The Private Water Supplies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

Regulation 9

SCHEDULE 3 Monitoring

PART 1 Check Monitoring

Sampling

1.  Check monitoring means sampling for each parameter listed in Table A in the circumstances listed in that table.

TABLE A

Check monitoring

Parameter	Circumstances
Aluminium	When used as flocculant or where the water originates from, or is influenced by, surface waters
Ammonium	In all supplies
Clostridium perfringens (including spores)	Where the water originates from, or is influenced by, surface waters
Coliform bacteria	In all supplies
Colour	In all supplies
Conductivity	In all supplies
Escherichia coli (E. coli)	In all supplies
Hydrogen ion	In all supplies
Iron	When used as flocculant or where the water originates from, or is influenced by, surface waters
Manganese	Where the water originates from, or is influenced by, surface waters
Nitrate	When chloramination is practised
Nitrite	When chloramination is practised
Odour	In all supplies
Taste	In all supplies
Turbidity	In all supplies
Disinfectant residual	When disinfection treatment is practised.

Frequency of sampling

2.—(1) Sampling shall be carried out at frequencies specified in Table B of this Schedule.

TABLE B

Sampling frequency for check monitoring

Volume m3/day	Sampling frequency per year
≤10 > 10 ≤ 100 > 100 ≤ 1,000 > 1,000 ≤ 2,000 > 2,000 ≤ 3,000 > 3,000 ≤ 4,000 > 4,000 ≤ 5,000 > 5,000 ≤ 6,000 > 6,000 ≤ 7,000 > 7,000 ≤ 8,000 > 8,000 ≤ 9,000 > 9,000 ≤ 10,000 > 10,000	1 2 4 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 4 + 3 for each 1,000 m3/day of the total volume (rounding up to the nearest multiple of 1,000 m3/day)

(2) The Department may reduce the frequency of sampling for a parameter to a frequency not less than half if—

(a) it is of the opinion that the quality of water in the supply is unlikely to deteriorate;

(b) in the case of hydrogen ion the parameter has had a pH value that is not less than 6.5 and not more than 9.5; and

(c) in all other cases, in each of two successive years the results of samples taken for the purposes of monitoring the parameter in question are constant and significantly lower than the concentrations or values laid down in Schedule 1.

(3) The Department may set a higher frequency for any parameter if it considers it appropriate taking into account the findings of any risk assessment and, in addition, may monitor anything else identified in the risk assessment.

PART 2 Audit Monitoring

Sampling

3.—(1) Audit monitoring means sampling for each parameter listed in Schedule 1 (other than parameters already being sampled under check monitoring).

(2) The Department may, for such time as it may decide, exclude a parameter from the audit monitoring of a private supply—

(a) if the Department considers that the parameter in question is unlikely to be present in the supply or system at a concentration or value which poses a risk of the private supply failing to meet the concentration, value or state specified in Schedule 1 in respect of that parameter; and

(b) taking into account the findings of any risk assessment.

(3) The Department may monitor anything else identified in the risk assessment.

Frequency of sampling

4.—(1) Sampling shall be carried out at the frequencies specified in Table C of this Schedule.

TABLE C

Sampling frequency for audit monitoring

Volume m3 /day	Sampling frequency per year
≤ 1000	1
> 1000 ≤ 10,000	1 + 1 for each 3,300 m3/day of the total volume (rounding up to the nearest multiple of 3,300 m3/day)
> 10,000 ≤ 100,000	3 + 1 for each 10,000 m3/day of the total volume (rounding up to the nearest multiple of 10,000 m3/day)
> 100,000	10 + 1 for each 25,000 m3/day of the total volume (rounding up to the nearest multiple of 25,000 m3/day)

(2) The Department may set a higher frequency for any parameter if it considers it appropriate taking into account the findings of any risk assessment.