WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2997/97 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Implementation of Directive 80/778/EEC
Date: 1997-10-01
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: EC Directive, Greece, drinking water, national implementing measure, public health, quality control of industrial products, quality standard, supply, water pollution, water treatment

C 134/52

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

30. 4. 98

(98/C 134/63)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2997/97

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 October 1997)

Subject: Implementation of Directive 80/778/EEC

Directive  80/778/EEC (1)  lays  down  quality  standards  and  measures  to  monitor  and  guarantee  the  quality  of
drinking water, the primary objective being to protect public health.

In  view  of  recent  findings  concerning  the  pollution  of  drinking  water  in  Kastoria,  what  measures  will  the
Commission take to enforce Community legislation on the protection of drinking water? Did the water supplies
for Kastoria meet the requirements of Directive 80/778/EEC? What measures will the Commission take to help
improve and monitor effectively the implementation of quality standards for drinking water in Kastoria and other
areas of Greece?

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

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(12 November 1997)

Article 7(1) of Directive 80/778/EEC relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption requires
Member States to fix values applicable to water intended for human consumption for the parameters shown in
Annex I to the Directive. In addition, Article 12 stipulates that Member States must take all necessary steps to
ensure  regular  monitoring  of  the  quality  of  water  intended  for  human  consumption.  The  Member  States
determine  the  detailed  arrangements  for  such  monitoring,  but  are  nonetheless  required  to  use  (as  far  as
practicable) the methods and frequencies set out in Annexes II and III to the Directive. Furthermore, Member
States  were  required  to  take  the  necessary  measures  to  ensure  that  the  quality  of  water  intended  for  human
consumption complied with the Directive throughout the Community by 1985.

The Greek authorities transposed Directive 80/778/EEC into national law by Ministerial Decisions of 1974 and
1986 (1). On 17 February 1997 the Greek authorities provided the Commission with detailed information on the
quality of drinking water in various regions of Greece for the year 1995. This included the Kastoria region. The
parameter analysis results appear to comply with the Directive for the reference period.

Having learned of this particular case, the Commission will approach the Greek authorities for further details on
the quality of drinking water in the Kastoria region and the measures taken (or to be taken) by the authorities to
ensure compliance with Directive 80/778/EEC.

(1)  Ministerial Decisions Nos G4/1722 of 24.9.1974 (Government Gazette II No 988 of 7.10.1974) and A5/288 of 23.1.1986 (GG II No 53 of

20.2.1986).

(98/C 134/64)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3001/97

by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission

(1 October 1997)

Subject: Irregularities in the tendering procedures for the construction of the eastern section of the Rome by-pass

and the subway under the Castel Sant(cid:146)Angelo in Rome

According to recent press reports the Commission has cancelled the contract for the construction of the new
eastern section of the Rome by-pass, which had already been awarded to the State Railways by the City Council
for a sum of LIT 7 billion. The apparent reason for all this was the failure on the part of the Rome city authorities
to comply with the procedure laid down in European legislation on public contracts, which now means that the
call to tender must be repeated.