WRITTEN QUESTION P-3913/00

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(6 December 2000)

Subject: Outbreaks of legionella in Alcoy (Valencia region, Spain)

Within a 14-month period, 133 people in the town of Alcoy have been affected by the legionella bacterium which, it would appear, has colonised the town's public water supply. The information provided by the Valencia Regional Government's Environment Ministry confirms that legionella has been detected in two of the 10 tanks which supply the town with drinking-water. The bacterium has also been found in showers in between 20 % and 30 % of the 30 or so households which have been analysed (26 of which have been affected by the illness). Since the start last September of what is now the fourth outbreak of legionnaire's disease, water samples have been taken at a total of 67 points. 10 of these were the tanks which store the town's drinking water and in two cases the samples proved positive. A further 27 points on the water distribution network were analysed and eight of these tested positive.

In view of the earlier Directive 80/778/EEC(1) on the quality of water intended for human consumption, which has been supplemented and extended by means of Directive 98/83/EC(2) (whose deadline for transposition has recently expired) and which:

- requires the Member States to ensure that water intended for human consumption is wholesome and clean and that it is free from any micro-organisms and parasites and from any substances which constitute a potential danger to human health,

- requires immediate corrective action to be taken whenever there is any risk of failure to comply with the parametric values,

- requires periodic checks to be carried out on water quality,

- requires appropriate information and advice to be given to affected consumers, and

- requires the water supply to be restricted or interrupted if it constitutes a potential threat to human health,

does the Commission not think that the Valencia authorities (which have responsibility in the case of the Alcoy legionella contamination) are not acting as swiftly as is required under Directive 98/83/EC, given that they are now faced with the fourth outbreak of the bacterium? Does the Commission consider that the local people are receiving appropriate information regarding the health risks posed by this outbreak and also regarding the preventive action they should be taking? Has the Commission any proof that the statutory quality checks have been carried out pursuant to Directive 80/778/EEC, Directive 98/83/EC and Directive 79/869/EEC(3) on methods of measurement and the frequency of sampling?

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

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

(3) OJ L 271, 29.10.1979, p. 44.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(1 February 2001)

The legal instrument in the Community for the quality of water intended for human consumption is Directive 80/778/EEC. It will be replaced by Directive 98/83/EC which had to be transposed into national laws by 25 December 2000 and has to be implemented by 25 December 2003.

Both the original and the new Directive set an obligation to Member States to take all measures necessary to ensure that drinking water is of appropriate quality for a high level of protection of human health.

Under the Drinking Water Directive (80/778/EEC), water for human consumption should not contain pathogenic organisms. This would include the pathogen legionella. Therefore, if legionella was present in the drinking water made available to the consumers of Alcoy (Valencia region, Spain) in the past months, then this would have been a breach of Directive 80/778/EEC. The Commission has carefully noted all the information provided by the Honourable Member in order to investigate the case. Accordingly, the Commission will contact the Spanish authorities to obtain more information about this case, and will seek assurance that all the necessary action has been taken to ensure that this situation will not be repeated.