WRITTEN QUESTION E-0996/01 by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission. Failure to comply with water-quality standards in Valencia (Spain).
Date: 2001-03-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community of Valencia, drinking water, infringement of EU law, quality of the environment, water analysis, water consumption

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/175

This Directive has been correctly transposed into national law by Spain and it is up to the relevant national
authorities, particularly via its Labour Inspectorate services, to check and monitor the correct application
of Spanish measures.

It is therefore the responsibility of the Member States to ensure that the implementation of measures
provided for in national legislation are monitored adequately and to provide for compensation for cases of
occupational disease due to exposure to asbestos fibres at work.

Council Directive 87/217/EEC of 19 March 1987 on the prevention and reduction of environmental
pollution by asbestos (5) establishes that asbestos shall be dealt with in such a way that emissions into air
and water are minimised. In addition, solid asbestos waste should, as far as reasonably predictable, be
reduced at source and prevented. This involves using Batnec (best available techniques not entailing
excessive costs), including, where appropriate, recycling or treatment. Asbestos waste can be landfilled only
in sites licensed for this purpose.

Directive 87/217/EEC has been transposed into national
responsible for the implementation of the measures provided in the Directive.

law by Spain. The national authorities are

The Honourable Member(cid:146)s question does not contain sufficiently precise information to indicate that Spain
has probably infringed, or is continuing to infringe, one or more of the above legal obligations.

(1) OJ L 327, 3.12.1980.
(2) OJ L 263, 24.9.1983.
(3) OJ L 206, 29.7.1991.
(4) OJ L 131, 5.5.1998.
(5) OJ L 85, 28.3.1987.

(2001/C 318 E/189)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0996/01

by Mar(cid:237)a Sornosa Mart(cid:237)nez (PSE) to the Commission

(30 March 2001)

Subject: Failure to comply with water-quality standards in Valencia (Spain)

such important

inadequate management of

The Valencia Regional Government(cid:146)s water authorities are currently being investigated by the Commission
on account of their response to the outbreak of legionella which was detected in the town of Alcoy and
their
In the
Valencia region, however, there has been a string of cases of poor water management, such as the one
involving the town of La Vila Joisa, where drinking water is supplied to the (cid:145)Montiboli Hills(cid:146) residential
area by means of a rusty metallic storage tank with pipes made of PVC (the use of which is banned for the
purpose of supplying drinking water). A number of dead animals (rodents and snakes) have been found in
the storage tank on account of the fact that the latter cannot be hermetically sealed, and instead of fitting
a proper cover the local authorities have opted to place loose bricks in the water outlet. It is quite obvious,
therefore, that the people to whom this so-called drinking water is supplied are exposed to a genuine
health risk.

the Segura and the Belcaire.

rivers as

Directive 80/778/EC (1) relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption, has been
supplemented and extended by Directive 98/83/EC (2), for which the transposition deadline has recently
expired and which:

(cid:129) requires the Member States to ensure that water 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 any substances(cid:146) which constitute a potential
danger to human health;

(cid:129) requires immediate remedial action to be taken where there is any risk of non-compliance with the

parametric values;

(cid:129) requires regular monitoring of water quality to be carried out;

C 318 E/176

Official Journal of the European Communities

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13.11.2001

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

(cid:129) provides for restrictions to or interruption of the water supply if the latter constitutes a potential

threat to human health.

Does the Commission not consider that, in the case of La Vila Joisa, Directive 80/778/EC is once again
being infringed in the Valencia region?

(1) OJ L 229, 30.8.1980, p. 11.
(2) OJ L 45, 19.2.1999, p. 55.

Answer given by Ms Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(21 May 2001)

The Commission was not aware of the situation referred to by the Honourable Member.

The Community legislation which could be applicable in this case is Council Directive 80/778/EEC of
15 July 1980 relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption (1).

It should be noted that Directive 80/778/EEC will be replaced by Council Directive 98/83/EC of
3 November 1998 (2). The time limit for the transposition of this Directive expired on 25 December 2000.
The provisions of the new Directive must be applied by the Member States by 25 December 2003 at the
latest.

Both these Directives oblige the Member States to take the necessary measures to ensure that the quality of
water intended for human consumption meets the requirements laid down therein.

The Commission has asked the Spanish authorities to comment on the situation reported by the
Honourable Member in her written question, in order to ensure that the relevant Community legislation is
observed in this instance.

(1) OJ L 229, 30.8.1980.
(2) OJ L 330, 5.12.1998.

(2001/C 318 E/190)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1002/01

by Francisca Sauquillo PØrez del Arco (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Reconstruction work in El Salvador

(21 March 2001)

The earthquakes which have hit El Salvador in recent months have caused the death of 1 127 people,
injured a further 7 660, damaged 309 988 homes and left 1 497 556 people homeless. Although the
Commission is aware of the need for further emergency and reconstruction aid, there is due cause for
concern about the amount and provenance of the funds involved and the quality of the projects for which
they are earmarked.

Does the Commission consider € 8 million to be an adequate response to the emergency aid and
reconstruction needs, or will it be releasing new funds specifically intended for earthquake aid, over and
above those already earmarked for El Salvador as part of the Hurricane Mitch aid package?

Furthermore, given the additional risk that
the temporary housing built under the emergency aid
programme is not designed to withstand any further natural disasters, and in accordance with the findings
of the assessment made by the El Salvador rapid reaction unit and the mission of rehabilitation and
infrastructure experts, can ECHO undertake to provide funding for forms of emergency housing which can
then be gradually upgraded to permanent accommodation?

At the same time, is ECHO aware that the temporary housing funded by European humanitarian aid is
being used as permanent housing, with all the risks which this entails?