WRITTEN QUESTION P-3913/00 by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission. Outbreaks of legionella in Alcoy (Valencia region, Spain).
Date: 2000-12-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community of Valencia, EU environmental policy, infectious disease, national implementing measure, piping, public health, quality of the environment, water consumption, water pollution, water supply

C 235 E/34

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

(2001/C 235 E/037)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3913/00

by Mar(cid:237)a Sornosa Mart(cid:237)nez (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(cid:146)s public water supply. The information provided
by the Valencia Regional Government(cid:146)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(cid:146)s disease, water samples have been taken at a total of 67 points. 10 of these were the tanks
which store the town(cid:146)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:

(cid:129) requires the Member States to ensure that water intended for human consumption is (cid:145)wholesome and
clean(cid:146) and that it is (cid:145)free from any micro-organisms and parasites and from any substances(cid:146) which
constitute a potential danger to human health,

(cid:129) requires immediate corrective action to be taken whenever there is any risk of failure to comply with

the parametric values,

(cid:129) requires periodic checks to be carried out on water quality,

(cid:129) requires appropriate information and advice to be given to affected consumers, and

(cid:129) 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 Wallstr(cid:246)m 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.

21.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/35

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.

(2001/C 235 E/038)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3924/00

by Michael Cashman (PSE) to the Commission

(13 December 2000)

Subject: Transparency of meetings

Can the Commission confirm if there exists any Member State legislation or EU legislation requiring
deliberations of governing/decision-making boards or commissions to be open to the public?

This subject is particularly pertinent considering the current reform process being undertaken within the
European Union institutions.

The Commission should note that in the USA this requirement is embedded in Federal and State legislation
(See Title 5, US Code, section 552b, 5 U.S.C, sec. 552b).

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(8 March 2001)

The Commission is not aware of legislation in any of the Member States requiring the deliberations of
decision-making bodies to be open to the public. As a general rule, debates in elected assemblies are open
to the public while the work of executive bodies is not. The rules of procedure of each of the Community
institutions contains provisions governing publication of their deliberations.

(2001/C 235 E/039)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3943/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 December 2000)

Subject: Cost of bank transfers

1. Will the Commission estimate the average or typical cost to a commercial bank customer of a transfer
worth € 50 to another bank customer:

(a) within each of the Member States;

(b) between each Member State within the eurozone and each other Member State within the eurozone?

Is it the objective of the Commission that the cost of all banking transfers within the euro area,

2.
including cross-border transfers, should be the same as it is in individual Member States?