SCHEDULE 1N.I.
PART 1N.I.Criteria for identifying the types of river, lake or transitional water to which the environmental standards specified in Part 2 of this Schedule apply
1. Subject to paragraph 2, to determine the dissolved oxygen, ammonia and biochemical oxygen demand standards applicable to a river or any part thereof, the Department must assign to that river or part thereof the Type specified in Table 1 below which corresponds with the applicable site altitude and applicable alkalinity range specified in that Table.N.I.
2. Having assigned a Type in accordance with Table 1, the Department must assign the subsequent Type in accordance with column 1 of Table 2 below.N.I.
3. To determine the morphological conditions applicable to a river or part thereof, the Department must assign to that river or part thereof the Type specified in Table 3 below which corresponds with the applicable descriptions in that Table.N.I.
4. To determine the river flow standards applicable to a river or any part thereof, the Department must assign the Type specified in column 1 of Table 4 below which corresponds to the applicable descriptions specified in columns 2, 3 and 4 of that Table.N.I.
5. To determine the total phosphorus standards to apply to a lake or any part thereof, the Department must assign to that lake or part thereof the appropriate geological category, depth category and colour category specified in Tables 5, 6 and 7 below respectively.N.I.
6. To determine the lake level standards applicable to a lake or any part thereof, the Department must assign the Type specified in Columns 1 and 2 of Table 8.N.I.
7. To determine the morphological conditions applicable to a lake or any part thereof, the Department must assign the hydromorphological characteristics of the lake or part thereof as being of the type specified in column 1 of Table 9 below which corresponds to the applicable measurements specified in columns 3 and 4 of that Table.N.I.
Table 1
Criteria for identifying the types of river to which the dissolved oxygen, ammonia and biochemical oxygen demand standards for rivers apply
Site Altitude | Alkalinity (as mg/l CaCO3) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Less than 10 | 10 to 50 | 50 to 100 | 100 to 200 | Over 200 | |
Under 80 metres | Type 1 | Type 2 | Type 3 | Type 5 | Type 7 |
Over 80 metres | Type 4 | Type 6 |
Table 2
Final typology for dissolved oxygen, ammonia and biochemical oxygen demand in rivers | |
---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 |
Upland and low alkalinity | Types (1+2), 4 and 6 |
Lowland and high alkalinity | Types 3, 5 and 7 |
Table 3
Criteria for identifying types of river to which morphological conditions apply
Type | Characteristics | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Bedrock channel | Normally high altitude | Channel cuts down laterally | May have waterfalls and/or cascades | Bedrock substrate |
Cascade Step Pool | Normally high altitude | Channel cuts down | Both turbulent and tranquil flows | Cobble and boulder substrate |
Pool-riffle-glide | Normally medium altitude | Often not confined within a valley | Slightly meandering | Pebble and cobble substrate |
Meandering | Normally low altitude | Flow laminar and would naturally interact with floodplain | Meandering | More fines than other substrates |
Table 4
Criteria for identifying types of river to which the river flow standards apply
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Type | Standard Average Annual Rainfall mm (period 1961-1990) | Base Flow Index (BFI) | Catchment area (km2) | |
A1 | < 810.5 | < 0.715 | Any | |
≥ 0.715 | ≥ 251.8 | |||
A2 | < 810.5 | ≥ 0.715 | < 251.8 | ≤ 100 (A2 headwaters) > 100 (A2 downstream) |
≥ 810.5 and < 1413 | ≥ 0.7495 | Any | ≤ 100 (A2 headwaters) > 100 (A2 downstream) | |
B1 | ≥ 810.5 and < 1155 | ≥ 0.3615 and < 0.7495 | < 267.4 | |
B2 | ≥ 810.5 and < 1413 | ≥ 0.3615 and < 0.7495 | < 267.4 | |
C2 | ≥ 1155 and < 1413 | ≥ 0.3615 and < 0.7495 | < 267.4 | |
≥ 1413 | ≥ 0.3615 | ≥ 32.33 | ||
D2 | ≥ 1413 | ≥ 0.3615 | < 32.33 | |
≥ 810.5 | < 0.3615 | Any |
Table 5
Geological categories to which total phosphorus, phytoplankton and phytobenthos standards for lakes apply
Geological category | Annual mean alkalinity (micro-equivalents per litre) |
---|---|
Low alkalinity | < 200 |
Moderate alkalinity | 200 – 1000 |
High alkalinity | > 1000 |
Marl |
Table 6
Depth categories to which total phosphorus standards for lakes apply
Depth category | Mean depth (metres) |
---|---|
Very shallow | < 3 |
Shallow | 3 – 15 |
Deep | > 15 |
Table 7
Colour categories to which total phosphorus standards for lakes apply
Colour category | Platinum (mg/l) |
---|---|
Humic | > 30 |
Non humic | ≤ 30 |
Table 8
Geological characteristics used to identify lake types to which lake level standards apply
Categories | |
---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 |
Peat | Non-Peat |
mean water colour ≥90 hazen units; or | mean water colour <90 hazen units; or |
≥75% of solid catchment area comprised of peat | <75% of solid catchment area comprised of peat |
Table 9
Hydromorphological characteristics used to identify lake types to which morphological conditions apply
1 Morphological Impact Assessment System | |||
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
---|---|---|---|
Type | Lake-MImAS1 code | Mean Depth | Alkalinity |
Low Alkalinity Very Shallow | P/L-vS | <4m | < 20 mgl-1 CaCO3 |
Low Alkalinity Shallow/Deep | P/L-ShD | >4m | < 20 mgl-1 CaCO3 |
Moderate Alkalinity Very Shallow | MA-vS | <4m | 20 – 100 mgl-1 CaCO3 |
Moderate Alkalinity Shallow/Deep | MA-ShD | >4m | 20 – 100 mgl-1 CaCO3 |
High Alkalinity Very Shallow | HA/M-vS | <4m | > 100 mgl-1 CaCO3 |
High Alkalinity Shallow/Deep | HA/M-ShD | >4m | > 100 mgl-1 CaCO3 |
PART 2N.I.Environmental Standards
Environmental standards for river water qualityN.I.
1. Once the Department has, in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part I of this Schedule, assigned to a river or any part thereof a Type—
(a)specified in column 1 of Table 1 below, it must apply, as applicable, the “high”, “good”, “moderate”, “poor” or “bad” dissolved oxygen standard specified in columns 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively of that Table to that river or part thereof;
(b)specified in column 1 of Table 2 below, it must apply, as applicable, the “high”, “good”, “moderate”, “poor” or “bad” ammonia standard specified in columns 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively of that Table to that river or part thereof;
(c)specified in column 1 of Table 3 below, it must apply, as applicable, the “high”, “good”, “moderate”, “poor” or “bad” biochemical oxygen demand standard specified in columns 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively of that Table to that river or part thereof.
2. The Department must apply the “high”, “good”, “moderate”, “poor” or “bad” biochemical oxygen demand standard specified in Table 3 below only for the purpose of deciding action to meet the standard for dissolved oxygen.N.I.
3. The Department must apply, as applicable, the “high”, “good”, “moderate”, “poor” or “bad” reactive phosphorus standard to that river or part thereof, calculated in accordance with the formula specified in sub paragraph (a)—N.I.
(a)RP standard = 10^((1.0497 x log10(A)+1.066) x (log10(reference condition RP)- log10(3,500)) + log10(3,500));
(b)In relation to the above formula—
“RP standard” is the annual mean concentration of reactive phosphorus in ug/l estimated for the lower class boundary of high, good, moderate and poor ecological status, depending on the value of “A” used;
“A” has the value 0.702 when calculating the standard for high; 0.532 when calculating the standard for good; 0.356 when calculating the standard for moderate; and 0.166 when calculating the standard for poor;
“reference condition RP” = 10^(0.454 (log10alk) – 0.0018 (altitude) + 0.476) and represents the annual mean concentration of reactive phosphorus at near natural conditions. If the predicted value of reference condition RP is <7ug/l, reference condition RP is set to 7ug/l;
“log10alk” means log10(alkalinity), where alkalinity is the concentration of CaCO3 in mg/l. For sites with an alkalinity greater than 250, alkalinity is set to 250. For sites with an alkalinity less than 2, it is set to 2;
“altitude” means the site's altitude above sea level in metres. For sites with an altitude greater than 355 metres, altitude is set to 355 metres.
