ACTION FOR CONFIDENCE IN WATER

Early action to restore public confidence in Scotland’s water supply was set out yesterday by the Ad Hoc Group of Ministers looking into the issue.

The group, established last week following water incidents in Glasgow and Edinburgh, received interim reports from the Incident Control Teams in Glasgow and Edinburgh and on the state of Scotland’s water supply from Tim Hooton, the Drinking Water Regulator.

Initial recommendations were put to Cabinet at Bute House today and the following have been agreed:

Clearer guidance on the criteria that doctors and scientists use to make judgements on the health risks posed by cryptosporidium

Assurances that the Cryptosporidium Direction is being fully implemented

A review of Scottish Water’s arrangements to ensure that it holds accurate information on the networks across Scotland in order to allow effective communications with members of the public

Urgent work on how incidents are handled at local level so that co-ordination and communication are of a consistently high standard

Announcing action

Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm, chair of the ad-hoc group, said:

"I am determined that in all of these matters we will be guided by the public health considerations and a commitment to transparency so that the public is always fully informed at the right time.

"These are interim recommendations which will be carried forward as a matter of urgency . We will be reconvening early next week to receive reports on progress and consider what further recommendations and action may be required."

The Group comprises Mr Chisholm, Environment Minister Ross Finnie, Enterprise Minister Iain Gray, and Deputy Health Minister Frank McAveety.

Mr Finnie added:

"The public has to be assured that they can have confidence to use the public water supply and we have sought assurances from the Drinking Water Quality Regulator that the quality standards are being rigorously enforced.

"There were failures in the way vital information was given to the public affected by the recent water alerts in Glasgow and Edinburgh. We need to take a detailed look at how these decisions can be better communicated to the public to avoid unnecessary confusion and concern in the future."

The full recommendations are:

More clarity is needed on the criteria by which doctors and scientists make judgements on the health risks posed by cryptosporidium.

Professor Bouchier has therefore been asked to call a meeting of his Group to advise on health-related standards for cryptosporidium in drinking water and for advice on informing the public about levels of cryptosporidium and the need to boil water.

The Executive will also call an urgent meeting with public health officials for each NHS Board in Scotland in order to consider current practice and to ensure consistency across Scotland in the meantime on how decisions are reached.

The Drinking Water Quality Regulator has been asked to assure Ministers that the Cryptosporidium Direction is being implemented, and to report on whether, in

the light of the recent incidents, and taking account of the implications of climate change, it requires to be strengthened in any respect.

This would include risk assessment procedures and arrangements for sampling.

Scottish Water should review its arrangements to ensure that it holds accurate information on the networks across Scotland in order to allow effective communication with members of the public.

The Executive, in conjunction with Scottish Water and NHS Boards, should urgently complete the current review of the Water Hazard Incident

Plans, taking account of the 2 Incident Control Teams reports, and including emergency planning, standing operational procedures, and laboratory capacity.

The revised Plan should ensure that communication between themselves, with the Executive and most crucially with the public is consistent and effective and operates within clearly defined criteria, where operational failures occur.