QUALITY OF FRESH WATERS SUPPORTING FISH LIFE (PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT) REGULATIONS

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 549.24

QUALITY OF FRESH WATERS SUPPORTING

FISH LIFE (PROTECTION AND

IMPROVEMENT) REGULATIONS

1st March, 2002

LEGAL NOTICE 342 of 2001, as amended by Legal Notice 426 of 2007.

The title of these regulations is the Quality of Fresh Waters

Supporting Fish Life (Protection and Improvement) Regulations.

(1) These regulations concern the quality of fresh waters

and apply to those waters designated by the competent authority as

needing protection or improvement in order to support fish life.

(2) These regulations shall not apply to waters in natural or

artificial fish ponds used for intensive fish farming.

(3) The aim of these regulations is to protect or improve the

quality of those running or standing fresh waters which support or

which, if pollution were reduced or eliminated, would become

capable of supporting fish belonging to indigenous species offering

a natural diversity or species the presence of which is judged

desirable for water management purposes by the relevant

competent authorities of any State.

(4)

For the purposes of these regulations

"competent authority" means the Department for Environment

Protection under the guidance of the Director for Environment

Protection and such other body or person as the Minister

responsible for the environment may by order in the Gazette

prescribe and different bodies or persons may be designated as the

competent authority for different provisions and different purposes

of these regulations;

"cyprinid waters" means waters which support or become

capable of supporting fish belonging to the cyprinids (Cyprinidae),

or other species such as pike (Esox lucius), perch (Perca fluviatilis)

and eel (Anguilla anguilla);

"natural enrichment" means the process whereby, without human

intervention, a given body of water receives from the soil certain

substances contained therein;

"salmonid waters" means waters which support or become

capable of supporting fish belonging to species such as salmon

(Salmo solar), trout (Salmo trutta), grayling (Thymallus thymallus)

and whitefish (Coregonus).

(1) The physical and chemical parameters applicable to the

waters designated by the competent authorities are listed in Annex

I.

(2) For the purposes of applying these parameters, waters are

divided into salmonid waters and cyprinid waters.

(1) The competent authority shall, for the designated

waters, set values for the parameters listed in Annex I, in so far as

values are listed in column G or in column I. They shall comply

with the parameters listed in each of these columns.

(2) The competent authority shall not set values less stringent

than those listed in column I of Annex I and shall endeavour to

respect the values in column G taking into account the principle set

out in regulation 9.

(1) The competent authority shall designate salmonid

waters and cyprinid waters.

(2) The competent authority may revise the designation of

certain waters owing to factors unforseen at the time of

designation, taking into account the principle set out in regulation

L-awtorità kompetenti g]andha tistabbilixxi programmi

biex jitnaqqas it-tn[[is u biex jigi \gurat li kull ilma msemmi jkun

jikkonforma fi \mien ]ames snin wara t-tismija tieg]u sew mal-

valuri stabbiliti fir-regolament 4 u mal-parametri li hemm fil-

kolonni G u I ta’ l-Anness I.

(1) G]all-finijiet ta’ l-implimentazzjoni tar-regolament 6,

l-awtorità kompetenti g]andha tqis li kull ilma msemmi jkun

jikkonforma mad-disposizzjonijiet ta’ dawn ir-regolamenti kemm-il

darba kampjuni ta’ tali ilma, me]udin fl-inqas frekwenza

spe`ifikata fl-Anness I mill-istess post mnejn jittie]du l-kampjuni u

fuq perjodu ta’ tnax-il xa]ar, juru li jkunu jikkonformaw kemm

mal-valuri stabbiliti mill-awtorità kompetenti skond ir-regolament

4 kemm mal-kummenti li Hemm fil-kolonni G u I ta’ l-Anness I,

fil-ka\ ta’: - 95% tal-kampjuni g]all-parametri: pH, BOD5,

ammonja mhux ijonizzata, ammonju totali, nitriti, klorina residwa

totali, \ingu totali, u ram imdewweb

I\da meta l-frekwenza tat-te]id tal-kampjuni tkun inqas

minn kampjun wie]ed fix-xa]ar, kemm il-valuri hawn qabel

imsemmija kemm il-kummenti g]andhom ji[u m]arsa g]all-

kampjuni kollha, g]ar-rigward tal-per`entwali elenkati fl-Anness

g]all-parametri: temperatura u ossi[enu mdewweb, u g]ar-rigward

tal-kon`entrazzjoni medja stabbilita g]all-parametru: solidi sospi\i.