4. The Department must apply, as applicable, the “high”, “good” “moderate” or “poor” temperature standards specified in columns 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively of Table 4 below.N.I.
5. The Department must apply, as applicable, the “high”, “good”, “moderate” or “poor” acid condition standards specified in columns 2, 3, 4 and 5 of Table 5 to any river or part thereof.N.I.
Environmental standards for river flowsN.I.
6.—(1) Once the Department has, in accordance with paragraph 4 of Part 1 of this Schedule, assigned to a river or part thereof a Type specified in column 1 of Tables 6, 7, 8 or 9 below, it must apply, as applicable, the “high”, “good”, “moderate” or “poor” river flow standards as specified by the boundary values in those Tables to that river or part thereof.
(2) The Department may, when assessing the water balance results against the “high”, “good”, “moderate” and “poor” boundary values, take into account the spatial extent of the river flow standard based upon the contiguous length or percentage length of the river water body.
(3) The result of this classification shall be used only to determine “high” status in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 2.
Environmental standards for lake water qualityN.I.
7. The Department must apply, as applicable, the “high”, “good”, “moderate”, “poor” or “bad” dissolved oxygen standard specified in Table 10 below to all lakes or parts of such lakes.
8. The Department must apply the “good” salinity standard specified in Table 11 below to all lakes or parts of such lakes.N.I.
9. Once the Department has, in accordance with paragraph 5 of Part 1 of this Schedule, assigned to a lake or part thereof a geological category, depth category and colour category specified in Tables 5, 6 and 7 in that Part, it must apply, as applicable, the “high”, “good”, “moderate”, “poor” or “bad” total phosphorus standard to that lake or part thereof, calculated in accordance with the formulae specified in columns 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively of Table 12 below, where in relation to those formulae—N.I.
“R” represents the annual mean total phosphorus concentration expected for the lake in the absence of more than very minor phosphorus inputs to the lake resulting from human activities and, where a reliable estimate of ‘C’ is available, shall have the value given by the formula: Antilog10 [1.36 – (0.09 x A) + (0.24 x B)] for non-humic lakes; and Antilog10 [1.62 – (0.09) x A + (0.24 x B)] for humic lakes;
“A” = Log10 of the altitude in metres above mean sea level of the lake;
“B” = Log10 (C÷D);
“C” = the mean alkalinity of the lake in milli-equivalents per litre estimated for the lake;
“D” = the mean depth of the lake in metres;
“H” = 0.755 + (0.012 x C) – (0.001 x D); or 0.7, whichever is larger value; and
“G” = 0.506 + (0.023 x C) – (0.002 x D); or 0.46, whichever is the larger value.
10. If the Department does not have the necessary data to calculate the total phosphorus standard applicable to a lake or part thereof in accordance with paragraph 8, it must apply, as applicable to the lake or part thereof, the “high”, “good”, “moderate”, “poor” or “bad” total phosphorus standard specified in column 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively, of Table 13 below which corresponds with the combination of geological category and depth categories specified in column 1 of that Table that is applicable to the lake or part thereof.N.I.
Environmental standards for protection of inland lake water levelsN.I.
11. Once the Department has assigned the characteristics of a lake or part thereof, in accordance with paragraph 7 of Part I of this Schedule, it must apply, as applicable, to the lake or part thereof the “high”, “good”, “moderate” or “poor” lake standards specified in columns 1,2, 3 and 4 of Table 14.
Environmental standards for transitional and coastal water qualityN.I.
12. The Department must apply, as applicable, the dissolved oxygen standards for “high”, “good”, “moderate”, “poor” or “bad” specified in Table 15 and Table 16 below to transitional or coastal waters or parts thereof.
13. The Department must apply, as applicable, the dissolved inorganic nitrogen standards for “high”, “good”, “moderate”, “poor” or “bad” specified in Table 17 below to transitional or coastal waters or parts thereof.N.I.
Environmental standards for specific pollutantsN.I.
14. The Department must apply, as applicable, the standards for specific pollutants given in Tables 18 to 47 below to surface waters or parts thereof.
N.I.
Environmental Standards for River Water QualityN.I.
Table 1
Standards for dissolved oxygen in rivers
1 Where a lowland, high alkalinity river is a salmonid water the standards for the upland, low alkalinity type will apply. | |||||
Dissolved oxygen (percent saturation) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
(10-percentile) | |||||
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 | Column 6 |
Type1 | High | Good | Moderate | Poor | Bad |
Upland and low alkalinity | 80 | 75 | 64 | 50 | < 50 |
Lowland and high alkalinity | 70 | 60 | 54 | 45 | < 45 |
Table 2
Standards for ammonia in rivers
1 Note that Ammonia is a Specific Pollutant and considered as such for compliance. It is included in this section as it is commonly assessed alongside the other inorganic chemistry elements. | |||||
Total ammonia1 (mg/l) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
(90-percentile) | |||||
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 | Column 6 |
Type | High | Good | Moderate | Poor | Bad |
Upland and low alkalinity | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.75 | 1.1 | > 1.1 |
Lowland and high alkalinity | 0.3 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 2.5 | > 2.5 |
Table 3
Standards for Biochemical Oxygen Demand in rivers
1 The standard for Biochemical Oxygen Demand shall be used when deciding action to meet the standard for dissolved oxygen. | |||||
2 Where a lowland, high alkalinity river is a salmonid water the standards for the upland, low alkalinity type will apply. | |||||
Biochemical oxygen demand (mg/l)1 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
(90-percentile) | |||||
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 | Column 6 |
Type2 | High | Good | Moderate | Poor | Bad |
Upland and low alkalinity | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7.5 | > 7.5 |
Lowland and high alkalinity | 4 | 5 | 6.5 | 9 | > 9 |
Table 4
Standards for temperature in rivers
Temperature (◦C) as an annual 98th percentile standard | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 |
Type | High | Good | Moderate | Poor |
Salmonid waters | 20 | 23 | 28 | 30 |
Cyprinid waters | 25 | 28 | 30 | 32 |
Table 5
Standards for acid conditions in rivers. Either pH or Acid Neutralising Capacity (ANC) or both may be used
1 Waters with a Dissolved Organic Carbon Value of 10mg/l or less | ||||
2 Waters with a Dissolved Organic Carbon Value of greater than 10mg/l | ||||
3 As assessed by the Cantrell method | ||||
4 A 95% upper limit of 9 also applies | ||||
Clear waters1 | Humic waters2 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 |
Annual mean | ||||
pH | ANC3 | pH | ANC3 | |
High | 6.604 | 80 | 5.104 | 80 |
Good | 5.95 | 40 | 4.55 | 50 |
Moderate | 5.44 | 15 | 4.22 | 10 |
Poor | 4.89 | -10 | 4.03 | 5 |
Table 6
High environmental standards for river flows
1 ‘Q’ is the mean daily flow for a specified period of time | ||
2 ‘Qx’ is the Q that is expected to be exceeded by ‘x’ percent for a specified period of time | ||
Permitted abstraction per day as a percentage of the natural mean daily flow(Q)1 | ||
---|---|---|
High | ||
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
Maximum permitted % abstraction at Q exceeding Q952 | Maximum permitted % abstraction at Q not exceeding Q95 | |
A1, A2 (downstream), A2 (headwaters), B1, B2, C2, D2 | 10 | 5 |
Table 7
Good environmental standards for river flows
Permitted abstraction per day as a percentage of the natural mean daily flow(Q) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Good | ||||
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 |
River type | Maximum % abstraction at Q exceeding Q60 | Maximum % abstraction at Q exceeding Q70 | Maximum % abstraction at Q exceeding Q95 | Maximum % abstraction at Q not exceeding Q95 |
A1 | 35 | 30 | 25 | 20 |
A2 (downstream), B1, B2 | 30 | 25 | 20 | 15 |
A2 (headwaters), C2, D2 | 25 | 20 | 15 | 10 |
Table 8
Moderate environmental standards for river flows
1 incremental increase in allowable take at flows <Q60 to ≥ Q90 | ||||
Permitted abstraction per day as a percentage of the natural mean daily flow(Q) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Moderate | ||||
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 |
River type | Maximum % abstraction at Q exceeding Q60 | Maximum % abstraction at Q exceeding Q70 | Maximum % abstraction at Q exceeding Q95 | Maximum % abstraction at Q not exceeding Q95 |
A1 | 70 | 50-701 | 50 | 45 |
A2 (downstream), B1, B2, | 70 | 45-701 | 45 | 40 |
A2 (headwaters), C2, D2 | 70 | 40-701 | 40 | 35 |
Table 9
Poor environmental standards for river flows
Permitted abstraction per day as a percentage of the natural mean daily flow(Q) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Poor | ||||
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 |
River type | Maximum % abstraction at Q exceeding Q60 | Maximum % abstraction at Q exceeding Q90 | Maximum % abstraction at Q exceeding Q95 | Maximum % abstraction at Q not exceeding Q95 |
A1 | Qx less 25% of Q90 | Qx less 25% of Q90 | 75 | 70 |
A2 (downstream), B1, B2, | Qx less 30% of Q90 | Qx less 30% of Q90 | 70 | 65 |
A2 (headwaters), C2, D2 | Qx less 35% of Q90 | Qx less 35% of Q90 | 65 | 60 |
N.I.
