WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2487/97 by Klaus REHDER to the Commission. EU aid for processes for enriching drinking water with oxygen
C 76/116 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 11. 3. 98 2. - - - - In the Commission’s opinion, the main reasons for the delay are as follows: the relevant policy is imprecise with, as a result, considerable difficulties in precisely defining the content of the operation; lack of programming structures and significant shortcomings in structures for implementing, administering and monitoring the measure; frequent changes in the personnel responsible for the design and implementation of the operation; responsibilities overlapping between a number of departments and persons; - vague, very large-scale and perhaps over-ambitious operations, judging by the results. In the light of the significant delay and the high budget initially allocated to this measure, and taking into account the conclusions of the mid-term programme evaluation, the Ministry of Education and the Commission should, in the context of the partnership, re-examine the operation when the programme review takes place, which in principle should be before the end of this year. 3. The appropriations (its budget for the period 1994-1999) currently allocated to measure 1. 2, the ásingle high schoolí, amount to ECU 86. 4 million (total cost, of which the Community contribution is 75%). It should be noted that the European Regional Development Fund is also contributing to the operation under measure 1. 4 of the áschool infrastructure and equipmentí programme. The Commission does not have information as to the exact amount of these appropriations, as the distribution takes place at project level. (98/C 76/223) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2487/97 by Klaus Rehder (PSE) to the Commission (18 July 1997) Subject: EU aid for processes for enriching drinking water with oxygen 1. What is the Commissionís attitude towards processes for improving drinking water with oxygen? Is there any way in which the European Union can provide aid for new processes for enriching drinking 2. water with oxygen? Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (11. September 1997) Water intended for human consumption must meet the requirements of the drinking water Directive 80/778/EEC (1). In respect of the parameter dissolved oxygen, there is no guide level, or maximum admissible concentration, and therefore there is no mandatory standard with which drinking water must comply. The Community therefore does not have the possibility to demand that oxygen is added to drinking water to improve its quality. However, in Directive 80/778/EEC there is a comment in respect of the parameter dissolved oxygen, that the saturation value should be ágreater than 75% except for underground waterí. This means that it is advisable for surface water with a natural dissolved oxygen content of less than 75% to be oxygenated in order to improve its quality. Under the proposal for a revised drinking water Directive (2), which is currently being discussed in Council, dissolved oxygen is proposed as an áindicatorí parameter with a parametric value of greater than 50% saturation. This means that where drinking water fails to meet this value, Member States should investigate the cause, and take action to remedy the situation only where this is necessary in order to protect human health. (1) OJ L 229, 30. 8. 1980. (2) COM(94) 612 final