
1 

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Water Supply (Water Quality) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 and shall come into operation on 28th November 2015.
(2) In these Regulations, “the principal Regulations” means the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 .
(3) In these Regulations “the secondary Regulations” means the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 .
(4) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954  shall apply to these regulations as it applies to an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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.
3 

(1) In Regulation 1(2) omit the references to “the Directive”, “European technical approval” and “harmonised standard”.
(2) In Regulation 4(2)–
(a) In sub-paragraph (a) for “the Directive;” substitute “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;”;
(b) Omit sub-paragraph (b).
(3) In Regulation 4(6)(a) for “European technical approval” substitute “European Technical Assessment within the meaning of the Regulation mentioned in Regulation 4(2)(a)”.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Regional Development on 29th October 2015
Linda MacHugh
A senior officer of the
Department for Regional Development

SCHEDULE 1
Regulations 2(12)
“



Item Parameters Specification concentration or Value (maximum unless otherwise stated) or State Units of Measurement Point of Monitoring
1 Ammonium 0.50 mgNH4/l Consumers’ taps
2 Chloride 250 mgCl/l Supply point
3 Clostridium Perfringens (including spores) 0 Number/100ml Supply point
4 Coliform bacteria 0 Number/100ml Consumers’ taps
5 Colony counts No abnormal change Number/1ml at 22oCNumber/1ml at 37oC Consumers’ taps, service reservoirs and treatment works
6 Conductivity 2500 µS/cm at 20 oC Supply point
7 Hydrogen ion 9.56.5 (minimum) pH value Consumers’ taps
8 Radon (for radioactivity) 100 Bq/l Supply point
9 Sulphate  250 mgSO4/l Supply point
10 Indicative dose (for radioactivity) 0.10 mSv Supply point
11 Total organic carbon (TOC) No abnormal change mgC/l Supply point
12 Tritium (for radioactivity) 100 Bq/l Supply point
13 Turbidity 1 NTU Treatment works






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SCHEDULE 2
Regulation 2(13)
“


Table 1:
Item Parameter Circumstances
1 Aluminium When used as a flocculant or where the water originates from, or is influenced by, surface waters.
2 Ammonium 
3 Clostridium pefringens (including spores) Where the water originates from, or is influenced by, surface waters.
4 Coliform bacteria 
5 Colony Counts 
6 Colour 
7 Conductivity 
8 Escherichia coli (E.coli) 
9 Hydrogen ion 
10 Indicative Dose Where treatment to reduce the level of radionuclides in water intended for human consumption has been taken.
11 Iron When used as a flocculant or where the water originates from, or is influenced by, surface waters.
12 Manganese Where the water originates from, or is influenced by, surface waters.
13 Nitrate When chloramination is practised
14 Nitrite When chloramination is practised
15 Odour 
16 Radon Where treatment to reduce the level of radionuclides in water intended for human consumption has been taken.
17 Taste 
18 Tritium Where treatment to reduce the level of radionuclides in water intended for human consumption has been taken.
19 Turbidity 

Table 2
(1)Substances and parameters subject to monitoring (2)Estimated population of water supply zone (3)Reduced (4)Standard
Subject to check monitoring
E.coli <100  4
Coliform bacteria ≥100  12 per 5,000 population
Residual disinfectant   
Aluminium <100 1 2
Ammonium 100-4,999 2 4
Clostridium perfringens(including spores) 5,000-9,999 6 12
Colony Counts 10,000-29,999 12 24
Colour 30,000-49,999 18 36
Conductivity 50,000-79,999 26 52
Hydrogen ion 80,000-100,000 38 76
Iron   
Manganese   
Nitrate   
Nitrite   
Odour   
Taste   
Turbidity   
Subject to audit monitoring
Aluminium <100  1
Antimony 100-4,999  4
Arsenic 5,000-100,000  8
Benzene   
Benzo(a)pyrene   
Boron   
Bromate   
Cadmium   
Chromium   
Clostridium perfringens(including spores)   
Copper   
Cyanide   
1,2, dichloroethane   
Enterococci   
Fluoride   
Gross Alpha   
Gross Beta   
Iron   
Lead   
Manganese   
Mercury   
Nickel   
Nitrate   
Nitrite   
Pesticides and related products   
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons   
Radon   
Selenium   
Sodium   
Trichloroethene/ Tetrachloroethene   
Tetrachloromethane   
Trihalomethanes   
Chloride   
Sulphate   
Total Organic carbon   
Tritium   






Note: This table sets out the annual sampling frequencies for all the substances and parameters in column 1. These are determined for each water supply zone according to its estimated population (column 2). The number of samples is either the standard number in column 4 or the reduced number in column 3 (if one is given). Regulation 9 provides for the circumstances in which the reduced number of samples may be taken.