(2) Dawk i`-`irkostanzi fejn il-valuri stabbiliti mill-awtorità

kompetenti skond ir-regolament 4 jew il-kummenti li hemm fil-

Kolonni G u I ta’ l-Anness I ma jkunux im]arsa, m’g]andhomx

jitqiesu fil-kalkolu tal-per`entwali li hemm ipprovdut dwar]hm fis-

subregolament (1) meta dawn ikunu kka[unati minn xi g]arg]ar

jew minn xi di\astru naturali ie]or.

(1) L-awtoritajiet

kompetenti

g]andhom

iwettqu

operazzjonijiet ta’ te]id ta’ kampjuni, li l-inqas frekwenza tag]hom

tinsab stipulata fl-Anness I.

}ARSIEN U TITJIB TAL-KWALITÀ TAL-ILMA }ELU

LI JSOSTNI L-}AJJA TAL-}UT

(2) Meta l-awtorità kompetenti jirri\ultalha li l-kwalità ta’ ilma

msemmi tkun bilwisq og]la minn dik li kieku tirri\ulta mill-

applikazzjoni tal-valuri stabbiliti skond ir-regolament 3 u l-

kummenti li hemm fil-kolonni G u I ta’ l-Anness I, il-frekwenza

tat-te]id tal-kampjuni tista’ titnaqqas

I\da meta ma jkun hemm ebda tni[[is jew riskju ta’

deterjorament fil-kwalità ta’ l-ilma, l-awtorità kompetenti involuta

tista’ tidde`iedi li ma jkun hemm b\onn tat-te]id ta’ ebda kampjun.

(3) Jekk it-te]id tal-kampjuni juri li l-valur stabbilit mill-

awtorità kompetenti skond ir-regolament 3 jew kumment li jkun

hemm f’xi wa]da mill-kolonni G jew I ta’ l-Anness I ma jkunx qed

jit]ares, l-awtorità kompetenti g]andha tistabbilixxi jekk dan kienx

min]abba f’xi kumbinazzjoni, f’xi fenomenu naturali jew it-tni[[is

u g]andha g]alhekk tadotta l-mi\uri adatti.

(4) Il-post e\att minn fejn jittie]du l-kampjuni, id-distanza

minn dan il-post sa l-eqreb post fejn ji[i mitfug] il-materjal li

jni[[es u l-fond li minnu g]andhom jittie]du l-kampjuni, ji[i

stabbiliti mill-awtorità kompetenti partikolarment abba\i tal-

kondizzjonijiet ambjentali lokali.

6. The competent authority shall establish programmes in

order to reduce pollution and to ensure that designated waters

conform within five years following designation with both the

values set by regulation 4 and by the parameters contained in

columns G and I of Annex I.

7. (1) For the purposes of implementing regulation 6, the

competent authority shall deem that the designated waters conform

to the provisions of these regulations if samples of such waters,

taken at the minimum frequency specified in Annex I at the same

sampling point and over a period of twelve months, show that they

conform to both the values set by the competent authority in

accordance with regulation 4 and to the comments contained in

columns G and I of Annex I, in the case of: - 95% of the samples

for the parameters: pH, BODS, non-ionized ammonia, total

ammonium, nitrites, total residual chlorine, total zinc, and

dissolved copper

Provided that when the sampling frequency is lower than

one sample per month, both the above mentioned values and

comments shall be respected for all the samples, with respect to the

percentages listed in Annex I for the parameters: temperature and

dissolved oxygen, and with respect to the average concentration set

for the parameter: suspended solids.

(2) Instances in which the values set by the competent authority

in accordance with regulation 4 or the comments contained in

columns G and I of Annex I are not respected shall not be taken

into consideration in the calculation of the percentages provided for

in subregulation (1) when they are the result of floods or other

natural disasters.

8. (1) The competent authorities shall carry out sampling

operations, the minimum frequency of which is laid down in Annex

I.

