Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to prevent industrial lead entering (a) drinking water and (b) the food chain.

This Government is addressing the historic pollution of our rivers and estuaries by abandoned metal mines through a collaborative partnership between Defra, the Environment Agency, and the Mining Remediation Authority under the Water and Abandoned Metal Mines Programme. Mine water treatment schemes, constructed at identified priority pollution sites, can remove up to 90% of the harmful targeted metals, including lead, from the water coming from abandoned metal mines before the treated water is returned to the river. The Programme also constructs diffuse interventions to limit ‘diffuse pollution’ by metal contaminated sediment from mine wastes left on the surface.

Industrial discharges to land and water are controlled by the Environment Agency permitting framework. Permitting, limits the level of lead discharged into the environment including raw water sources.

Water companies carry out regular risk assessments of their raw water sources, such as rivers and reservoirs, to identify any potential risks from naturally occurring substances or historic and current industrial activity. Where necessary, they will treat, blend, or remove a source from use to ensure consumer safety.

Water companies must demonstrate meeting the statutory limits for lead by providing regular compliance sample results from designated points in the supply network to the Drinking Water Inspectorate.