These are rather technical measures which stem from the EEC environment programme. They are in the area of environment which is also within the terms of reference of the Sub-Committee. The first item relates to noise emitted by compressors. The purpose of the proposed Directive is to prevent compressors used on building sites being put on the market unless they comply with certain conditions as to the emission of noise. Under this draft proposal Member States would be required to give EEC-type approval or verification to compressors which comply with these conditions and which could therefore be sold and used and would not be prohibited by national laws. The conditions are contained not only in the proposed Directive but also in a proposed framework Directive and provisions for constructional plant and equipment. This has been before the Council of Ministers since January 1975 but there has not been any progress in regard to it.
In paragraph 4 we summarise the implications for Ireland and say that we are informed that compressors of the type in question are not manufactured here and that there is no conflict between the draft Directive provisions and our Factories Act Regulations. Therefore, we could approve without there being any great significance for us.
The other document referred to in the report is the Council Directive relating to the sampling and analysis of surface water. This refers to a basic Council Directive of June 1975 which deals with the quality required for surface water which is intended to be abstracted for drinking water. This requires that surface water sources of public drinking water supplies be classified into one of three categories—A1, A2 or A3 in accordance with specified standards which require appropriate treatment of the water and restricts the use of water below the A3 quality level.
These provisions apply to the quality of raw surface water rather than to the quality of water after treatment, that is, when it is considered suitable for drinking by consumers. We referred to a survey that was carried out in Ireland after the adoption of the EEC Directive and which indicates that 85 per cent of the surface water source of public water supplies serving a population of 3,000 or more are in the A1 category which is the highest of the three categories. We refer to the fact that the 1975 Directive does not contain detailed technical provisions governing methods of measurement and frequencies of sampling and this new Directive which, as it were, grows from the other one, deals with these technical aspects.
In paragraph 7 we say we are informed that the number of surface water sources of public water supply systems is such that recently existing laboratory facilities in this country could not cope with a request for even a once-off analysis for each of the 46 parameters listed in the proposed Directive for each source. We say that we have been informed that it is essential that the proposed Directive be modified so as to limit the scope of sampling and analysis where levels of substances present in surface water are considerably lower than those defined in the 1975 Directive for the various categories of surface water sources. It appeared to Members of the Sub-Committee that the main problem is, not that we are against the setting of these kinds of standards for surface water, which is to be used ultimately for drinking, but that the kind of tests involved would be very elaborate and expensive and not necessarily the best way of ensuring that the standards are maintained.
We say that it has been represnted to us also that the competent authority, that is the local authority, should have discretion to fix the frequency of sampling for surface water sources of public supplies serving a population of fewer than 10,000. We regard this as consistent with the current version of a proposed EEC Directive on the quality of water for human consumption. This gives competent authorities discretion in fixing frequencies of sampling for drinking water supplies serving a population of fewer than 5,000.
We think that the higher discretionary threshold of 10,000 is justifiable in the proposed Directive on surface water which deals with the standard of water prior to the treatment necessary to make it fit for human consumption. This deals with water at an earlier stage.
In paragraphs 9 and 10 we summarise our views and say that in the proposals relating to compressors we note that the primary burden will fall on those putting the articles on the market and that the compressors concerned are not manufactured in Ireland. Consequently, we say we are satisfied with the standards proposed.
Regarding the proposal I have just been describing we say that the Draft Directive could be accepted if it were modified as we suggest.
