WRITTEN QUESTION E-0800/04 by María Bergaz Conesa (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Dr Moliner de Serra Hospital (Valencia, Spain) and waste-water treatment.
Date: 2004-03-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community of Valencia, drinking water, groundwater, medical institution, wastewater, water pollution, water protection, water treatment

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/227

town’s Forest Inspectorate. Since the area is protected by the Ramsar Convention, can the Commission say
to what extent such action is consistent with the obligations incumbent on the Member State concerned
under that Convention?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(22 April 2004)

The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that the Ramsar Convention does not
contain explicit provisions on the prohibition of cutting down old aged trees in areas listed under the
Convention. The Convention, fully known as ‘The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance
especially as Waterfowl Habitat’, reflects its original emphasis on the conservation and wise use of wetlands
primarily to provide habitat for waterbirds. Over the years, however, the Convention has broadened its
scope to cover all aspects of wetland conservation and wise use, recognizing wetlands as ecosystems that
are extremely important
for biodiversity conservation in general and for the well-being of human
communities. Under the Convention there is a general obligation for the Contracting Parties to include
land-use planning. They have undertaken to
wetland conservation considerations in their national
formulate and implement this planning so as to promote, as far as possible, ‘the wise use of wetlands in
their territory’ (Article 3.1 of the Convention). The ‘Wise Use Guidelines’ emphasize the benefits and values
of wetlands for sediment and erosion control; flood control; maintenance of water quality and abatement
of pollution; maintenance of surface and underground water supply; support for fisheries, grazing and
agriculture; outdoor recreation and education for human society; and climatic stability.

The Commission understands that the permits for the felling of the eucalyptus trees in the city of
Amfilokhia have been issued by the regional office of the Forestry Service, which is the competent
authority for providing permits for this action. The Commission assumes that the responsible authority has
examined the designation status and the existing management plans for the site before issuing the permit
and has followed the national legal procedures that apply.

(2004/C 88 E/0231)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0800/04

by María Bergaz Conesa (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 March 2004)

Subject: Dr Moliner de Serra Hospital (Valencia, Spain) and waste-water treatment

For the past year the Dr Moliner Serra Hospital in Valencia (Spain) has been discharging untreated faecal
and other highly polluting waters into a ravine located in the Calderona Natural Park. The waters in
question contaminate a number of wells which provide a significant amount of the local people’s drinking
water.

The length of time over which the waters have been discharged, the conditions under which the discharges
are made, the harmful nature of the waters and the potential hazard which they represent both to the
environment and to public health are all indications that the relevant authorities (the Valencia Regional
Government) have little interest in solving the problem.

Will the Commission seek information concerning the composition of the waste water which the hospital
is discharging without properly treating it?

Will the Commission check whether or not Directive 98/15/EC (1) on the treatment of waste water and
Directive 80/68/EEC (2) on the protection of groundwater against pollution caused by certain hazardous
substances are being infringed?

Will the Commission find out whether or not the quality of the water from the wells mentioned above is
suitable for human consumption, pursuant to Directive 98/83/EC (3) on the quality of water intended for
human consumption?

C 88 E/228

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

In view of the gravity of the case in question, what action is the Commission intending to take in order to
ensure that the relevant Community laws (and, in particular, the above-mentioned Directives) are properly
and strictly enforced?

(1) OJ L 67, 7.3.1998, p. 29.
(2) OJ L 20, 26.1.1980, p. 43.
(3) OJ L 330, 5.12.1998, p. 32.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(21 April 2004)

Depending on the detailed circumstances, discharges from the hospital mentioned by the Honourable
Member may require an authorisation or permit from the Spanish Authorities in line with Community
environmental legislation.

As regards drinking water supplied in this area, it must be in conformity with Council Directive 98/83/EC
of 3 November 1998 on the quality of water intended for human consumption, provided that none of the
exemptions set out in Article 3 of this Directive are applicable. This Directive sets specific standards for
drinking water, including zero presence of E-coli bacteria.

As regards Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment (1),
Member States are obliged to ensure that all agglomerations with more than 2 000 population equivalents
(p.e (cid:1) the organic pollution measuring unit representing the average pollution produced per person per
day) are provided with urban waste water collection and treatment systems. Smaller agglomerations shall
be subject to appropriate treatment if the waste water is collected. According to the information available,
the size of the agglomeration of Serra in terms of population equivalents is below 2 000 p.e. and therefore
this agglomeration is not covered by the obligation of Directive 91/271/EEC.

Urban waste-water may contain substances (such as phosphorous and heavy metals) which can be found
in List II of Council Directive 80/68/EEC of 17 December 1979 on the protection of groundwater against
pollution caused by certain dangerous substances.

Directive 80/68/EEC requires the prior investigation and authorisation of pollutant discharges or waste
disposal likely to lead to discharges to groundwater (Article 5). There are related obligations concerning the
content of investigations and authorizations, monitoring and the keeping of inventories (Articles 7-16).

Consequently, the Commission will request information from the Spanish authorities to further assess the
case and consider the necessary steps to be taken.

(1) OJ L 135, 30.5.1991, as amended by Commission Directive 98/15/EC of 27 February 1998.

(2004/C 88 E/0232)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0801/04

by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(11 March 2004)

Subject: Exceptional hunting and wild bird conservation (cid:1) Sardinia

On 13 February 2004 the Autonomous Region of Sardinia adopted Law No 2, which allows ‘exceptional
hunting’ as referred to in Article 9 of Directive 79/409/EEC (1), a system established in Italy in 2002 under
Law No 221. The subsequent Order No 3/V, issued on 18 February 2004 by the Member of the Regional
Executive responsible for environmental protection, authorised exceptional hunting of the Spanish sparrow
(Passer hispaniolensis), the tree sparrow (Passer montanus), the starling (Sturnis vulgaris), the song thrush
(Turdus philomelos), and the redwing (Turdus iliacus) on 21, 22, 26, and 29 February 2004, thus affording
an opportunity for Sardinian hunters, of whom there are about 50 000, to bag possibly as many as
6 000 000 birds.