Water Intended for Human Consumption Regulations, 2009

L.N. 17 of 2009

FOOD SAFETY ACT

(CAP. 449)

Water Intended for Human Consumption Regulations, 2009

IN exercise of the powers conferred by article 10 of the Food

Safety Act, the Minister for Social Policy has made the following

regulations:-

(1) The title of these regulations is the Water Intended

for Human Consumption Regulations, 2009.

These regulations transpose Council Directive 98/83/EC

of 3 November, 1998, on the quality of water intended for human

consumption. These regulations also concern the quality of water

intended for human consumption, with the objective to protect

human health from the adverse effects of any contamination of water

intended for human consumption by ensuring that it is wholesome

and clean, and to set in place a regime that provides protection to

persons consuming the water. They shall apply to any water supplied

by a water supplier.

For the purposes of these regulations and unless the context

otherwise requires:-

“the Act” means the Food Safety Act;

“competent authority” means the Superintendent of

Public Health or a person authorized to act on his behalf;

“the Directive” means Council Directive 98/83/EC of 3

November, 1998 on the quality of water intended for human

consumption and any amendments thereto;

“distribution network” includes any method by which

water intended for human consumption is transported to a

domestic distribution system;

“domestic distribution system” means the pipe work,

fittings and appliances which are installed between the

taps intended to convey water for human consumption, and

the distribution network, except those which fall under the

responsibility of the water supplier in its capacity as a water

supplier;

“private water supply” means any potable water which is

not distributed through a distribution network;

“source” with respect to water shall include the outlet

of water treatment works, a borehole, a pumping station, a

blending point or a service reservoir, whether permanent or

not;

“water intended for human consumption” means

(a) all water either in its original state or after

treatment, intended for drinking, cooking, food preparation

or other domestic purposes, regardless of its origin and

whether it is supplied from a distribution network, from a

tanker, or in bottles or containers;

(b) all water used in any food-production

undertaking for the manufacture, processing, preservation

or marketing of products or substances intended for

human consumption unless the competent authority is

satisfied that the quality of the water cannot affect the

wholesomeness of the foodstuff in its finished form.

(1) The provisions of these regulations shall not apply

(a) natural mineral waters recognised as such by the

competent authority, in accordance with Council Directive

80/777/EEC of 15 July 1980 on the approximation of the laws

of the Member States relating to the exploitation and marketing

of natural mineral waters;

(b) waters which are medicinal products within the

meaning of Council Directive 65/65/EEC of 26 January 1965

on the approximation of provisions laid down by law, regulation

or administrative action relating to medicinal products.

(2) The competent authority may exempt from the

provisions of these regulations

(a) water intended exclusively for those purposes for

which the competent authority is satisfied that the quality of

the water has no influence, either directly or indirectly, on the

health of the consumers concerned;

(b) water intended for human consumption from an

individual supply providing less than 10 m³ a day as an average

or serving fewer than 50 persons, unless the water is supplied

as part of a commercial or public activity.

(3) In those cases where the competent authority grants

the exemptions provided for in the preceding sub regulation it shall

ensure that the population concerned is informed thereof and of any

action that can be taken to protect human health from the adverse

effects resulting from any contamination of water intended for human

consumption. In addition, when a potential danger to human health

arising out of the quality of such water is apparent, the population

concerned shall promptly be given appropriate advice.

(1) Without prejudice to other obligations under the

provisions of other laws the competent authority shall take the

measures necessary to ensure that water intended for human

consumption is wholesome and clean. For the purposes of the

minimum requirements of these regulations, water intended for

human consumption shall be wholesome and clean if

(a) it is free from any micro-organisms and parasites

and from any substances which, in numbers or concentrations,

constitute a potential danger to human health, and

(b) it meets the minimum requirements set out in

Schedule I, Parts A and B; and

(c) if in accordance with the relevant provisions of these

regulations and in accordance with the Treaty, the competent

authority takes all other measures necessary to ensure that

water intended for human consumption complies with the

requirements of these regulations.

