Dr Moliner de Serra Hospital (Valencia, Spain) and waste-water treatment
2.3.2004
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0800/04
by María Bergaz Conesa (GUE/NGL)
to the Commission
For the past year the Dr Moliner Serra Hospital in Valencia (Spain) has been discharging untreated faecal and other highly polluting waters into a ravine located in the Calderona Natural Park. The waters in question contaminate a number of wells which provide a significant amount of the local people's drinking water.
The length of time over which the waters have been discharged, the conditions under which the discharges are made, the harmful nature of the waters and the potential hazard which they represent both to the environment and to public health are all indications that the relevant authorities (the Valencia Regional Government) have little interest in solving the problem.
Will the Commission seek information concerning the composition of the waste water which the hospital is discharging without properly treating it?
Will the Commission check whether or not Directive 98/15/EC[1] on the treatment of waste water and Directive 80/68/EEC[2] on the protection of groundwater against pollution caused by certain hazardous substances are being infringed?
Will the Commission find out whether or not the quality of the water from the wells mentioned above is suitable for human consumption, pursuant to Directive 98/83/EC[3] on the quality of water intended for human consumption?
In view of the gravity of the case in question, what action is the Commission intending to take in order to ensure that the relevant Community laws (and, in particular, the above-mentioned Directives) are properly and strictly enforced?