality of the public water supply are up to the job and in some cases exceed the standards required by the European directive. However, the Regulator insists that full achievement of these standards will only happen if a number of key steps are taken including new investment and modern operating practices."

"Both the ad hoc ministerial group and the Cabinet welcome this report and Ministers accept its agenda for action."

Summary of points made in DWQRfS report

1. Great improvements have been made in the safety and security of public water supplies in Scotland since 1990.
2. Further improvements in the quality of drinking water will depend upon Scottish Water making progress with its investment programme and in modernising operational procedures.
3. The Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 1990 require that wholesome water should not contain any element, organism or substance at a concentration that would be detrimental to public health. The Cryptosporidium (Scottish Water) Directions 2002 places additional obligations on Scottish Water. Any detection of Cryptosporidium in the public water supply is notified to the local NHS Board and the Drinking Water Quality Unit at the Scottish Executive.
4. The Cryptosporidium Directions make mandatory the recommendations of the UK Expert Group on Cryptosporidium in Water Supplies. The Directions also require Scottish Water to carry out a risk assessment on all its water supplies and to take action to minimise the risk at all high and moderate risk works by the end of 2005 at the latest. Where improvements cannot be implemented immediately Scottish Water must monitor these sites to warn of any risk to public health.
5. The standard for trihalomethanes (THMs) in Scotland is currently tighter than that required by the EC Directive. There are breaches of the Scottish standard but the investment programme planned by Scottish Water should ensure compliance with the EC standard, as required, by 2003. The EC standard tightens to match the Scottish standard in 2008 but compliance with this tighter standard should be achieved in Scotland by 2006, if Scottish Water's investment programme is delivered on time.
6. Lead in tap water stems from the use of lead in pipes used to distribute water within buildings and to connect the buildings to water mains in the street. There are no lead water mains in Scotland. Many supplies have been treated for some time to prevent the uptake of lead from pipes. Scottish Water has plans to extend the use of this treatment and to remove any lengths of connecting pipework made of lead that still remains in their ownership.
7. A number of recent cases of E.coli contamination of private water supplies serving camping and caravan sites have highlighted the need for improved regulation of private water supplies. In November 2001 the Scottish Executive issued a consultation document on proposals to strengthen the regulation of private water supplies.
8. The Scottish Executive also published a consultation in March 2002 on proposals to regulate the quality of water supplied in public buildings such as schools and hospitals.
9. Extreme rainfall events should not affect the quality of the water in the public supply. Any such event will put pressure on the treatment process but it should be designed to cope with such pressures. In the past this has not always been the case but the increased use of automation and investment in treatment processes should avoid such problems in the future.