Environmental Standards for Lake Water QualityN.I.
Table 10
Standards for dissolved oxygen in lakes
Status | Mean in July – August (mg/l) | |
---|---|---|
Salmonid waters | Cyprinid waters | |
High | 9 | 8 |
Good | 7 | 6 |
Moderate | 4 | 4 |
Poor | 1 | 1 |
Bad | < 1 | < 1 |
Table 11
Salinity Standards for lakes with no natural saline influence
Status | Proposed Boundary |
---|---|
Annual Mean (micro Siemens per centimetre) | |
Good | 1000 |
Table 12
Total phosphorus standards for lakes
Annual mean concentration of total phosphorous (µg/l) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 |
High | Good | Moderate | Poor | Bad |
R ÷ H; or 5, whichever is the larger value | R ÷ G; or 8, whichever is the larger value | (R ÷ G) ÷ 0.5 | (R ÷ G) ÷ 0.25 | > (R ÷ G) ÷ 0.25 |
Table 13
Type-specific total phosphorus standards for lakes where the standards specified in Table 12 above do not apply
Annual mean concentration of total phosphorus (µg/l) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 | Column 6 |
Geological and depth category | High | Good | Moderate | Poor | Bad |
High alkalinity; shallow | 16 | 23 | 46 | 92 | > 92 |
High alkalinity; very shallow | 23 | 31 | 62 | 124 | > 124 |
Moderate alkalinity; deep | 8 | 12 | 24 | 48 | > 48 |
Moderate alkalinity; shallow | 11 | 16 | 32 | 64 | > 64 |
Moderate alkalinity; very shallow | 15 | 22 | 44 | 88 | > 88 |
Low alkalinity; deep | 5 | 8 | 16 | 32 | > 32 |
Low alkalinity; shallow | 7 | 10 | 20 | 40 | > 40 |
Low alkalinity; very shallow | 9 | 14 | 28 | 56 | > 56 |
Marl; shallow | 9 | 20 | 40 | 80 | > 80 |
Marl; very shallow | 10 | 24 | 48 | 96 | > 96 |
Table 14
Environmental standards for lake water levels
1 The reference conditions lake surface area means the natural lake surface area in the absence of any abstractions, discharges or other man-made influences | |||
Daily maximum % reduction in the habitable zone lake surface area for 99% of the days in any year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
High | Good | Moderate | Poor |
1 | 5 | 10 | 20 |
The habitable zone lake surface is dependent on whether the lake is considered to have the geological sub-type “Peat” or “Non-Peat”. The habitable zone lake surface area means the proportion of the reference conditions1 lake surface area from the shore to a depth 5 metres deeper than the depth to which light penetration to the lake bed would be sufficient to enable the growth of rooted plants (macrophytes) or bottom-living algae. In the absence of field data to the contrary, the depth to which light penetration to the lake bed is sufficient to enable the growth of rooted plants (macrophytes) or bottom-living algae may be taken to be 2 metres for lakes with the geological sub-type of “Peat” and 7 metres for “Non-Peat” lakes. The lake habitable zone extends 5m below the level of light penetration to account for impacts on the aphotic habitat. |
N.I.
Environmental Standards for Transitional and Coastal Water QualityN.I.
Table 15
Dissolved oxygen standards for transitional and coastal waters with salinities normalised to 35
Dissolved oxygen concentrations (mg/l) as 5-percentile values | |
---|---|
High | 5.7 |
Good | 4.0 |
Moderate | 2.4 |
Poor | 1.6 |
Bad | <1.6 |
Table 16
Dissolved oxygen standards for transitional and coastal waters with salinities <35
Dissolved oxygen concentrations (mg/l) as 5-percentile values | |
---|---|
High | ≥5.7 |
Good | ≥4.0 and <5.7 |
Moderate | ≥2.4 and <4.0 |
Poor | ≥1.6 and <2.4 |
Bad | <1.6 |
Table 17
Dissolved inorganic nitrogen standards for coastal waters with salinities from 30-34.5 normalised to salinity of 32, and transitional waters with salinities < 30 normalised to a salinity of 25.
Mean dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentration (micromoles per litre) during the period 1st December to 28th February | |
---|---|
High | 12 |
Good | 18 |
Moderate | 30 |
Poor | 40.5 |
Bad | >40.5 |
N.I.
Environmental Standards for Specific PollutantsN.I.
