903997.En Pe 490.524
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Question for written answer E-005581/2012 to the Commission Rule 117 Antolín Sánchez Presedo (S&D) Subject: Cyanobacteria in the As Conchas Reservoir Last summer, the As Conchas reservoir, situated in the municipal areas of Bande, Lobeira and Muiños (Ourense, Galicia, Spain), reached the maximum warning level for concentrations of toxic cyanobacteria in its water. According to analysis by the Biotechnology and Toxicity Laboratory at the Veterinary Science Faculty at the Complutense University of Madrid, more than 15 000 colonies per millilitre were found. The Microcystis Aeruginosa detected produces the Microcystina toxin, which can cause serious health problems in large quantities and after long exposure, including destroying the liver. In Sao Paulo (Brazil), more than 200 people have died as a result of the toxin. According to the World Health Organisation directives, the water was declared unfit for any use. This cyanobacterial bloom seems to be caused by the presence of phosphates and nitrates from fertilisers used in potato cultivation entering the river and from slurry and chemical fertiliser runoff from farms. The Miño-Sil Hydrographical Confederation urged the mayors of the Municipalities of A Limia and A Baixa Limia (Bande, Lobeira, Muiños, Porqueira, Rairiz de Veiga, Sandiás, Sarreaus, Vilar de Santos, Trasmiras and Xinzo de Limia) to install absorbent shredded eucalyptus bark areas in Porto Quintela (Bande) and O Corgo-A Rola (Muiños), the River Limia and the canal of A Lagoa de Antela, to retain the nutrients and reduce their concentration in the water for the bathers. Other authorities have not done this and the problems may spread downstream, affecting the Lindoso reservoir and even the Peneda Gerês Natural Park in Portugal. Has the Commission been told about this serious case of pollution by the Spanish authorities? Does it think that this is contravening the Water Framework Directive? Is it taking appropriate measures to deal with the situation? Should urgent measures be taken? 903997.EN PE 490.524.