The Water Supply (Water Quality) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

Amendments to the principal Regulations

2.—(1) The principal Regulations are amended as follows.

(2) In Regulation 2(1), in the appropriate place, insert ““Indicative Dose” or “ID” means the committed effective dose for one year of ingestion resulting from all the radionuclides whose presence has been detected in a supply of water intended for human consumption, of natural and artificial origin, but excluding tritium, potassium-40, radon and short-lived radon decay products;”

(3) In Regulation 6(6)— for “(total indicative dose and tritium)” substitute “(indicative dose, radon and tritium)”.

(4) After regulation 6(6) insert —

“(6A) — A water undertaker may use a screening strategy for gross alpha and gross beta to monitor for the parametric indicator value for indicative dose. Screening values and the additional radiological investigation required in the event of an exceedance are detailed in Schedule 5.”

(5) In Regulation 6(7)—

(a) For “If, in relation to any water supply zone, the Department is satisfied that water supplied to that zone for regulation 4(1) purposes—” substitute “If, in relation to any water supply zone the water undertaker can submit evidence based on representative surveys, monitoring data, or other reliable information satisfying the Department that water supplied to that zone for regulation 4(1) purposes—”.

(b) In sub-paragraph (a) replace ‘calculated total indicative dose” with “calculated indicative dose”.

(c) In sub-paragraph (b) after “the specification,” add “; or”

(d) After sub-paragraph (b) insert “(c) contains levels of radon that are well below the specification,”.

(e) For “shall notify the water undertaker that the total indicative dose parameter (item 9 in Schedule 2) or as the case may be the tritium parameter (item 11 in that Schedule) need not be monitored” substitute, “shall, by notice in writing, inform the water undertaker that the indicative dose parameter (item 10 in Schedule 2) or as the case may be the radon parameter (item 8 in that Schedule) or the tritium parameter (item 12 in that Schedule), need not be monitored and this decision and supporting evidence shall be communicated to the European Commission”.

(6) After Regulation 6(7) insert—

“(7A) A representative survey must be designed in such a way—

(a) as to be capable of determining the scale and nature of likely exposures to radon in water intended for human consumption originating from different types of groundwater sources and wells in different geological areas; and

(b) that underlying parameters, especially the geology and hydrology of the area, radioactivity of rock or soil, and well type, can be identified and used to direct further action to areas of likely high exposure.”

(7) In Regulation 6(8)—

(a) In sub-paragraph (a) replace “total indicative dose” with “indicative dose” in both places.

(b) After sub-paragraph (b), insert “(c) withdraw a notice under paragraph (7) given in relation to the radon parameter if it believes that water supplied to the zone in question for regulation 4(1) purposes contains levels of radon that are not well below the specification;”

(8) In Regulation 6(9) for “the total indicative dose parameter or, as the case may be, the tritium parameter” substitute “the indicative dose parameter or, as the case may be, the radon parameter or the tritium parameter”.

(9) In Regulation 8(1) for “25” substitute “26”.

(10) In Regulation 9(4)(b) for “25” substitute “26”.

(11) In Regulation 30–

(a) In paragraph (1), omit the definitions for “the Directive”, “European technical approval” and “harmonised standard”;

(b) In paragraph (3) – replace the reference to “the Directive,” with reference to “Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products and repealing Council Directive 89/106/EEC,”;

(c) In paragraph (3) omit sub-paragraph (a).

(d) In paragraph (3) sub-paragraph (b) becomes sub-paragraph (a).

(12) For the table in Schedule 2 of the principal Regulations, substitute the table in Schedule 1.

(13) For tables 1-3 in Schedule 3 of the principal Regulations, substitute tables 1-3 in Schedule 2.

(14) After Schedule 4 of the principal Regulations, insert Schedule 5 as set out in Schedule 3.