Table 18
Environmental standards for 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)
1 The standards for 2,4 D specified in Column 2 and Column 4 must not be used for the purpose of classifying the ecological status or potential of bodies of surface water. | |||
Good standards for rivers and freshwater lakes | Good standards for transitional and coastal waters | ||
---|---|---|---|
Column 1 | Column 21 | Column 3 | Column 41 |
Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) | Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) |
0.3 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
Table 19
Environmental standards for 2,4-Dichlorophenol
Good standard for rivers and freshwater lakes | Good standard for transitional and coastal waters | ||
---|---|---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) | Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) |
4.2 | 140 | 0.42 | 6 |
Table 20
Environmental standards for 3,4-Dichloroaniline
Good standard for rivers and freshwater lakes | Good standard for transitional and coastal waters | ||
---|---|---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) | Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) |
0.2 | 5.4 | 0.2 | 5.4 |
Table 21
Environmental standards for arsenic (dissolved)
1 The standard for arsenic refers to the dissolved fraction of a water sample obtained by filtration through a 0.45µm filter or any equivalent pre-treatment | |
Good standard for rivers and freshwater lakes | Good standard for transitional and coastal waters |
---|---|
Column 11 | Column 21 |
Annual mean (µg/l) | Annual mean (µg/l) |
50 | 25 |
Table 22
Environmental standards for benzyl butyl phthalate
Good standard for rivers and freshwater lakes | Good standard for transitional and coastal waters | ||
---|---|---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 1 | Column 2 |
Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) | Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) |
7.5 | 51 | 0.75 | 10 |
Table 23
Environmental standards for carbendazim
Good standards for rivers and freshwater lakes | |
---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 |
Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) |
0.15 | 0.7 |
Table 24
Environmental standards for chlorine
1 The standards for chlorine specified in Column 2 and 3 must not be used for the purpose of classifying the ecological status or potential of bodies of surface water. | ||
2 The term “total residual oxidants” refers to the sum of all oxidising agents existing in water, expressed as available chlorine. | ||
Good standards for rivers and freshwater lakes | Good standard for transitional and coastal waters | |
---|---|---|
Column 1 | Column 21 | Column 31 |
Annual mean concentration (µg/l) of total available chlorine | 95-percentile concentration (µg/l) of total available chlorine | 95-percentile concentration (µg/l) of total residual oxidant2 |
2 | 5 | 10 |
Table 25
Environmental standards for chlorothalonil
Good standards for rivers and freshwater lakes | |
---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 |
Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) |
0.035 | 1.2 |
Table 26
Environmental standards for chromium III
1 The standard for chromium III specified in column 2 must not be used for the purpose of classifying the ecological status or potential of bodies of surface water | |
Good standards for rivers and freshwater lakes | |
---|---|
Column 1 | Column 21 |
Annual mean concentration (µg/l) of dissolved chromium III | 95-percentile concentration (µg/l) of dissolved chromium III |
4.7 | 32 |
Table 27
Environmental standards for chromium VI
1 The standard for chromium VI specified in column 3 must not be used for the purpose of classifying the ecological status or potential of bodies of surface water. | ||
Good standard for rivers and freshwater lakes | Good standards for transitional and coastal waters | |
---|---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 31 |
Annual mean concentration (µg/l) of dissolved chromium VI | Annual mean concentration (µg/l) of dissolved chromium VI | 95-percentile concentration (µg/l) of dissolved chromium VI |
3.4 | 0.6 | 32 |
Table 28
Environmental standards for copper
1 bioavailable means the fraction of the dissolved concentration of copper likely to result in toxic effects as determined using the Metal Bioavailability Assessment Tool (also referred to as a PNEC Estimator) for copper. | |
2 The recommended salt water standard applies to the fraction of a water sample that passes through a 0.45-µm filter or that is obtained by any equivalent pre-treatment. | |
3 “DOC” means the annual mean concentration of dissolved organic carbon in mg/l. | |
Good standards for rivers and freshwater lakes | Good standards for transitional and coastal waters2 |
---|---|
Column 2 | Column 3 |
Annual mean concentration (µg/l) of dissolved copper | Annual mean concentration (µg/l) of dissolved copper |
1(bioavailable)1 | 3.76 µg/l dissolved, where DOC3 ≤ 1 mg/l |
3.76 +(2.677 × ((DOC/2) - 0.5)) µg/l dissolved, where DOC > 1 mg/l |
Table 29
Environmental standards for cyanide
1 The standards for cyanide specified in column 2 and column 4 must not be used for the purpose of classifying the ecological status or potential of bodies of surface water. | |||
Good standards for rivers and freshwater lakes | Good standards for transitional and coastal waters | ||
---|---|---|---|
Column 1 | Column 21 | Column 3 | Column 41 |
Annual mean concentration (µg/l) of ‘free’ cyanide (HCN and CN) | 95-percentile concentration (µg/l) of ‘free’cyanide (HCN and CN) | Annual mean concentration (µg/l) of hydrogen cyanide | 95-percentile concentration (µg/l) of hydrogen cyanide |
1 | 5 | 1 | 5 |
Table 30
Environmental standards for cypermethrin
1 Cypermethrin ceases to be a specific pollutant from 22 December 2018, when it shall be listed as a priority substance. | |||
2 The standards for cypermethrin specified in column 2 and column 4 must not be used for the purposes of classifying the ecological status or potential of bodies of surface water. | |||
Good standards for rivers and freshwater lakes12 | Good standards for transitional and coastal waters12 | ||
---|---|---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) | Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) |
0.1 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.41 |
Table 31
Environmental standards for diazinon
Good standards for rivers and freshwater lakes | Good standards for transitional and coastal waters | ||
---|---|---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) | Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) |
0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.26 |
Table 32
Environmental standards for dimethoate
Good standards for rivers and freshwater lakes | Good standards for transitional and coastal waters | ||
---|---|---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) | Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) |
0.48 | 4.0 | 0.48 | 4.0 |
Table 33
Environmental standards for glyhosate
Good standards for rivers and freshwater lakes | Good standards for transitional and coastal waters | ||
---|---|---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) | Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) |
196 | 398 | 196 | 398 |
Table 34
Environmental standards for iron
Good standard for rivers and freshwater lakes | Good standard for transitional and coastal waters |
---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 |
Annual mean concentration (mg/l) of dissolved iron | Annual mean concentration (mg/l) of dissolved iron |
1 | 1 |
Table 35
Environmental standards for linuron
Good standards for rivers and freshwater lakes | Good standards for transitional and coastal waters | ||
---|---|---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) | Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) |
0.5 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.9 |
Table 36
Environmental standards for manganese
1 bioavailable means the fraction of the dissolved concentration of manganese likely to result in toxic effects as determined in accordance with the Metal Bioavailability Assessment Tool for manganese. |
Good standard for rivers and freshwater lakes |
---|
Annual mean (µg/l) bioavailable |
1231 |
Table 37
Environmental standards for mecoprop
Good standards for rivers and freshwater lakes | Good standards for transitional and coastal waters | ||
---|---|---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) | Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) |
18 | 187 | 18 | 187 |
Table 38
Environmental standards for methiocarb
Good standards for rivers and freshwater lakes | |
---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 |
Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) |
0.01 | 0.77 |
Table 39
Environmental standards for pendimethalin
Good standards for rivers and freshwater lakes | |
---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 |
Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) |
0.3 | 0.58 |
Table 40
Environmental standards for permethrin
Good standard for rivers and freshwater lakes | Good standard for transitional and coastal waters | ||
---|---|---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) | Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) |
0.001 | 0.01 | 0.0002 | 0.001 |
Table 41
Environmental standards for phenol
Good standards for rivers and freshwater lakes | Good standards for transitional and coastal waters | ||
---|---|---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) | Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) |
7.7 | 46 | 7.7 | 46 |
Table 42
Environmental standards for tetrachloroethane (TCE)
Good standards for rivers and freshwater lakes | |
---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 |
Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) |
140 | 1848 |
Table 43
Environmental standards for toluene
Good standards for rivers and freshwater lakes | Good standards for transitional and coastal waters | ||
---|---|---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) | Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) |
74 | 380 | 74 | 370 |
Table 44
Environmental standards for triclosan
Good standard for rivers and freshwater lakes | Good standard for transitional and coastal waters | ||
---|---|---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) | Annual mean (µg/l) | 95-percentile (µg/l) |
0.1 | 0.28 | 0.1 | 0.28 |
Table 45
Environmental standards for un-ionised ammonia as nitrogen
Good standard for rivers and freshwater lakes | Good standard for transitional and coastal waters |
---|---|
Annual mean (µg/l) | Annual mean (µg/l) |
Not applicable | 21 |
Table 46
Environmental standards for zinc
1 bioavailable means the fraction of the dissolved concentration of zinc likely to result in toxic effects as determined using the Metal Bioavailability Assessment Tool (also referred to as a PNEC Estimator) for zinc. | |
2 Ambient Background Concentration is an estimate of background levels of zinc based on a low percentile of monitoring data. A figure of 1 µg/l has been estimated for freshwaters in Northern Ireland. | |
Good standards for rivers and freshwater lakes | Good standards for transitional and coastal waters |
---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 |
Annual mean | Annual mean |
10.9 bioavailable1 plus Ambient Background Concentration2 (µg/l) dissolved | 6.8 dissolved plus Ambient Background Concentration (µg/l) |
N.I.
Environmental Standards for Priority Substances and other SubstancesN.I.
