WRITTEN QUESTION No. 178/98 by Mark WATTS to the Commission. Disposal of sewage and waste water
C 223/134 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17. 7. 98 (98/C 223/172) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0177/98 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission (5 February 1998) Subject: Disposal of sewage and waste water Is there any EU legislation, existing or proposed, which seeks to prevent the discharge of untreated waste into the sea when the capacity of the treatment facilities is not able to cope after heavy rain and flood waters? Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (5 March 1998) Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 on the treatment of urban waste water (1) provides that the design, construction, operation and maintenance of waste-water collection and treatment systems shall be such that they, in particular, restrict any pollution of the recipient waters caused by installation overload due to rainstorms. (1) OJ L 135, 30. 5. 1991. (98/C 223/173) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0178/98 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission (5 February 1998) Subject: Disposal of sewage and waste water Is the Commission aware that several barges a day still take sewage from London down the River Thames and discharge it into the Thames estuary within a relatively short distance of the Thanet coast? What legislation exists or is planned to prevent such wholesale disregard of the marine and coastal environment? Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (5 March 1998) The UK authorities have informed the Commission that discharges to surface waters from boats were not of urban sewage but of sludge from sewage treatment plants. Article 14 of Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste water treatment (1) calls on the Member States to ensure that by 31 December 1998 the disposal of sludge to surface waters by dumping from ships, by discharge from pipelines or by other means is phased out. (1) OJ L 135, 30. 5. 1991. (98/C 223/174) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0180/98 by Jesu·s Cabezo·n Alonso (PSE) to the Commission (5 February 1998) Subject: International anti-drugs centre, Panama The US and Panamanian Governments have reached an agreement in principle whereby, for a period of twelve years starting on 31 December 1999, the two countries will jointly operate an international anti-drugs centre