(2) The competent authority shall ensure that the

measures taken to implement the provisions of these regulations in

no circumstances have the effect of allowing, directly or indirectly,

either any deterioration of the present quality of water intended for

human consumption so far as that is relevant for the protection of

human health or any increase in the pollution of waters used for the

production of drinking water.

(1) The competent authority shall set values applicable

to water intended for human consumption for the parameters set out

in Schedule I.

(2) The values set in accordance with the preceding

paragraph shall not be less stringent than those set out in Schedule

I. As regards the parameters set out in Schedule I, Part C, the values

need be fixed only for monitoring purposes and for the fulfillment of

the obligations imposed in regulation 9.

(3) The competent authority shall set values for

additional parameters not included in Schedule I where the protection

of human health in Malta or any part within it so requires. The values

set should, as a minimum, satisfy the requirements of regulation

5(1)(a).

(1) The parametric values set in accordance with the

preceding regulation shall be complied with

(a) in the case of water supplied from a distribution

network, at the point, within premises or an establishment,

at which it emerges from the taps that are normally used for

human consumption;

(b) in the case of water supplied from a tanker, at the

point at which it emerges from the tanker;

(c) in the case of water put into bottles or containers

intended for sale, at the point at which the water is put into the

bottles or containers;

(d) in the case of water used in a food-production

undertaking, at the point where the water is used in the

undertaking.

(2) In the case of water covered by sub-regulation (1)

(a) hereof, the competent authority shall be deemed to have fulfilled

its obligation under this regulation and under regulations 5 and 9(2)

where it can be established that non-compliance with the parametric

values set in accordance with regulation 5 is due to the domestic

distribution system or the maintenance thereof except in premises

and establishments where water is supplied to the public, such as

schools, hospitals and restaurants.

(3) Where the provision of sub-regulation (2) applies

and there is a risk that water covered by paragraph (a) of sub-

regulation (1) hereof would not comply with the parametric values

established in accordance with regulation 5, the competent authority

shall nevertheless ensure that

(a) appropriate measures are taken to reduce or eliminate

the risk of non-compliance with the parametric values, such as

advising property owners of any possible remedial action they

could take, and, or other measures, such as appropriate treatment

techniques, are taken to change the nature or properties of the

water before it is supplied so as to reduce or eliminate the risk

of the water not complying with the parametric values after

supply; and

(b) the consumers concerned are duly informed and

advised of any possible additional remedial action that they

should take.

(1) The competent authority shall take all measures

necessary to ensure that regular monitoring of the quality of water

intended for human consumption is carried out, in order to check

that the water available to consumers meets the requirements of

these regulations and in particular the parametric values set in

accordance with regulation 6. Samples should be taken so that they

are representative of the quality of the water consumed throughout

the year. In addition, the competent authority shall take all measures

necessary to ensure that, where disinfection forms part of the

preparation or distribution of water intended for human consumption,

the efficiency of the disinfection treatment applied is verified, and

that any contamination from disinfection by-products is kept as low

as possible without compromising the disinfection.

(2) To meet the obligations imposed in sub-regulation

(1), appropriate monitoring programmes shall be established by the

competent authority for all water intended for human consumption.

Those monitoring programmes shall meet the minimum requirements

set out in Schedule II.

(3) The sampling points shall be determined by the

competent authority and shall meet the relevant requirements set

out in Schedule II.

(4) (a) The competent authority shall comply with the

specifications for the analyses of parameters set out in Schedule III.

(b) Methods other than those specified in Schedule

III, Part 1, may be used, providing it can be demonstrated that the

results obtained are at least as reliable as those produced by the

methods specified. Should the competent authority have recourse

to alternative methods, it shall provide the European Commission

with all relevant information concerning such methods and their

equivalence.

(c) For those parameters listed in Schedule III,

Parts 2 and 3, any method of analysis may be used provided that it

meets the requirements set out therein.

(5) The competent authority shall ensure that additional

monitoring is carried out on a case-by-case basis of substances and

micro-organisms for which no parametric value has been set in

accordance with regulation 6, if there is reason to suspect that they

may be present in amounts or numbers which constitute a potential

danger to human health.