Table 47
Environmental quality standards for priority substances and other substances for which standards have been set at EU-level
1 This parameter is the EQS expressed as an annual average value (AA-EQS). Unless otherwise specified, it applies to the total concentration of all isomers. | ||||||||
2 Inland surface waters encompass rivers and lakes and related artificial or heavily modified water bodies. | ||||||||
3 This parameter is the Environmental Quality Standard expressed as a maximum allowable concentration (MAC-EQS). Where the MAC-EQS are marked as “not applicable”, the AA-EQS values are considered protective against short-term pollution peaks in continuous discharges since they are significantly lower than the values derived on the basis of acute toxicity. | ||||||||
4 For the group of priority substances covered by brominated diphenylethers (No 5), the EQS refers to the sum of the concentrations of congener numbers 28, 47, 99, 100, 153 and 154. | ||||||||
5 For cadmium and its compounds (No 6) the EQS values vary dependent upon the hardness of the water as specified in five class categories (class 1: <40mg CaCO3/l, class 2: 40 to <50mg CaCO3/l, class 3: 50 to <100mg CaCO3/l, class 4: 100 to <200mg CaCO3/l and class 5: ≥200mg CaCO3/l). | ||||||||
6 This substance is not a priority substance but one of the other pollutants for which the EQS are identical to those laid down in the legislation that applied prior to 13 January 2009. | ||||||||
7 No indicative parameter is provided for this group of substances. The indicative parameter(s) must be defined through the analytical method. | ||||||||
8 DDT total comprises the sum of the isomers 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2 bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethane (CAS number 50-29-3; EU number 200-024-3); 1,1,1-trichloro-2 (o-chlorophenyl)-2-(p-chlorophenyl) ethane (CAS number 789-02-6; EU number 212-332-5); 1,1-dichloro-2,2 bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethylene (CAS number 72-55-9; EU number 200-784-6); and 1,1-dichloro-2,2 bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethane (CAS number 72-54-8; EU number 200-783-0). | ||||||||
9 There is insufficient information available to set a MAC-EQS for these substances. | ||||||||
10 For the group of priority substances of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) (No 28), the biota EQS and corresponding AA-EQS in water refer to the concentration of benzo(a)pyrene, on the toxicity of which they are based. Benzo(a)pyrene can be considered as a marker for the other PAHs, hence only benzo(a)pyrene needs to be monitored for comparison with the biota EQS or the corresponding AA-EQS in water. | ||||||||
11 Unless otherwise indicated, the biota EQS relate to fish. An alternative biota taxon, or another matrix, may be monitored instead, as long as the EQS applied provides an equivalent level of protection. For substances numbered 15 (Fluoranthene) and 28 (PAHs), the biota EQS refers to crustaceans and molluscs. For the purpose of assessing chemical status, monitoring of Fluoranthene and PAHs in fish is not appropriate. For substance number 37 (Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds), the biota EQS relates to fish, crustaceans and molluscs, in line with section 5.3 of the Annex to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1259/2011 of 2 December 2011 amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as regards maximum levels for dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs and non-dioxin-like PCBs in foodstuffs (OJ L 320, 3.12.2011, P.18). | ||||||||
12 These EQS refer to bioavailable concentrations of the substances. | ||||||||
13 PCDD: polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins; PCDF: polychlorinated dibenzofurans; PCB-DL: dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls; TEQ: toxic equivalents according to the World Health Organisation 2005 Toxic Equivalence Factors. | ||||||||
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 | Column 6 | Column 7 | Column 8 | Column 9 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number | Name of substance | Chemical Abstracts Service number | Date from which standards apply | All rivers and lakes | All transitional and coastal waters | EQS Biota11 | ||
Good | Good | |||||||
AA-EQS (µg/l)1 Inland surface waters2 | MAC-EQS (µg/l)3 Inland surface waters2 | AA-EQS (µg/l)1 | MAC-EQS (µg/l)3 | |||||
1 | Alachlor | 15972-60-8 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.7 | ||
2 | Anthracene | 120-12-7 | 14/09/15-21/12/15 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.4 | |
22/12/15 onwards | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | ||||
3 | Atrazine | 1912-24-9 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 2.0 | ||
4 | Benzene | 71-43-2 | 10 | 50 | 8 | 50 | ||
5 | Brominated diphenylethers4 | 32534-81-9 | 14/09/15-21/12/15 | 0.0005 | not applicable | 0.0002 | not applicable | |
22/12/15 onwards | not applicable | 0.14 | not applicable | 0.014 | 0.0085 | |||
6 | Cadmium and its compounds (depending on water hardness classes)5 | 7440-43-9 | ≤ 0.08 (class 1) | ≤ 0.45 (class 1) | 0.2 | ≤ 0.45 (class 1) | ||
0.08 (class 2) | 0.45 (class 2) | 0.45 (class 2) | ||||||
0.09 (class 3) | 0.6 (class 3) | 0.6 (class 3) | ||||||
0.15 (class 4) | 0.9 (class 4) | 0.9 (class 4) | ||||||
0.25 (class 5) | 1.5 (class 5) | 1.5 (class 5) | ||||||
6a | Carbon-tetrachloride6 | 56-23-5 | 12 | not applicable | 12 | not applicable | ||
7 | C10-13 Chloroalkanes7 | 85535-84-8 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 1.4 | ||
8 | Chlorfenvinphos | 470-90-6 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.3 | ||
9 | Chlorpyrifos (Chlorpyrifos-ethyl) | 2921-88-2 | 0.03 | 0.1 | 0.03 | 0.1 | ||
9a | Cyclodiene pesticides: | Σ=0.01 | not applicable | Σ=0.005 | not applicable | |||
Aldrin6 | 309-00-2 | |||||||
Dieldrin6 | 60-57-1 | |||||||
Endrin6 | 72-20-8 | |||||||
Isodrin6 | 465-73-6 | |||||||
9b | DDT total68 | not applicable | 0.025 | not applicable | 0.025 | not applicable | ||
Para-para-DDT6 | 50-29-3 | 0.01 | not applicable | 0.01 | not applicable | |||
10 | 1,2-Dichloroethane | 107-06-2 | 10 | not applicable | 10 | not applicable | ||
11 | Dichloro-methane | 75-09-2 | 20 | not applicable | 20 | not applicable | ||
12 | Di(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) | 117-81-7 | 1.3 | not applicable | 1.3 | not applicable | ||
13 | Diuron | 330-54-1 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 1.8 | ||
14 | Endosulfan | 115-29-7 | 0.005 | 0.01 | 0.0005 | 0.004 | ||
15 | Fluoranthene | 206-44-0 | 14/09/15-21/12/15 | 0.1 | 1 | 0.1 | 1 | |
22/12/15 onwards | 0.0063 | 0.12 | 0.0063 | 0.12 | 30 | |||
16 | Hexachlorobenzene | 118-74-1 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 10 | |||
17 | Hexachlorobutadiene | 87-68-3 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 55 | |||
18 | Hexachloro-cyclohexane | 608-73-1 | 0.02 | 0.04 | 0.002 | 0.02 | ||
19 | Isoproturon | 34123-59-6 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 1.0 | ||
20 | Lead and its compounds | 7439-92-1 | 14/09/15-21/12/15 | 7.2 | not applicable | 7.2 | not applicable | |
22/12/15 onwards | 1.212 | 14 | 1.3 | 14 | ||||
21 | Mercury and its compounds | 7439-97-6 | 0.07 | 0.07 | 20 | |||
22 | Naphthalene | 91-20-3 | 14/09/15-21/12/15 | 2.4 | not applicable | 1.2 | not applicable | |
22/12/15 onwards | 2 | 130 | 2 | 130 | ||||
23 | Nickel and its compounds | 7440-02-0 | 14/09/15-21/12/15 | 20 | not applicable | 20 | not applicable | |
22/12/15 onwards | 412 | 34 | 8.6 | 34 | ||||
24 | Nonylphenol (4-Nonylphenol) | 104-40-5 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 2.0 | ||
25 | Octylphenol ((4-(1,1',3,3'-tetramethylbutyl)-phenol)) | 140-66-9 | 0.1 | not applicable | 0.01 | not applicable | ||
