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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to grant the Environment Agency statutory powers to test for (a) E. coli and (b) other harmful pathogens in watercourses.

The Environment Agency (EA) regularly samples and monitors for E.coli and Intestinal enterococci bacteria in watercourses that are officially designated as Bathing Waters. This information is available to the public, via the Swimfo website.

The EA may require water companies to take environmental samples for E. Coli and other faecal indicator organism bacteria during sewage pollution incidents which have potential to impact on bathing waters.

The EA also requires that water companies report faecal indicator concentration downstream of sites permitted to provide disinfection. All sites are required to report on E. Coli. Sites that are designated bathing waters are additionally required to report Intestinal Enterococci (I.E.). The EA reviews this reported data to check disinfection plants are meeting their design objectives.

The Independent Water Commission made a number of recommendations relating to Public Health. The Government will reply to these in their White Paper later this year.