(1) The competent authority shall ensure that any failure

to meet the parametric values set in accordance with regulation 6 is

immediately investigated in order to identify the cause.

(2) If, despite the measures taken to meet the

obligations imposed in regulation 5(1), water intended for human

consumption does not meet the parametric values set in accordance

with regulation 6, and subject to regulation 7(2), the competent

authority shall ensure that the necessary remedial action is taken as

soon as possible to restore its quality and shall give priority to their

enforcement action, having regard inter alia to the extent to which

the relevant parametric value has been exceeded and to the potential

danger to human health.

(3) Whether or not any failure to meet the parametric

values has occurred, the competent authority shall ensure that any

supply of water intended for human consumption which constitutes

a potential danger to human health is prohibited or its use restricted

or such other action is taken as is necessary to protect human health.

In such cases consumers shall be informed promptly thereof and

given the necessary advice.

(4) The competent authority shall decide what action

under the preceding sub-regulation should be taken, bearing in mind

the risks to human health which would be caused by an interruption

of the supply or a restriction in the use of water intended for human

consumption.

(5) The competent authority may establish guidelines

to assist the water suppliers to fulfill their obligations under the

preceding sub-regulation.

(6) In the event of non-compliance with the parametric

values or with the specifications set out in Schedule I, Part C, the

competent authority shall consider whether that non-compliance

poses any risk to human health. It shall ensure that water suppliers

take remedial action to restore the quality of the water where that is

necessary to protect human health.

(7) The competent authority shall ensure that, where

remedial action is taken, water suppliers have notified consumers

except in those cases where the competent authority considers the

non-compliance with the parametric value to be trivial.

(1) The competent authority may provide for

derogations from the parametric values set out in Schedule I, Part

B, or set in accordance with regulation 6(3), up to a maximum

value to be determined by it, provided no derogation constitutes a

potential danger to human health and provided that the supply of

water intended for human consumption in the area concerned cannot

otherwise be maintained by any other reasonable means. Derogations

shall be limited to as short a time as possible and shall not exceed

three years, towards the end of which a review shall be conducted

to determine whether sufficient progress has been made. Where the

competent authority intends to grant a second derogation, it shall

communicate the review along with the grounds for its decision

on the second derogation, to the European Commission. No such

second derogation shall exceed three years.

(2) In exceptional circumstances, the competent

authority may ask the European Commission for a third derogation

for a period not exceeding three years. The European Commission

shall take a decision on any such request within three months.

(3) Any derogation granted in accordance with this

regulation shall specify the following

(a) the grounds for the derogation;

(b) the parameter concerned, previous relevant

monitoring results, and the maximum permissible value under

the derogation;

(c) the geographical area, the quantity of water supplied

each day, the population concerned and whether or not any

relevant food-production undertaking would be affected;

(d) an appropriate monitoring scheme, with an increased

monitoring frequency where necessary;

(e) a summary of the plan for the necessary remedial

action, including a timetable for the work and an estimate of

the cost and provisions for reviewing;

(f) the required duration of the derogation.

(4) If the competent authority consider the non-

compliance with the parametric value to be trivial, and if action

taken in accordance with regulation 9(2) is sufficient to remedy the

problem within 30 days, the requirements of sub-regulation (3) need

not be applied. In that case, only the maximum permissible value

for the parameter concerned and the time allowed to remedy the

problem shall be set by the competent authority.

(5) Recourse may no longer be had to sub-regulation

(4) if failure to comply with any one parametric value for a given

water supply has occurred on more than 30 days on aggregate during

the previous 12 months.

(6) In the case where the competent authority has

recourse to the derogations provided for in this regulation, then it

shall ensure that the population affected by any such derogation is

promptly informed in an appropriate manner of the derogation and

of the conditions governing it. In addition the competent authority

shall, where necessary, ensure that advice is given to particular

population groups for which the derogation could present a special

risk

Provided that these obligations shall not apply in the

circumstances described in regulation 4 unless the competent

authorities decide otherwise.

