The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2007

PART 3 Requirements and criteria for recognition as a natural mineral water

1.  Geological and hydrological surveys must include the following particulars–

(a) the exact site of the catchment with indication of its altitude, on a map with a scale of not more than 1:1,000;

(b) a detailed geological report on the origin and nature of the terrain;

(c) the stratigraphy of the hydrogeological layer;

(d) a description of the catchment operations; and

(e) the demarcation of the area or details of other measures protecting the spring against pollution.

2.  Physical, chemical and physico-chemical surveys must establish–

(a) the rate of flow of the spring;

(b) the temperature of the water at source and the ambient temperature;

(c) the relationship between the nature of the terrain and the nature and type of minerals in the water;

(d) the dry residues at 180°C and 260°C;

(e) the electrical conductivity or resistivity, with the measurement temperature being specified;

(f) the hydrogen ion concentration (pH);

(g) the anions and cations;

(h) the non-ionized elements;

(i) the trace elements;

(j) the radio-actinological properties at source;

(k) where appropriate, the relative isotope levels of the constituent elements of water, oxygen (¹⁶O — ¹⁸O) and hydrogen (protium, deuterium, tritium);

(l) the toxicity of certain constituent elements of the water, taking account of the limits laid down for each of them.

3.  Microbiological analysis at source must show–

(a) the absence of parasites and pathogenic micro-organisms;

(b) quantitative determination of the revivable colony count indicative of faecal contamination, demonstrating–

(i) absence of Escherichia coli and other coliforms in 250 ml at 37°C and 44.5°C;

(ii) absence of faecal streptococci in 250 ml;

(iii) absence of sporulated sulphite-reducing anaerobes in 50 ml;

(iv) absence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 250 ml;

(c) the revivable total colony count per ml of water–

(i) at 20 to 22°C in 72 hours on agar-agar or an agar-gelatine mixture,

(ii) at 37°C in 24 hours on agar-agar.

4.—(1) Subject to sub paragraph (2), clinical and pharmacological analyses must be carried out in accordance with scientifically recognised methods and should be suited to the particular characteristics of the natural mineral water and its effects on the human organism, such as diuresis, gastric and intestinal functions, compensation for mineral deficiencies.

(2) Clinical analyses may, in appropriate cases, take the place of analyses referred to in sub paragraph (1) provided that the consistency and concordance of a substantial number of observations enable the same results to be obtained.