(2) Where the competent authority records that the quality of

designated waters is appreciably higher than that which would

result from the application of the values set in accordance with

regulation 3 and the comments contained in columns G and I of

Annex I, the frequency of the sampling may be reduced

Provided that where there is no pollution or no risk of

deterioration in the quality of the waters, the competent authority

concerned may decide that no sampling is necessary.

(3) If sampling shows that a value set by the competent

authority in accordance with regulation 3 or a comment contained

in either of columns G or I of Annex I is not respected, the

competent authority shall establish whether this is the result of

chance, a natural phenom enon or pollution and shall adopt

appropriate measures.

(4) The exact sampling point, the distance from this point to

the nearest point where pollutants are discharged and the depth at

which the samples are to be taken, shall be fixed by the competent

authority on the basis of local environmental conditions in

particular.

9. (1) Certain reference methods of analysis for the

parameters concerned are set out in Annex I. Laboratories which

employ other methods shall ensure that the results obtained are

equivalent or comparable to those specified in Annex I.

(2) Any implementation of the measures taken pursuant to

these regulations may on no account lead, either directly or

indirectly, to increased pollution of fresh water.

The competent authority may at any time set more

stringent values for designated waters than those laid down in these

regulations and may also lay down provisions relating to other

parameters, other than those provided for in these regulations.

The competent authority may derogate from these

regulations

(a) in the case of certain parameters marked (0) in Annex

I, because of exceptional weather or special

geographical conditions;

(b) when designated waters undergo natural enrichment in

certain substances, so that the values set out in Annex I

are not respected.

The competent authority shall adopt such amendments as

are necessary for adapting to technical and scientific progress, the

G values for the parameters, and the methods of analysis, contained

i n A n n ex I i n a cc o r d a n c e w i t h t h e p r o ce d u r e l a i d d o w n i n

regulation 15.

Any person shall be guilty of an offence under these

regulations if

(a) he fails to comply with any order lawfully given in

terms of any provisions of these regulations; or

(b) he conspires or attempt, or aids, or abets, any other

person by whatever means, including advertising,

counseling or procurement to contravene any order

lawfully given in terms of any of the provisions of

these regulations.

Any person who commits an offence against these

regulations shall, on conviction, be liable

(a) on a first conviction to a fine (multa) of not less than

one thousand and one hundred and sixty-four euro and

sixty-nine cents (€1,164.69) but not exceeding two

thousand and three hundred and twenty-nine euro and

thirty-seven cents (€2,329.37);

(b) on a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine (multa)

of not less than two thousand and three hundred and

twenty-nine euro and thirty-seven cents (€2,329.37),

but not exceeding four thousand and six hundred and

fifty-eight euro and seventy-five cents (€4,658.75) or

to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or

to both such fine and imprisonment

Provided further that the court shall order any person who

has been found guilty of committing an offence against these

regulations, to pay for the expenses incurred by the public entities

and, or other persons acting on their behalf involved in the

implementation of these regulations and restitution of the

environment as a result of the said offence, the revocation of the

permit issued by the Police and the confiscation of the corpus

delicti.

(1) The provisions of articles 23 and 30(1) of the Criminal

Code shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to proceedings, in respect of

offences against these regulations, so however that the

disqualification from holding or obtain a licence, permit or

authority shall in no case be for less than one year.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of article 370 of the

Criminal Code, proceedings for an offence against these

regulations shall be taken before the Court of Magistrates (Malta)

or the Court of Magistrates (Gozo), as the case may be, and shall be

in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Code regulating

the procedure before the said courts as courts of criminal

judicature.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the Criminal Code, the

Attorney General shall always have a right of appeal to the Court of

Criminal Appeal from any judgement given by the Court of

Magistrates (Malta) or the Court of Magistrates (Gozo) in respect

of proceedings for any offence against these regulations.

The Annexes to these regulations are being published in

the English language with the English text of these regulations.