(7) With the exception of derogations granted in

accordance with the preceding sub-regulation (4), the competent

authority shall inform the European Commission within two

months of any derogation concerning an individual supply of water

exceeding 1,000 m³ a day as an average or serving more than 5,000

persons, including the information specified in sub-regulation (3).

(8) This regulation shall not apply to water intended for

human consumption offered for sale in bottles or containers.

The competent authority shall take all measures necessary

to ensure that no substances or materials for new installations used

in the preparation or distribution of water intended for human

consumption or impurities associated with such substances or

materials for new installations remain in water intended for human

consumption in concentrations higher than is necessary for the

purpose of their use and do not, either directly or indirectly, reduce

the protection of human health provided for in these regulations;

the interpretative document and technical specifications pursuant

to Article 3 and Article 4 (1) of Council Directive 89/106/EEC

of 21 December 1988 on the approximation of laws, regulations

and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to

construction products shall respect the requirements of these

regulations.

(1) The competent authority shall take the measures

necessary to ensure that adequate and up-to-date information on

the quality of water intended for human consumption is available

to consumers.

(2) Without prejudice to Council Directive 90/313/

EEC of 7 June 1990 on the freedom of access to information on the

environment, the competent authority shall publish a report every

three years on the quality of water intended for human consumption

with the objective of informing consumers. The first report shall

cover the years 2002, 2003 and 2004. Each report shall include, as a

minimum, all individual supplies of water exceeding 1 000 m³ a day

as an average or serving more than 5 000 persons and it shall cover

three calendar years and be published within one calendar year of

the end of the reporting period.

(3) The competent authority shall send its reports to the

European Commission within two months of their publication.

(4) The formats and the minimum information for the

reports provided for in sub-regulation (2) shall be determined having

special regard to the measures referred to in these regulations and

shall, if necessary, be amended in accordance with the procedure

laid down in Article 12 of the Directive.

(5) Together with the first report the competent

authority shall also produce a report to be forwarded to the European

Commission on the measures they have taken or plan to take to fulfill

their obligations pursuant to regulation 7(3) and Schedule I, Part B,

note 10.

The Quality of Water Intended for Human Consumption

Regulations, 2004 are hereby being revoked.

2004. Schedule I

Regulation 5

PARAMETERS AND PARAMETRIC VALUES

PART A

Microbiological parameters

Parametric value

Parameter

(number/100 ml)

Escherichia coli (E. coli)

Enterococci

The following applies to water offered for sale in bottles or containers

Parametric value

Parameter

0/250 ml

Escherichia coli (E. coli)

0/250 ml

Enterococci

0/250 ml

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

100/ml

Colony count 22 o C

20/ml

Colony count 37 o C

PART B

Chemical parameters

Parametric value

Unit

Parameter

Notes

Note 1

Acrylamide

0.10

µg/l

Antimony

5.0

µg/l

Arsenic

µg/l

µg/l

Benzene

1.0

µg/l

Benzo(a)pyrene

0.010

Boron

1.0

mg/l

Note 2

Bromate

µg/l

Cadmium

5.0

µg/l

µg/l

Chromium

Note 3

Copper

2.0

mg/l

µg/l

Cyanide

1,2-dichloroethane

3.0

µg/l

Note 1

µg/l

Epichlorohydrin

0.10

Shall not apply until 31 st

Fluoride

1.5

mg/l

December 2005

Notes 3 and 4

µg/l

Lead

µg/l

Mercury

1.0

Note 3

Nickel

µg/l

Note 5

Nitrate

mg/l

Shall not apply until 31 st

December 2005

Note 5

Nitrite

0.50

mg/l

Notes 6 and 7

µg/l

Pesticides

0.10

Notes 6 and 8

Pesticides – Total

0.50

µg/l

Sum of concentrations of

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons 0.10

µg/l

specified compounds;

Note 9

µg/l

Selenium

Sum of concentrations of

µg/l

Tetrachloroethene

and 10

specified parameters

Trichloroethene

Sum of concentrations of

Trihalomethanes – Total

µg/l

specified compounds;

Note 10

Note 1

µg/l

Vinyl chloride

0.50

The parametric value refers to the residual monomer concentration in the water as calculated according

to specifications of the maximum release from the corresponding polymer in contact with the water.