26 | Pentachlorobenzene | 608-93-5 | 0.007 | not applicable | 0.0007 | not applicable | ||
27 | Pentachlorophenol | 87-86-5 | 0.4 | 1 | 0.4 | 1 | ||
28 | Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)10 | - | not applicable | not applicable | not applicable | not applicable | ||
Benzo(a)pyrene | 50-32-8 | 14/09/15-21/12/15 | 0.05 | 0.1 | 0.05 | 0.1 | ||
22/12/15 onwards | 1.7 x 10-4 | 0.27 | 1.7 x 10-4 | 0.027 | 5 | |||
Benzo(b)fluor-anthene | 205-99-2 | 14/09/15-21/12/15 | Σ=0.03 | not applicable | Σ=0.03 | not applicable | ||
22/12/15 onwards | see footnote 10 | 0.017 | see footnote 10 | 0.017 | see footnote 10 | |||
Benzo(k)fluor-anthene | 207-08-9 | 14/09/15-21/12/15 | Σ=0.03 | not applicable | Σ=0.03 | not applicable | ||
22/12/15 onwards | see footnote 10 | 0.017 | see footnote 10 | 0.017 | see footnote 10 | |||
Benzo(g,h,i)-perylene | 191-24-2 | 14/09/15-21/12/15 | Σ=0.02 | not applicable | Σ=0.02 | not applicable | ||
22/12/15 onwards | see footnote 10 | 8.2 x 10-3 | see footnote 10 | 8.2 x 10-4 | see footnote 10 | |||
Indeno(1,2,3-cd)-pyrene | 193-39-5 | 14/09/15-21/12/15 | Σ=0.02 | not applicable | Σ=0.02 | not applicable | ||
22/12/15 onwards | see footnote 10 | not applicable | see footnote 10 | not applicable | see footnote 10 | |||
29 | Simazine | 122-34-9 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | ||
29a | Tetrachloroethylene6 | 127-18-4 | 10 | not applicable | 10 | not applicable | ||
29b | Trichloroethylene6 | 79-01-6 | 10 | not applicable | 10 | not applicable | ||
30 | Tributyltin compounds (Tributhyltin-cation) | 36643-28-4 | 0.0002 | 0.0015 | 0.0002 | 0.0015 | ||
31 | Trichlorobenzenes | 12002-48-1 | 0.4 | not applicable | 0.4 | not applicable | ||
32 | Trichloromethane | 67-66-3 | 2.5 | not applicable | 2.5 | not applicable | ||
33 | Trifluralin | 1582-09-8 | 0.03 | not applicable | 0.03 | not applicable | ||
34 | Dicofol | 115-32-2 | 22/12/18 onwards | 1.3 x 10-3 | not applicable9 | 3.2 x 10-5 | not applicable9 | 33 |
35 | Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and its derivatives (PFOS) | 1763-23-1 | 22/12/18 onwards | 6.5 x 10-4 | 36 | 1.3 x 10-4 | 7.2 | 9.1 |
36 | Quinoxyfen | 124495-18-7 | 22/12/18 onwards | 0.15 | 2.7 | 0.015 | 0.54 | |
37 | Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds | See footnote 9 in Annex X to Directive 2000/60/EC | 22/12/18 onwards | not applicable | not applicable | Sum of PCDD +PCDF+PCB-DL 0.0065 µg.kg-1 TEQ 13 | ||
38 | Aclonifen | 74070-46-5 | 22/12/18 onwards | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.012 | 0.012 | |
39 | Bifenox | 42576-02-3 | 22/12/18 onwards | 0.012 | 0.04 | 0.0012 | 0.004 | |
40 | Cybutryne | 28159-98-0 | 22/12/18 onwards | 0.0025 | 0.016 | 0.0025 | 0.016 | |
41 | Cypermethrin | 52315-07-8 | 22/12/18 onwards | 8 x 10-5 | 6 x 10-4 | 8 x 10-6 | 6 x 10-5 | |
42 | Dichlorvos | 62-73-7 | 22/12/18 onwards | 6 x 10-4 | 7 x 10-4 | 6 x 10-5 | 7 x 10-5 | |
43 | Hexabromo-cyclododecane (HBCDD) | See footnote 11 in Annex X to Directive 2000/60/EC | 22/12/18 onwards | 0.0016 | 0.5 | 0.0008 | 0.05 | 167 |
44 | Heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide | 76-44-8 /1024-57-3 | 22/12/18 onwards | 2 x 10-7 | 3 x 10-4 | 1 x 10-8 | 3 x 10-5 | 6.7 x 10-3 |
45 | Terbutryn | 886-50-0 | 22/12/18 onwards | 0.065 | 0.34 | 0.0065 | 0.034 |
Application of the standards set out in Table 47 For any given surface water body, applying the AA-EQS means that, for each representative monitoring point within the water body, the arithmetic mean of the concentrations measured at different times during the year does not exceed the standard. The calculation of the arithmetic mean, the analytical method used and, where there is no appropriate analytical method meeting the minimum performance criteria, the method of applying a standard must be in accordance with implementing acts adopting technical specifications for chemical monitoring and quality of analytical results, in accordance with the Water Framework Directive. For any given surface water body, applying the MAC-EQS means that the measured concentration at any representative monitoring point within the water body does not exceed the standard. However, in accordance with section 1.3.4. of Annex V to the Water Framework Directive, the Department may introduce statistical methods, such as a percentile calculation, to ensure an acceptable level of confidence and precision for determining compliance with the MAC-EQS. Where the Department introduces statistical methods, such methods must apply with rules laid down in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 9(2) of Directive 2008/105/EC. With the exception of cadmium, lead, mercury and nickel (hereinafter “metals”) the standards set out in Table 47 are expressed as total concentrations in the whole water sample. In the case of metals the standards refer to the dissolved concentration i.e. the dissolved phase of a water sample obtained by filtration through a 0.45 µm filter or any equivalent pre-treatment, or, where specifically indicated, to the bioavailable concentration. The Department may, when assessing the monitoring results against the standards, take into account:
natural background concentrations for metals and their compounds, if they prevent compliance with the standard; and
hardness, pH, dissolved organic carbon or other water quality parameters that affect the bioavailability of metals, the bioavailable concentrations being determined using appropriate bioavailability modelling.
PART 3N.I.Boundary values for biological quality elements
Boundary values for aquatic plants and animals in riversN.I.
1. The Department must apply, as applicable, to any river or part thereof, the “high”, “good”, “moderate”, “poor” or “bad” benthic invertebrate fauna boundary value for rivers specified in Tables 1 and 2 below.
2. The Department must apply, as applicable, to any river or part thereof, the “high”, “good”, “moderate”, “poor” or “bad” phytobenthos boundary value for rivers specified in Table 3 below.N.I.
3. The Department must apply, as applicable, to any river or part thereof, the “high”, “good”, “moderate”, “poor” or “bad” aquatic macrophyte boundary value for rivers specified in Table 4 below.N.I.
4. The Department must apply, as applicable, to any river or part thereof, the “high”, “good”, “poor” or “bad” freshwater fish boundary value for rivers specified in Table 5 below.N.I.
Boundary values for aquatic plants and animals in lakesN.I.
5. To determine the phytoplankton and phytobenthos boundaries to apply to a lake or any part thereof, the Department must assign to that lake or any part thereof, the appropriate geological category, depth category and colour category specified in Schedule 1 Part 1, Tables 5, 6 and 7 respectively.
6. The Department must apply, as applicable, to any lake or part thereof, the “high”, “good”, “moderate”, “poor” or “bad” phytoplankton boundary values for lakes specified in columns 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of Table 6 below and columns 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of Table 7 below and columns 2 and 3 of Table 8 below respectively.N.I.
7. The Department must apply, as applicable, to any lake or part thereof, the “high”, “good”, “moderate”, “poor” or “bad” phytobenthos boundary value for lakes specified in Table 9 below.N.I.
8. The Department must apply, as applicable, to any lake or part thereof, the “high”, “good”, “moderate”, “poor” or “bad” aquatic macrophyte boundary value for lakes specified in Table 10 below.N.I.
9. The Department must apply, as applicable, to any lake or part thereof, the “high”, “good”, “moderate”, “poor” or “bad” freshwater fish boundary value for lakes specified in Table 11 below.N.I.
Boundary values for aquatic plants and animals in transitional and coastal watersN.I.