ANNEX I

LIST OF PARAMETERS

Salmonid waters

Cyprinid waters

Minimum

Methods of

sampling and

Parameter

analysis or

Observations

G

I

G

I

measuring

inspection

frequency

1. Temperature 1. Temperature measured down-stream Thermometry Weekly, both O v e r - s u d d e n

(ºC)

of a point of thermal discharge (at the

upstream and v a r i a t i o n s

in

e dg e o f t h e m i x i n g z o n e ) m us t n o t

d o w n s t r e a m temperature shall be

exceed the unaffected temperature by

o f t h e p o i n t avoided

more than

of thermal

discharge

1·5ºC

3ºC

Derogations limited in geographical

scope may be decided by Member States

in particular conditions if the competent

authority can prove that there are no

harmful consequences for the balanced

development of the fish population

2. Thermal discharges must not cause

the temperature downstream of the point

of thermal discharge (at the edge of the

mixing zone) to exceed the following)

21·5 (0)

28 (0)

10 (0)

10 (0)

The 10ºC temperature limit applies only

to breeding periods of species which

need cold water for reproduction and

only to waters which may contain such

species

Temperature limits may, however, be

exceeded for 2% of the time

2. Dissolved

50% > 9 50% > 9 50% > 8 50% > 7 W i n k l e r ’s M o n t h l y,

oxygen

1 0 0 % > When the m e t h o d o r minimum one

100% > When

(mg/l O 2 )

oxygen specific

sample

the

concen- electrodes representa-

oxygen

tration (electro-

tive of low

concen-

chemical

oxygen

tration

falls

method)

conditions of

falls

below 4

the day of

b e l ow 6

mg/1,

sampling

mg/l,

Member

Member

States

H ow e v er,

States

shall im-

where major

shall im-

plement

daily

plement

the

variations are

the

provi-

suspected, a

provi-

sions of

m i n im u m o f

sions of

Article 7

two samples

Article 7

(3). The

in one day

(3). The

compe-

shall be taken

compe-

tent

tent

authority

authority

must

must

prove

prove

t ha t t hi s

that this

situation

situation

will have

will

no

have no

harmful

harmful

conse-

conse-

quences

quences

for the

for the

balanced

balanced

develop-

develop-

ment of

ment of

the fish

the fish

popula-

popula-

tion

tion

Salmonid waters

Cyprinid waters

Minimum

Methods of

sampling and

Parameter

analysis or

Observations

G

I

G

I

measuring

inspection

frequency

3. pH

6 to 9

6 to 9 (0) Electrometry Monthly

(0) ( 1 )

( 1 )

calibration

by means of

two solutions

with known

pH values,

preferably on

either side of,

and close to

the pH being

measured

4. Suspended

< 25 (0)

< 25 (0)

Filtration

The values shown are

solids (mg/l)

through a

average concentrations

0·45

µm

and do not apply to

filtering

suspended solids with

membrane,

harmful chemical

or centrifuga-

properties

tion (five

F l oo d s a r e l i a bl e t o

minutes

cause particularly high

minimum,

concentrations

average

acceleration

of 2800 to

3200g)

drying

at

l05ºC and

weighing

5. BOD 5

< 3

< 6

Determina-

(mg/l O 2 )

tion of O 2 by

t h e Wi n k l e r

method

before and

after five

days

incubation in

complete

darkness at

20 ± 1ºC

(nitrification

should not be

inhibited)

6. Total

Molecular

In the case of lakes of

phosphorus

absorption

average depth between

(mg/l P)

spectropho-

18 and 300 m, the

tometry

following formula

could be applied

Z

(1 +  Tw

L < 10

Tw

where

L = loading expressed

as mg P per square

metre lake surface in

one year

Z = mean depth of

lake in metres

Tw = t h e o r e t i c a l

renewal time of lake

water in years

In other cases limit

values of 0·2 mg/l for

salmonid and of 0·4

mg/l for cyprinid

waters, expressed as

PO 4 , may be regarded

as indicative in order

to

reduce

eutrophication

Salmonid waters

Cyprinid waters

Minimum

Methods of

sampling and

Parameter

analysis or

Observations

G

I

G

I

measuring

inspection

frequency

7. Nitrites

< 0·01

< 0·03

Molecular

(mg/l NO 2 )

absorption

spcctropho-

tometry

( 2 )

( 2 )

8. Phenolic

By taste

An examination by

compounds

taste shall be made

(mg/l C 6 H 5 OH)

only where the

presence of phenolic

compounds

is

presumed

( 3 )

