xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"

Regulations 2(1), 10(1)(b), 13, 19 and 21(2)

SCHEDULE 2Requirements for spring water and drinking water including prescribed concentrations or values of parameters

PART 1Requirements for spring water and drinking water

1.  Water satisfies the requirements of this Schedule if —

(a)the water does not contain —

(i)any micro-organism (other than a parameter) or parasite, or

(ii)any property, element or substance (other than a parameter),

at a concentration or value which would constitute a potential danger to human health;

(b)the water does not contain any substance (whether or not a parameter) at a concentration or value which, in conjunction with any other property, element, substance or organism it contains (whether or not a parameter), would constitute a potential danger to human health;

(c)the water does not contain concentrations or values of any of the parameters listed in Tables A to D in Part 2 of this Schedule in excess of the prescribed concentrations or values; and

(d)in the case of water prepared from water which has been softened or desalinated, its hardness is not below a minimum concentration of 60 mg Ca/l.

2.  The concentrations or values of the parameters listed in Tables A to D in Part 2 of this Schedule must be read in conjunction with the notes thereto.

PART 2Prescribed concentrations or values

Table A

Column 1Column 2Column 3Column 4
ItemParametersUnits of MeasurementConcentration or Value (maximum unless otherwise stated)

Notes:

3.

The concentration (mg/l) of nitrate divided by 50 added to the concentration (mg/l) of nitrite divided by 3 must not exceed 1.

4.

Excluding tritium, potassium-40, radon and radon decay products.

1.Colourmg/1 Pt/Co scale20
2.TurbidityNTU4
3.OdourDilution number3 at 25°C
4.TasteDilution number3 at 25°C
5.Sulphatemg SO4/1250
6.Sodiummg Na/l200
7.Nitratemg NO3/l50 (note 1)
8.Nitritemg NO2/l0.5 (note 1)
9.AluminiumμgAl/l200
10.Coppermg Cu/l2
11.Fluoridemg F/l1.5
12.Hydrogen ion concentrationpH units

4.5 (minimum)

9.5 (maximum)

13.Tritium (for radioactivity)Bq/l100
14.Total indicative dosemSv/year0.10 (note 2)
15.Manganeseμg Mn/l50

Table B

Column 1Column 2Column 3Column 4
ItemParametersUnits of MeasurementMaximum Concentration

Notes:

1.

“Pesticides” means:

  • organic insecticides,

  • organic herbicides,

  • organic fungicides,

  • organic nematocides,

  • organic acaricides,

  • organic algicides,

  • organic rodenticides,

  • organic slimicides, and

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 water need to be monitored.

2.

The maximum concentration applies to each individual pesticide. In the case of aldrin, dieldrin, heptaclor and heptachlor epoxide the maximum concentration is 0.030 μg/l.

3.

The maximum concentration for “total substances” refers to the sum of the concentrations of all individual pesticides detected and quantified in the monitoring procedure.

4.

The specified compounds are benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(ghi)perylene, indeno(1.2,3-cd) pyrene.

1.Arsenicμg As/l10
2.Cadmiumμg Cd/l5
3.Cyanideμg CN/l50
4.Chromiumμg Cr/l50
5.Mercuryμg Hg/l1
6.Nickelμg Ni/l20
7.Seleniumμg Se/l10
8.Antimonyμg Sb/l5
9.Leadμg Pb/l10
10.Pesticides and related products:
— individual substancesμg/l0.10 (notes 1 and 2)
— total substancesμg/l0.50 (notes 1 and 3)
11.Polycyclic aromatic Hydrocarbonsμg/l0.1 sum of concentrations of specified compounds (note 4)
12.Bromateμg BrO3/l10

Table C

Column 1Column 2Column 3Column 4
ItemParametersUnits of MeasurementMaximum Concentration

Notes:

1.

The total viable colony count should be measured within 12 hours of bottling, with the sample water being kept at a constant temperature during that 12 hour period. Any increase in the total viable colony count of the water between 12 hours after bottling and the time of sale should not be greater than that normally expected.

2.

In 72 hours on agar-agar or an agar-gelatine mixture.

3.

In 24 hours on agar-agar.

1.Escherichia coli(E.coli)number/250 ml0/250 ml
2.Enterococcinumber/250 ml0/250 ml
3.Colony count 22°Cnumber/ml100/ml (notes 1 and 2)
4.Colony count 37°Cnumber/ml20/ml (notes 1 and 3)
5.Pseudomonas aeruginosanumber/250ml0/250 ml

Table D

Column 1Column 2Column 3Column 4
ItemParametersUnits of MeasurementMaximum Concentration

Notes:

1.

The maximum concentration specified applies to the sum of the concentrations of the specified parameters.

2.

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.

1.Boronmg/l1.0
2.Benzo (a) pyreneμg/l0.010
3.Tetrachloroethene and Trichloroetheneμg/l10 (note 1)
4.Tetrachloromethaneμg/l3
5.Benzeneμg/l1.0
6.1,2-dichloroethaneμg/l3.0
7.Trichloromethane, Dichlororbromomethane, Dibromochloromethane and Tribromomethaneμg/l100 (note 1)
8.Epichlorohydrinμg/l0.10 (note 2)
9.Vinyl chlorideμg/l0.50 (note 2)
10.Acrylamideμg/l0.10 (note 2)