Where possible, lower values should be aimed without compromising disinfection.

For the water referred to in regulation 7 (1)(a), (b) and (d), the value must be met, at the latest, 10

calendar years after the entry into force of Council Directive 98/83/EC. The parametric value for

bromate from five years after the entry into force of Council Directive 98/83/EC until ten years after its

entry into force is 25ug/l.

The value applies to a sample of water intended for human consumption obtained by an adequate

sampling method at the tap and taken so as to be representative of a weekly average value ingested by

consumers. `

For the water referred to in regulation 7 (1)(a), (b) and (d), the value must be met, at the latest, fifteen

calendar years after the entry into force of the Directive . The parametric value for lead from five years

after the entry into force of the Directive until fifteen years after its entry into force is 25ug/l.

Water suppliers must ensure that all appropriate measures are taken to reduce the concentration of lead

in water intended for human consumption as much as possible during the period needed to achieve

compliance with the parametric value.

When implementing the measures to achieve compliance with that value water suppliers must

progressively give priority where lead concentrations in water intended for human consumption are

highest.

Water suppliers must ensure that the condition that [nitrate]/50 + [nitrite]/3 ≤ 1, the square brackets

signifying the concentrations in mg/l for nitrate (NO 3 ) and nitrite (NO 2 ), is complied with and that the

value of 0,10 mg/l for nitrites is complied with ex water treatment works.

‘Pesticides’ means

-

organic insecticides,

-

organic herbicides,

-

organic fungicides,

-

organic nematocides,

-

organic acaricides,

-

organic algicides,

-

organic rodenticides,

-

organic slimicides,

-

related products (inter alia, growth regulators)

and their relevant metabolites, degradation and reaction products.

Only those pesticides which are likely to be present in a given supply need be monitored.

The parametric value applies to each individual pesticide. In the case of aldrin, dieldrin, heptachlor and

heptachlor epoxide the parametric value is 0.030 µg/l.

‘Pesticides – Total’ means the sum of all individual pesticides detected and quantified in the monitoring

procedure.

The specified compounds are

-

benzo(b)fluoranthene,

-

benzo(k) fluoranthene,

-

benzo(ghi)perylene,

-

indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene.

Where possible, lower values should be aimed without compromising disinfection.

The specified compounds are: chloroform, bromoform, dibromochloromethane, bromodichloromethene.

For the water referred to in regulation 7(1)(a),(b) and (d) the value must be met at the latest, ten calendar

years after the entry into force of the Directive . The parametric value for total THMs from five years

after the entry into force of the Directive until ten years after its entry into force is 150ug/l.

Water suppliers must ensure that all appropriate measures are taken to reduce the concentration of

THMs in water intended for human consumption as much as possible during the period needed to achive

compliance with the parametric value.

When implementing the measures to achieve this value, water suppliers must give priority to those areas

where THM concentrations in water intended for human consumption are highest.

PART C

Indicator parameters

Parametric value

Unit

Notes

µg/l

Aluminium

0.50

Ammonium

mg/l

Note 1

mg/l

Note 2

Number/100

Clostridium perfringens

(including spores)

ml

Acceptable

to

consumers and no

abnormal change

µS cm -1 at

Note 1

20 o C

Notes 1 and 3

Hydrogen ion concentration

≥ 6.5 and ≤ 9.5

PH units

µg/l

µg/l

Acceptable

to

consumers and no

abnormal change

Note 4

5.0

mg/l O 2

Note 1

mg/l

mg/l

Acceptable

to

consumers and no

abnormal change

Colony count 22 o C

No

abnormal

change

Note 5

Coliform bacteria

Number/100 ml

Note 6

Total organic carbon (TOC)

No

abnormal

change

Note 7

Turbidity

Acceptable

to

consumers and no

abnormal change

RADIOACTIVITY

Parametric

Unit

Notes

Parameter

value

Notes 8 and 10

Bq/l

Tritium

Notes 9 and 10

Total indicative dose

0.10

MSv/year

The water should not be aggressive.