( 3 )

9. Petroleum

Visual

Monthly

A visual examination

hydrocarbons

shall

be

made

By taste

regularly once a

month, with an

examination by taste

only where the

presence

of

hydrocarbons

is

presumed

10.Non-ionized < 0·005

< 0·025

< 0·005

< 0·025 M o l e c u l a r Monthly

Values for non-ionized

ammonia

absorption

ammonia may be

(mg/l NH 3 )

spectropho-

exceeded in the form

tometry

of minor peaks in the

using

daytime

indophenol

In order to diminish the risk of toxicity b l u e

or

due to non-ionized ammonia, of oxygen N e s s l e r ’ s

consumption due to nitrification and of m e t h o d

eutrophication, the concentrations of a s s o c i a t e d

total ammonium should not exceed the with pH and

following

t e m p e r a t ur e

< 1 ( 4 ) d e t e r m i n a -

11.Total

< 0·04

< 0·2

tion

ammonium

(mg/l NH 4 )

12.Total

< 0·005

< 0·005 DPD-method Monthly

The

I-values

residual

(diethyl- p -

correspond to pH = 6

chlorine

phenylene-

Higher concentrations

(mg/l HOCl)

diamene)

of total chlorine can be

accepted if the pH is

higher

13.Total zinc

< 0·3

< 1·0

Atomic

Monthly

The

I-values

(mg/l Zn)

absorption

correspond to a water

spectrometry

hardness of 100 mg/l

CaCO 3

For hardness levels

be tween 10 and 500

mg/l corresponding

limit values can be

found in Annex II

14.Dissolved

< 0·04

< 0·04

Atomic

The

G-values

copper

absorption

correspond to a water

(mg/l Cu)

spectrometry

hardness of 100 mg/l

CaCO 3

For hardness levels

berwecn 10 and 300

mg/l corresponding

limit values can be

found in Annex II

Salmonid waters

Cyprinid waters

Minimum

Methods of

sampling and

Parameter

analysis or

Observations

G

I

G

I

measuring

inspection

frequency

( 1 ) Artificial pH variations with respect to the unaffected values shall not exceed ± 0·5 of a pH unit within the

limits falling between 6·0 and 9·0 provided that these variations do not increase the harmfulness of other

substances present in the water.

( 2 ) Phenolic compounds must not be present in such concentrations that they adversely affect fish flavour.

( 3 ) Petroleum products must not be present in water in such quantities that they

- form a visible film on the surface of the water or form coatings on the beds of water-courses and lakes,

- impart a detectable 'hydrocarbon' taste to fish,

- produce harmful effects in fish.

( 4 ) In particular geographical or climatic conditions and particularly in cases of low water temperature and of

reduced nitrification or where the competent authority can prove that there art no harmful consequences (or the

balanced development of the fish population, Member States may fix values higher than 1 mg/l.

General observation

It should be noted that the parametric values listed in this Annex assume that the other parameters, whether

mentioned in this Annex or not, are favourable. This implies, in particular, that the concentrations of other

harmful substances are very low.

Where two or more harmful substances are present in mixture, joint effects (additive, synergic or antagonistic

effects) may be significant.

G = guide.

I = mandatory.

(0) = derogations are possible in accordance with regulation 11.

ANNEX II

PARTICULARS REGARDINC TOTAL ZINC AND DISSOLVED COPPER

Total zinc

(see Annex 1, No 13, 'Observations' column)

Zinc concentrations (mg/l Zn) for different water hardness values between 10 and

500 mg/l CaCO 3

Water hardness (mg/l CaCO 3 )

Salmonid waters (mg/l Zn)

0·03

0·2

0·3

0·5

Cyprinid waters (mg/l Zn)

0·3

0·7

1·0

2·0

Dissolved copper

(See Annex I, No 14, 'Observations' column)

Dissolved copper concentrations (mg/l Cu) for different water hardness values

between 10 and 300 mg/l CaCO 3

Water hardness (mg/l CaCO 3 )

0·005 ( 1 )

mg/l Cu

0·022

0·04

0·112

(1) The presence of fish in waters containing higher concentrations of copper may indicate a

predominance of dissolved organo-cupric complexes.