WRITTEN QUESTION E-2076/99

by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 November 1999)

Subject: Public health hazard in Greece posed by high concentrations of arsenic in drinking water breach of Community legislation

Recent measurements of drinking water quality carried out in the Chalastra area of Thessaloniki by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki have revealed extremely high concentrations of arsenic, 64 microgrammes per litre (µgr/l), which represents a direct risk to public health. Such a concentration is far beyond the maximum acceptable EU limit of 50 µgr/l laid down by Directive 80/778/EEC(1) on water quality, while the risk to public health is even greater if the new 1998 directive is taken into account (Directive 98/83/EC(2) on the quality of water intended for human consumption, replacing the previous directive) which lays down the maximum parametric value for arsenic at 10 µgr/l.

1. What immediate measures will the Commission take to safeguard public health and enforce Community directives on water intended for human consumption in Greece?

2. What information does the Commission have concerning this matter and what corrective or other measures has Greece taken to ensure that public health is protected and that healthy, clean water is available for consumption in the area concerned?

3. What is the position regarding the effective implementation of Directive 80/778/EEC in Greece and what information does the Commission have regarding the obligation to carry out regular checks on the quality of drinking water in Greece in accordance with Article 8 of the Directive concerned?

4. What stage has been reached in incorporating Directive 98/83/EC into Greek national law?

(1) OJ L 229, 30.8.1980, p. 11.

(2) OJ L 330, 5.12.1998, p. 32.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(13 December 1999)

The Commission is grateful to the Honourable Member for bringing to its attention the specific incidence of high arsenic concentration in drinking water in the area of Halastra, Thessaloniki.

The Commission has contacted, informally, the Greek authorities to seek their comments on the situation. If no satisfactory reply is received, ensuring that there is no danger for human health, the Commission will not hesitate to initiate the procedure provided in Article 226 (ex Article 169) EC Treaty. Should the Honourable Member already have in his possession additional information on this case, he would be very welcome to submit this to the Commission.

The Greek authorities have submitted a report on drinking water quality in line with Council Directive 91/692/EEC of 23 December 1991 standardizing and rationalizing reports on the implementation of certain Directives relating to the environment(1).

The Commission has requested private consultants to undertake a study on the implementation of the drinking water directive Council Directive 80/778/EEC of 15 July 1980 relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption(2) in Greece. The report on this study has been submitted to the Commission, which is assessing the information in order to decide on the appropriate action to be taken. At this stage, as the assessment has not been completed, the Commission would reserve its position.

Council Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998(3), the new drinking water directive, should be implemented in national legislation by 25 December 2000. To the Commission's knowledge no Member State has implemented the Directive until now.

(1) OJ L 377, 31.12.1991.

(2) OJ L 229, 30.8.1980.

(3) OJ L 330, 5.12.1998.