This parameter need not be measured unless the water originates from or is influenced by surface water.

In the event of non-compliance with this parametric value, the water supplier concerned must

investigate the supply to ensure that there is no potential danger to human health arising from the

presence of pathogenic micro-organisms, e.g. cryptosporidium. The competent authority shall include

the results of all such investigations in the reports it is bound to submit under regulation 12(2)

For still water put into bottles or containers, the minimum value may be reduced to 4.5 pH units.

For water put into bottles or containers which is naturally rich in or artificially enriched with carbon

dioxide, the minimum value may be lower.

This parameter need not be measured if the parameter TOC is analysed.

For water put into bottles or containers the unit is number/250 ml.

This parameter need not be measured for supplies of less that 10,000 m 3 a day.

In the case of surface water treatment, water suppliers should aim for a parametric value not exceeding

1.0 NTU (nephelometric turbidity units) in the water ex treatment works.

Monitoring frequencies to be set later in Schedule II.

Excluding tritium, potassium –40, radon and radon decay products; monitoring frequencies, monitoring

methods and the most relevant locations for monitoring points to be set later in Schedule II.

1. The proposals required by note 8 on monitoring frequencies, and note 9 on monitoring frequencies,

monitoring methods and the most relevant locations for monitoring points in Schedule II shall be

adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 12 of the Directive. When elaborating

these proposals, the European Commission shall take into account inter alia the relevant provisions

under existing legislation or appropriate monitoring programmes including monitoring results as derived

from them. The European Commission shall submit these proposals at the latest within 18 months

following the date referred to in Article 18 of the Directive.

2. A Member State is not required to monitor drinking water for tritium or radioactivity to establish

total indicative dose where it is satisfied that, on the basis of other monitoring carried out, the levels of

tritium of the calculated total indicative dose are well below the parametric value. In that case, it shall

communicate the grounds for its decision to the European Commission, including the results of this

other monitoring carried out.

Schedule II

Regulation 8

MONITORING

TABLE A

Parameters to be analysed

1. Check monitoring

The purpose of check monitoring is regularly to provide information on the

organoleptic and microbiological quality of the water supplied for human

consumption as well as information on the effectiveness of drinking-water treatment

(particularly of disinfection) where it is used, in order to determine whether or not

water intended for human consumption complies with the relevant parametric values

laid down in these regulations.

The following parameters must be subject to check monitoring. The HEALTH

AUTHORITY may add other parameters to this list if he deems it appropriate.

Aluminium (Note 1)

Ammonium

Colour

Conductivity

Clostridium perfringens (including spores) (Note 2)

Escherichia coli (E. coli)

Hydrogen ion concentration

Iron (Note 1)

Nitrite (Note 3)

Odour

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Note 4)

Taste

Colony count 22 o C and 37 o C (Note 4)

Coliform bacteria

Turbidity

Note 1

Necessary only when used as flocculant (*).

Necessary only if the water originates from or is influenced by surface water (*).

Note 2

Note 3

Necessary only when chloramination is used as a disinfectant (*).

Necessary only in the case of water offered for sale in bottles or containers.

Note 4

(*) In all other cases, the parameters are in the list for audit monitoring

2. Audit monitoring

The purpose of audit monitoring is to provide the information necessary to determine

whether or not all of these regulamentary parametric values are being complied with.

All parameters set in accordance with regulation 6 (2) and (3) must be subject to

audit monitoring unless it can be established by the competent authority, for a period

of time to be determined by the competent authority, that a parameter is not likely to

be present in a given supply in concentrations which could lead to the risk of a breach

of the relevant parametric value. This paragraph does not apply to the parameters for

radioactivity, which, subject to Notes 8, 9 and 10 in Schedule I, Part C, will be

monitored in accordance with monitoring requirements adopted under Article 12 of

the Directive.

