WRITTEN QUESTION E-3323/97 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (20 October 1997)

Subject: Replacement of pipes in water supply systems

The Italian press has recently given great prominence to reports from Brussels that the Union is planning to replace pipes in water supply systems installed after a certain date. The reason is that the pipes are allegedly dangerous because their lead content exceeds normal limits. Can the Commission:

1. confirm that this report is true;

2. if so, specify in greater detail the substance of its proposals;

3. say by what date the work is to be completed;

4. say whether it has calculated the probable cost of the operation;

5. say whether it has assessed the reactions, including the psychological reaction, to the Union on the part of house-owners, who in recent years have had increasing expenses to cope with as a result of the restrictive fiscal and budgetary policies imposed by governments in order to achieve the objective of the single currency?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (26 November 1997)

Lead is a general toxicant that accumulates in the skeleton. Infants, children up to six years old, and pregnant women are most susceptible to its adverse health effects. Lead is toxic to both the central and peripheral nervous systems, inducing subencephalopathic neurological and behavioural effects. The World health organisation proposed a health-based guideline value of 10 microgrammes per litre, which is generally supported by experts world-wide. The Commission has decided to propose this standard in its proposal for the revision of the Drinking Water Directive ((OJ C 131, 30.5.1995. )). All Member States have accepted the value of 10 microgrammes per litre as appropriate. The present standard concerning lead is 50 microgrammes per litre. In practice, the way to meet the proposed standard will be the replacement of lead piping or plumbing systems.

The Commission is aware of the practical and financial consequences of the proposed standard. This is why it proposed a fifteen year compliance period for the lead parameter. This is an exception from the general five year compliance period for the provisions of the proposed directive. Between five and fifteen years the intermediate standard will be 25 microgrammes per litre. The Parliament, in its first reading of the proposal, requested ten years instead of fifteen. Certain Member States would prefer twenty or more years. The Commission believes that a fifteen year compliance period for the lead parameter is a reasonable balance, bearing in mind the elements presented above.

At the October 1997 Environment Council, political agreement on a common position on the proposed drinking water directive was achieved ((OJ C 213, 15.7.1997. )), including the value of 10 microgrammes per litre for lead and a period of fifteen years to comply with this standard.

The cost for compliance with the lead parametric value is estimated to be in the range of 27 000 to 37 000 MECU (the figure is for 12 Member States, as the study was carried out in 1994). The owners of private houses will be informed about benefits of replacement of lead plumbing. They will not, though, be legally obliged under Community legislation to replace their lead plumbing.