10. The Department must apply, as applicable, to any transitional water, coastal water or part thereof, the “high”, “good”, “moderate”, “poor” or “bad” benthic invertebrate fauna boundary values for transitional and coastal waters specified in Tables 12 and 13 below.
11. The Department must apply, as applicable, to any transitional water, coastal water or part thereof, the “high”, “good”, “moderate”, “poor” or “bad” aquatic angiosperm boundary value for transitional and coastal waters specified in Table 14 below.N.I.
12. The Department must apply, as applicable, to any transitional water, coastal water or part thereof, the “high”, “good”, “moderate”, “poor” or “bad” phytoplankton boundary value for transitional and coastal waters specified in Table 15 below.N.I.
13. The Department must apply, as applicable, to any transitional water, coastal water or part thereof, the “high”, “good”, “moderate”, “poor” or “bad” aquatic macroalgae boundary values for transitional and coastal waters specified in Tables 16 and 17 below.N.I.
14. The Department must apply, as applicable, to any transitional water or part thereof, the “high”, “good”, “moderate”, “poor” or “bad” fish boundary value for transitional waters specified in Table 18 below.N.I.
Table 1
Benthic invertebrate fauna Walley Hawkes Paisley Trigg (WHPT) boundary values (WHPT Average Score per Taxon) for rivers
Boundary values for the degree to which the annual mean sensitivity to disturbance of the observed taxa differs from the annual mean sensitivity of the taxa expected under reference conditions | |
---|---|
Ecological quality ratio | |
High | 0.97 |
Good | 0.86 |
Moderate | 0.72 |
Poor | 0.59 |
Bad | < 0.59 |
Table 2
Benthic invertebrate fauna Walley Hawkes Paisley Trigg (WHPT) boundary values (WHPT Number of TAXA) for rivers
Boundary values for the degree to which the annual mean number of disturbance-sensitive taxa differs from the annual mean number of taxa expected under reference conditions | |
---|---|
Ecological quality ratio | |
High | 0.80 |
Good | 0.68 |
Moderate | 0.56 |
Poor | 0.47 |
Bad | < 0.47 |
Table 3
Phytobenthos (Diatom) boundary values for rivers
Boundary values for the degree to which the relative annual mean abundances of nutrient-sensitive and nutrient-tolerant groups of diatom taxa differ from the relative annual mean abundances of these groups of taxa expected under reference conditions | |
---|---|
Ecological quality ratio | |
High | 0.80 |
Good | 0.60 |
Moderate | 0.40 |
Poor | 0.20 |
Bad | < 0.20 |
Table 4
Macrophyte boundary values for rivers
Boundary values for the degree to which the annual mean abundances of disturbance-sensitive and disturbance-tolerant macrophyte taxa differ from the annual mean abundances of those taxa under reference conditions | |
---|---|
Ecological quality ratio | |
High | 0.80 |
Good | 0.60 |
Moderate | 0.40 |
Poor | 0.20 |
Bad | < 0.20 |
Table 5
Freshwater Fish FCS2 (Ireland) boundary values for rivers
1 FCS2 (Ireland) is the Fisheries Classification Scheme 2 (Ireland) model developed for WFD Ecoregion 17 which is the island of Ireland | |
Ecological quality ratio1 | |
---|---|
High | 0.845 < EQR<= 1.0 |
Good | 0.54 < EQR <= 0.854 |
Moderate | 0.12 < EQR <= 0.54 |
Poor | 0.007 < EQR <= 0.12 |
Bad | 0 <= EQR <= 0.007 |
Table 6
Phytoplankton boundary values for lakes – chlorophyll a
Boundary values for the degree to which the biomass of phytoplankton taxa (as represented by the annual mean chlorophyll a concentration) differ from the biomass of those phytoplankton taxa (annual mean chlorophyll a concentration) expected under reference conditions | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ecological quality ratio | |||||
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 | Column 6 |
Lake Type | High alkalinity, shallow Marl shallow | High alkalinity, very shallow Moderate alkalinity, very shallow Low alkalinity, very shallow Marl very shallow | Moderate alkalinity, deep Moderate alkalinity, shallow Moderate alkalinity shallow humic | Low alkalinity, shallow Low alkalinity, shallow humic | Low alkalinity deep |
High | 0.55 | 0.63 | 0.50 | 0.64 | 0.64 |
Good | 0.32 | 0.30 | 0.33 | 0.29 | 0.33 |
Moderate | 0.16 | 0.15 | 0.17 | 0.15 | 0.17 |
Poor | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.05 |
Bad | < 0.05 | < 0.05 | < 0.05 | < 0.05 | < 0.05 |
Table 7
Phytoplankton boundary values for lakes – plankton trophic index
Ecological quality ratio | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 | Column 6 |
Lake Type | High alkalinity, shallow Moderate alkalinity very shallow Low alkalinity very shallow humic Marl very shallow | High alkalinity very shallow | Moderate alkalinity, deep Moderate alkalinity shallow Low alkalinity, shallow humic Low alkalinity very shallow Clear Marl Shallow | Low alkalinity Deep Clear Water Low alkalinity shallow Clear Water | Low alkalinity shallow humic |
High | 0.93 | 0.91 | 0.95 | 0.98 | 0.96 |
Good | 0.82 | 0.80 | 0.84 | 0.87 | 0.85 |
Moderate | 0.70 | 0.68 | 0.72 | 0.75 | 0.73 |
Poor | 0.58 | 0.56 | 0.60 | 0.63 | 0.61 |
Bad | <0.58 | <0.56 | <0.60 | <0.63 | <0.61 |
Table 8
Phytoplankton boundary values for lakes – cyanobacteria biomass
Ecological quality ratio | ||
---|---|---|
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
Lake Type | All Low and Moderate alkalinity and Marl Lakes | High alkalinity Lakes |
High | 0.47 | 0.63 |
Good | 0.32 | 0.43 |
Moderate | 0.23 | 0.34 |
Poor | 0.13 | 0.21 |
Bad | < 0.13 | < 0.21 |
Table 9
Phytobenthos boundary values for lakes
Boundary values for the degree to which the relative annual mean abundances of nutrient-sensitive and nutrient-tolerant groups of diatom taxa differ from the relative annual mean abundances of these groups of taxa expected under reference conditions | ||
---|---|---|
Ecological quality ratio | ||
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
High and Low alkalinity lakes | Moderate alkalinity lakes | |
High | 0.92 | 0.93 |
Good | 0.70 | 0.66 |
Moderate | 0.46 | 0.46 |
Poor | 0.23 | 0.23 |
Bad | < 0.23 | < 0.23 |
Table 10
Aquatic macrophyte boundary values for lakes
1 The term “macrophyte” refers to larger plants, typically including flowering plants, mosses and larger algae, but not including single-celled phytoplankton or diatoms. | |
Boundary values for the degree to which the annual mean abundance of disturbance-sensitive macrophyte1 taxa differ from the annual mean abundance of those taxa expected under reference conditions | |
---|---|
Ecological quality ratio | |
Column 1 | Column 2 |
High | 0.90 |
Good | 0.68 |
Moderate | 0.42 |
Poor | 0.33 |
Bad | < 0.33 |
Table 11
Freshwater Fish FiL2 boundary values for lakes
1 FiL2 is the Fish in Lakes version 2 model developed for WFD Ecoregion 17 which is the island of Ireland | |
Ecological quality ratio1 | |
---|---|
High | 0.76 < EQR<= 1.0 |
Good | 0.53 < EQR <= 0.76 |
Moderate | 0.32 < EQR <= 0.53 |
Poor/Bad | 0 <= EQR <= 0.32 |
Table 12
Benthic invertebrate fauna boundary values for IMPOSEX in coastal waters
Boundary values for the degree to which the annual mean occurrence and degree of tributyl tin (TBT) -induced imposex in the common dog whelk, Nucella lapillus, differs from the annual mean occurrence and degree of imposex expected under reference conditions using the Vas Deferens Stage Index (VDSI) (UKTAG Method ISBN 978-1-906934-35-4) | ||