TABLE B1

Minimum frequency of sampling and analyses for water intended for human consumption supplied

from a distribution network or from a tanker or used in a food-production undertaking

The competent authority must take samples at the points of compliance as defined in regulation 7 (1) to ensure that water intended

for human consumption meets the requirements of these regulations. However, in the case of a distribution network, the competent

authority may take samples within the supply zone or at the treatment works for particular parameters if it can be demonstrated

that there would be no adverse change to the measured value of the parameters concerned.

Volume of water distributed or

produced each day within a supply

Check monitoring

number

of

Audit monitoring

number

of

zone

samples per year

samples per year

(Notes 1 and 2)

(Notes 3, 4 and 5)

(Notes 3 and 5)

m 3

≤ 100

(Note 6)

(Note 6)

> 100

≤ 1000

> 1000

≤ 10000

+ 1 for each 3300 m 3 /d and

part thereof of the total

volume

+ 3 for each 1000 m /d and 3

≤ 100000

> 10000

part thereof of the total

+ 1 for each 10000 m 3 /d and

volume

part thereof of the total

volume

> 100000

+ 1 for each 25000 m 3 /d and

part thereof of the total

volume

A supply zone is a geographically defined area within which water intended for human consumption

Note 1

comes from one or more sources and within which water quality may be considered as being

approximately uniform.

The volumes are calculated as averages taken over a calendar year. The competent authority may use

Note 2

the number of inhabitants in a supply zone instead of water to determine the frequency, assuming a

water consumption of 200 l/day/capita.

In the event of intermittent short-term supply the monitoring frequency of water distributed by tankers is

to be decided by the competent authority.

For the different parameters in Schedule I, the competent authority may reduce the number of samples

specified in the table if

(a)

The values of the results obtained from samples taken during a period of at least two successive

years are constant and significantly better than the limits laid down in Schedule I, and

(b)

No factor is likely to cause a deterioration of the quality of the water.

The lowest frequency applied must not be less than 50% of the number of samples specified in the table

except in the particular case of note 6.

As far as possible, the number of samples should be distributed equally in time and location.

The frequency is to be decided by the competent authority.

TABLE B2

Minimum frequency of sampling and analyses for water put into bottles or containers intended for

sale

Volume of water produced for

offering for sale in bottles or

Check monitoring

number

of

Audit monitoring

number

of

containers each day ( 1 )

samples per year

samples per year

m 3

≤ 10

≤ 60

> 10

1 for each 5 m 3 and part 1 for each 100 m 3 and part

> 60

thereof of the total volume

thereof of the total volume

( 1 ) The volumes are calculated as averages taken over a calendar year

Schedule III

Regulation 8

SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE ANALYSIS OF PARAMETERS

The competent authority must ensure that any laboratory at which samples are analysed

has a system of analytical quality control that is subject from time to time to checking

by a person who is not under the control of the laboratory and who is approved by it for

that purpose.

1. PARAMETERS FOR WHICH METHODS OF ANALYSIS ARE SPECIFIED

The following principals for methods of microbiological parameters are given either

for reference whenever a CEN/ISO method is given or for guidance, pending the

possible future adoption of further CEN/ISO international methods for these

parameters. Laboratories may use alternative methods, providing the provisions of

regulation 8(4) of these regulations are met.

Coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli (E. coli) (ISO 9308-1)

Enterococci (ISO 7899-2)

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (prEN ISO 12780)

Enumeration of culturable misroorganisms – Colony count 22 o C (prEN ISO 6222)

Enumeration of culturable misroorganisms – Colony count 37 o C (prEN ISO 6222)

Clostridium perfringens (including spores)

Membrane filtration followed by anaerobic incubation of the membrane on m-CP

agar (Note 1) at 44 ± 1 o C for 21 ± 3 hours. Count opaque yellow colonies that turn

pink or red after exposure to ammonium hydroxide vapours for 20 to 30 seconds.