Table 3:
(1)Item (2)Substances and parameters (3) Volume of water supplied m3/d (4)Reduced (5)Standard
1 E.coli <20 - 4
2 Coliform bacteria 20-1,999 12 52
3 Colony counts 2,000-5,999 52 104
4 Nitrite 6,000-11,999 104 208
5 Residual disinfectant ≥ 12,000 104 365
6 Turbidity   
Subject to check monitoring
7 Clostridium perfringens <20 - 2
8 Conductivity 20-999 2 4
  1,000-1,999 6 12
  2,000-5,999 12 24
  6,000-9,999 18 36
  10,000-15,999 26 52
  16,000-32,999 52 104
  33,000-49,999 78 156
  50,000-67,999 104 208
  68,000-84,999 130 260
  85,000-101,999 156 312
  102,000-119,999 183 365
  120,000-241,999 365 730
  242,000-484,999 730 1,460
  485,000-728,999 1,095 2,190
8A Indicative Dose (for radioactivity) <20  1
8B Gross alpha 20-999  4
8C Gross beta 1,000-49,999  8
8D Radon 50,000-89,999  12
8E Tritium 90,000-299,999  24
  300,000-649,999  36
  ≥ 650,000  48
Subject to audit monitoring
9 Benzene <20  1
10 Boron 20-999  4
11 Bromate 1,000-49,999  8
11A Clostridium perfringens (including spores) 50,000-89,999  12
12 Cyanide 90,000-299,999  24
13 1,2,dichloroethane 300,000-649,999  36
14 Fluoride ≥ 650,000  48
15 Mercury   
16 Nitrite   
17 Pesticides and related products   
18 Trichloroethene/Tetrachloroethene   
19 Tetrachloromethane   
20 Chloride   
21 Sulphate   
22 Total Organic Carbon   
22a Radon   
23 Tritium   
24 Indicative Dose (for radioactivity)   
25 Gross alpha   
26 Gross beta   





Note 1: Sampling is at treatment works for the substances and parameters shown in column (1) of Table 3 as items (1) to (6) and at supply points for the other substances and parameters, except nitrite subject to footnotes (ii) and (ii)(a) to the Table below.
Note 2: Table 3 sets out the annual sampling frequencies for all of the substances and parameters in column 2 at treatment works or supply points. The frequencies are determined according to the volume of water supplied at each treatment works or supply point (column 3). The number of samples is either the standard number in column 5 or the reduced number in column 4 (if one is given). Regulation 9 provides for the circumstances in which the reduced number of samples may be taken.”
SCHEDULE 3
Regulation 2(14)
“

1. 
A water undertaker may use a screening strategy for gross alpha and gross beta to monitor for the parametric indicator value for indicative dose . The recommended screening value for gross alpha is 0.1Bq/l and for gross beta is 1.0Bq/l.
If the gross alpha activity is less than 0.1Bq/l and the gross beta activity is less than 1.0Bq/l it may be assumed that the indicative dose is less than 0.1mSv and radiological investigation is not needed, unless it is known from the other sources of information that specific radionuclides are present in water that are liable to cause an excess of 0.1mSv. Where the screening values are exceeded then additional radiological investigation is required.
The radionuclides to be measured must be based on all relevant information about likely sources of radioactivity.
2. 
Calculation of the ID
The ID must be calculated from the measured radionuclide concentrations and the dose coefficients laid down in Annex III, Table A of Directive 96/29/Euratom or more recent information recognised by the Department, on the basis of the annual intake of water (730l) for adults. Where the following formula is satisfied, it can be assumed that the ID is less than the parametric value of 0.1mSv and no further investigation is required.∑i=1nCi(obs)Ci(der)≤1where
 Ci(obs) = observed concentration of radionuclide i
 Ci(der) = derived concentration of radionuclide i
 n = number of radionuclides detected.

Derived concentrations for radioactivity in water for human consumption
Origin Nuclide Derived concentration
Natural U-238 3.0 Bq/l
 U-234 2.8 Bq/l
 Ra-226 0.5 Bq/l
 Ra-228 0.2 Bq/l
 Pb-210 0.2 Bq/l
 Po-210 0.1 Bq/l
Artificial C-14 240 Bq/l
 Sr-90 4.9 Bq/l
 Pu-239/Pu-240 0.6 Bq/l
 Am-241 0.7 Bq/l
 Co-60 40 Bq/l
 Cs-134 7.2 Bq/l
 Cs-137 11 Bq/l
 I-131 6.2 Bq/l


3. 
Performance characteristics and method of analysis.
For the following parameters and radionuclides, the method of analysis used must, as a minimum be capable of measuring activity concentrations with a limit of detection specified below:

Parameters and radionuclides Limit of detection 
Tritium 10 Bq/l
Radon 10 Bq/l
gross alpha activity 0.04 Bq/l
gross beta activity 0.4 Bq/l
U-238 0.02 Bq/l
U-234 0.02 Bq/l
Ra-226 0.04 Bq/l
Ra-228 0.02 Bq/l
Pb-210 0.02 Bq/l
Po-210 0.01 Bq/l
C-14 20 Bq/l
Sr-90 0.4 Bq/l
Pu-239/Pu-240 0.04 Bq/l
Am-241 0.06 Bq/l
Co-60 0.5 Bq/l
Cs-134 0.5 Bq/l
Cs-137 0.5 Bq/l
I-131 0.5 Bq/l




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