---|---|---|
Ecological quality ratio | Vas Deferens Stage Index (VDSI) | |
High | 0.95 | 0.3 |
Good | 0.33 | 4 |
Moderate | 0.17 | 5 |
Table 13
Benthic invertebrate fauna boundary values for the INFAUNAL Quality Index (IQI) for transitional and coastal waters
Boundary values relating to the degree to which the annual mean number of benthic invertebrate taxa in soft sediments, the diversity of taxa, and the ratio of disturbance-sensitive and disturbance-tolerant taxa differ from that expected under reference conditions (UKTAG Method ISBN 978-1-906934-34-7) | |
---|---|
Ecological quality ratio | |
High | 0.75 |
Good | 0.64 |
Moderate | 0.44 |
Poor | 0.24 |
Bad | < 0.24 |
Table 14
Aquatic angiosperm boundary values in transitional and coastal waters
1 The term “angiosperm” refers to flowering plants. In transitional waters and coastal waters, angiosperms include sea grasses and the flowering plants found in salt marshes, salt marsh tools have not yet been developed. | |
Aquatic Angiosperm1 Boundary values relating to the degree to which the annual mean shoot density, and spatial extent of sea grass beds, differ that expected under reference conditions (UKTAG Method ISBN 978-1-906934-36-1) | |
---|---|
Ecological quality ratio | |
High | 0.8 |
Good | 0.6 |
Moderate | 0.4 |
Poor | 0.2 |
Bad | < 0.2 |
Table 15
Phytoplankton boundary values for transitional and coastal waters
1 The term “phytoplankton” refers to solitary and colonial unicellular algae and cyanobacteria that live in the water column, at least for part of their lifecycle. | |
Boundary values relating to the degree to which biomass, taxonomic composition, bloom frequency and bloom intensity for phytoplankton1 differ from that expected under reference conditions (UKTAG Method ISBN 978-1-906934-41-5 for Transitional waters and UKTAG method ISBN 978-1-906934-33-0 for Coastal Waters) | |
---|---|
Ecological quality ratio | |
High | 0.8 |
Good | 0.6 |
Moderate | 0.4 |
Poor | 0.2 |
Bad | < 0.2 |
Table 16
Aquatic macroalgae boundary values in transitional and coastal waters
Boundary values relating to the degree to which mean species richness, proportion of red, green and opportunist seaweeds and ecological status group ratio on rocky intertidal areas differ from that expected under reference conditions (UKTAG Method ISBN 978-1-906934-39-2) | |
---|---|
Ecological quality ratio | |
High | 0.8 |
Good | 0.6 |
Moderate | 0.4 |
Poor | 0.2 |
Bad | < 0.2 |
Table 17
Aquatic macroalgae boundary values in transitional and coastal waters
1 The term “macroalgae” refers to multicellular algae such as seaweeds and filamentous algae. | |
Boundary values relating to the degree to which opportunistic macroalgal1 extent, biomass and entrainment differ from that expected under reference conditions (UKTAG Method ISBN978-1-906934-37-8) | |
---|---|
Ecological quality ratio | |
High | 0.8 |
Good | 0.6 |
Moderate | 0.4 |
Poor | 0.2 |
Bad | < 0.2 |
Table 18
Fish boundary values for transitional waters
Boundary values relating to the degree to which transitional water fish communities deviate from expectations in terms of species diversity and composition, species abundance, estuarine utilisation, and trophic composition using the Estuarine Multi-metric Fish Index (EMFI) | |
---|---|
Ecological quality ratio | |
High | ≥ 0.92 |
Good | 0.65 |
Moderate | 0.35 |
Poor | 0.10 |
Bad | < 0.10 |
PART 4N.I.Intermittent Discharge Standards
Table 1
Intermittent standards for dissolved oxygen in rivers
Salmonid waters | |||
---|---|---|---|
Dissolved oxygen concentration (mg/l) | |||
Return period | 1 hour | 6 hours | 24 hours |
1 month | 5.0 | 5.5 | 6.0 |
3 months | 4.5 | 5.0 | 5.5 |
1 year | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
Cyprinid waters | |||
Dissolved oxygen concentration (mg/l) | |||
Return period | 1 hour | 6 hours | 24 hours |
1 month | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.5 |
3 months | 3.5 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
1 year | 3.0 | 4.0 | 4.5 |
The standards apply when the concurrent concentration of un-ionised ammonia concentration is below 0.02 mg/l. The following correction factors apply at higher concurrent un-ionised concentrations: Where the un-ionised ammonia lies between 0.02-0.15mg NH3-N/I: the correction factor is an additioin of (0.97 x log (mg NH3-N/I) + 3.8) mg O2/l. For concentrations that exceed 0.15 mg NH3-N/I, the correction factor is +2 mg O2/litre. A correction factor of 3mg O2/l is added for salmonid spawning grounds. |
Table 2
Intermittent standards for un-ionised ammonia in rivers
Salmonid waters | |||
---|---|---|---|
Un-ionised Ammonia concentration (mg NH3-N/l) | |||
Return period | 1 hour | 6 hours | 24 hours |
1 month | 0.065 | 0.025 | 0.018 |
3 months | 0.095 | 0.035 | 0.025 |
1 year | 0.105 | 0.040 | 0.030 |
Cyprinid waters | |||
Un-ionised Ammonia concentration (mg NH3-N/l) | |||
Return period | 1 hour | 6 hours | 24 hours |
1 month | 0.150 | 0.075 | 0.030 |
3 months | 0.225 | 0.125 | 0.050 |
1 year | 0.250 | 0.150 | 0.065 |
The above limits apply when the concurrent concentration of dissolved oxygen is above 5 mg/l. At lower concentrations of dissolved oxygen the following correction factor applies: For dissolved oxygen less than 5mg/l DO, multiply the standard by 0.0126 and the concentration of dissolved oxygen in mg O/litre, C, raised to the power of 2.72, that is, 0.0126 C2.72. The standards also assume that the concurrent pH is greater than 7 and temperature is greater than 5 degress Centigrade. For lower pH and temperatures the following correction factors apply: Where the pH is less than 7, multiply the standard by 0.0003 and by the value of the pH, p, raised to the power of 4.17, that is: 0.0003p4.17. Where the temperature is less than 5 degrees Centigrade, multiply this correction factor by a further 0.5. |
Table 3
99th percentile standards for biochemical oxygen demand in rivers
Status | Types of river | 99th percentile BOD (mg/l) |
---|---|---|
High | 1,2,4,6 and salmonid | 7.0 |
High | 3,5 and 7 | 9.0 |
Good | 1,2,4,6 and salmonid | 9.0 |
Good | 3,5 and 7 | 11.0 |
Moderate | 1,2,4,6 and salmonid | 14.0 |
Moderate | 3,5 and 7 | 14.0 |
Poor | 1,2,4,6 and salmonid | 16.0 |
Poor | 3,5 and 7 | 19.0 |
Table 4
99th percentile standards for ammonia in rivers
Status | Types of river | Total ammonia (mg NH4-N/l) | Un-ionised ammonia (mg NH3-N/l) |
---|---|---|---|
99th percentile | 99th percentile | ||
High | 1,2,4,6 and salmonid | 0.5 | 0.04 |
High | 3,5 and 7 | 0.7 | 0.04 |
Good | 1,2,4,6 and salmonid | 0.7 | 0.04 |
Good | 3,5 and 7 | 1.5 | 0.04 |
Moderate | 1,2,4,6 and salmonid | 1.8 | 0.04 |
Moderate | 3,5 and 7 | 2.6 | 0.04 |
Poor | 1,2,4,6 and salmonid | 2.6 | 0.04 |
Poor | 3,5 and 7 | 6.0 | - |
Table 5
Types of river to which the proposed 99th percentile standards in Tables 3 and 4 apply
Alkalinity (as mg/l CaCO3) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Altitude | Less than 10 | 10-50 | 50-100 | 100-200 | Over 200 |
Under 80 metres | Type 1 | Type 2 | Type 3 | Type 5 | Type 7 |
Over 80 metres | Type 4 | Type 6 |