The composition of m-CP agar is

Note 1

Basal medium

Tryptose

30 g

Yeast extract

20 g

Sucrose

5 g

L-cysteine hydrochloride

1 g

MgSO 4 . 7H 2 O

0.1 g

Bromocresol purple

40 mg

Agar

15 g

Water

1000 ml

Dissolve the ingredients of the basal medium, adjust pH to 7.6 and

autoclave at 121 o C for 15 minutes. Allow the medium to cool and add

D-cycloserine

400 mg

Polymyxine-B sulphate

25 mg

Indoxyl-β-D-glucoside

60 mg

To be dissolved in 8 ml sterile water before addition

Filter – sterilised 0.5% phenolphthalein diphoate

20 ml

solution

Filter – sterilised 4.5% FeCl 3 . 6H 2 O

2 ml

2. PARAMETERS FOR WHICH PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS ARE

SPECIFIED

2.1 For the following parameters, the specified performance characteristics are that the

method of analysis used must, as a minimum, be capable of measuring concentrations

equal to the parametric value with a trueness, precision and limit of detection

specified. Whatever the sensitivity of the method of analysis used, the result must be

expressed using at least the same number of decimals as for the parametric value

considered in Schedule I, Parts B and C.

Trueness %

Precision % of

Limit

of

of parametric

parametric

detection % of

value

value

parametric

Conditions

Notes

(Note 1)

(Note 2)

value

(Note 3)

Parameters

To be controlled

Acrylamide

by

product

specification

Aluminium

Ammonium

Antimony

Arsenic

Benzo(a)pyrene

Benzene

Boron

Bromate

Cadmium

Chloride

Chromium

Conductivity

Copper

Note 4

Cyanide

1,2-

dichloroethane

To be controlled

Epichlorohydrin

by

product

specification

Fluoride

Iron

Lead

Manganese

Mercury

Nickel

Nitrate

Nitrite

Note 5

Oxidisability

Note 6

Pesticides

Trueness %

Precision % of

Limit

of

of parametric

parametric

detection % of

value

value

parametric

Conditions

Notes

(Note 1)

(Note 2)

value

(Note 3)

Parameters

Note 7

Polycyclic

aromatic

hydrocarbons

Selenium

Sodium

Sulphate

Note 8

Tetrachloroethe

ne

Note 8

Trichloroethene

Note 7

Trihalomethane

s – Total

To be controlled

Vinyl chloride

by

product

specification

2.2 For hydrogen ion concentration the specified performance characteristics are that the

method of analysis used must be capable of measuring concentrations equal to the

parametric value with a trueness of 0.2 pH unit and a precision of 0.2 pH unit.

Note 1 (*): Trueness is the systematic error and is the difference between the mean

value of the large number of repeated measurements and the true value.

Note 2 (*): Precision is the random error and is equally expressed as the standard

deviation (within and between batch) of the spread of results about the

mean. Acceptable precision is twice the relative standard deviation.

(*) These terms are further defined in ISO 5725.

Limit of detection is either

- three times the relative within batch standard deviation of a natural

sample containing a low concentration of the parameter, or

- five times the relative batch standard deviation of a blank sample.

The method should determine total cyanide in all forms.

Oxidation should be carried out for 10 minutes at 100 o C under acid

conditions using permanganate.

The performance characteristics apply to each individual pesticide and

will depend on the pesticide concerned. The limit of detection may not

be achievable for all pesticides at present, but water suppliers are to aim

to achieve this standard.

The performance characteristics apply to the individual substances

specified at 25% of the parametric value in Schedule I.

The performance characteristics apply to the individual substances

specified at 50% of the parametric value in Schedule I.

3. PARAMETERS FOR WHICH NO METHOD OF ANALYSIS IS SPECIFIED

Total organic carbon

Turbidity (Note 1)

For turbidity monitoring in treated surface water the specified

performance characteristics are that the method of analysis used must,

as a minimum, be capable of measuring concentrations equal to the

parametric value with a trueness of 25%, precision of 25% and a 25%

limit of detection.

€2.61