The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

Regulations 14(1)(d) and 19

SCHEDULE 7 Requirements for water bottled and labelled as “spring water” and bottled drinking water including prescribed concentrations or values of parameters

PART 1 Requirements for water bottled and labelled as spring water and bottled drinking water

1.  Water satisfies the requirements if—

(a) the water does not contain any micro-organism (other than a parameter) or parasite, or 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; and

(c) the water does not contain concentrations or values of any of the parameters listed in the Tables in Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 in excess of the prescribed concentrations or values.

2.  The concentrations or values of the parameters listed in the Tables in Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 shall be read in conjunction with the notes to those Tables.

PART 2 Parametric values for microbiological and chemical parameters

Table A: Microbiological Parameters

Item	Parameter	Units of Measurement	Maximum Concentration or Value
(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 ml	0/250 ml
2.	Enterococci	number/250 ml	0/250 ml
3.	Pseudomonas aeruginosa	number/250ml	0/250 ml
4.	Colony count 22ºC	number/ml	100/ml(1) (2)
5.	Colony count 37ºC	number/ml	20/ml(1) (3)

Table B: Chemical Parameters

Item	Parameter	Units of Measurement	Maximum Concentration or Value
(1) 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.
(2) The concentration (mg/l) of nitrate divided by 50 added to the concentration (mg/l) of nitrite divided by 3 must not exceed 1.
(3) “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.
(4) The maximum concentration applies to each individual pesticide. In the case of aldrin, dieldrin, heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide the maximum concentration is 0.030 µg/l.
(5) The maximum concentration for “total substances” refers to the sum of the concentrations of all individual pesticides detected and quantified in the monitoring procedure.
(6) The specified compounds are benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(ghi)perylene, indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene.
(7) The maximum concentration specified applies to the sum of the concentrations of the specified parameters.
1.	Acrylamide	µg/l	0.10 (1)
2.	Antimony	µg Sb/l	5
3.	Arsenic	µg As/l	10
4.	Benzene	µg/l	1.0
5.	Benzo (a) pyrene	µg/l	0.010
6.	Boron	mg/l	1.0
7.	Bromate	µg/l BrO3/l	10
8.	Cadmium	µg Cd/l	5
9.	Chromium	µg Cr/l	50
10.	Copper	mg Cu/l	2
11.	Cyanide	µg CN/l	50
12.	1,2-dichloroethane	µg/l	3.0
13.	Epicholorohydrin	µg/l	0.10 (1)
14.	Fluoride	mg F/l	1.5
15.	Lead	µg Pb/l	10
16.	Mercury	µg Hg/l	1
17.	Nickel	µg Ni/l	20
18.	Nitrate	mg NO3/l	50 (2)
19.	Nitrite	mg NO2/l	0.5 (2)
20.	Pesticides and related products:
	- individual substances	µg/l	0.10 (3) (4)
	- total substances	µg/l	0.50 (3) (5)
21.	Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons	µg/l	0.1 sum of concentrations of specified compounds (6)
22.	Selenium	µg Se/l	10
23.	Tetrachloroethene and Trichloroethene	µg/l	10 (7)
24.	Trichloromethane, Dicholrorbromomethane, Dibromocholromethane and Tribromomethane	µg/l	100 (7)
25.	Vinyl chloride	µg/l	0.50 (1)

PART 3 Parametric values for indicator parameters

Table C: Indicator Parameters

Item	Parameter	Units of Measurement	Maximum Concentration or Value
(1) The water must not be aggressive.
(2) Necessary only if the water originates from or is influenced by surface water.
(3) This parameter need not be measured if the parameter Total Organic Carbon is analysed.
(4) This parameter need not be measured for supplies of less than 10,000m3 a day.
1.	Aluminium	µg/l	200
2.	Ammonium	mg/l	0.50
3.	Chloride	mg/l	250(1)
4.	Clostridium perfringens (including spores)	number/100ml	0(2)
5.	Colour	Mg/1 Pt/Co scale	20
6.	Conductivity	µS cm-1 at 20°C	2500(1)
7.	Hydrogen ion concentration	pH units	4.5 (minimum) 9.5 (maximum)(1)
8.	Iron	µg/l	200
9.	Manganese	µg/l	50
10.	Odour	Dilution number	3 at 25°C
11.	Oxidisability	mg/l O2	5(3)
12.	Sulphate	mg/l	250(1)
13.	Sodium	mg/l	200
14.	Taste	Dilution number	3 at 25°C
15.	Colony Count 22°	No abnormal change
16.	Coliform bacteria	number/250ml	0
17.	Total Organic Carbon	No abnormal change	(4)
18.	Turbidity	Acceptable to consumers and no abnormal change

PART 4 Parametric values for radon, tritium and indicative dose (ID)

Table D:

Item	Parameter	Unit of Measurement	Maximum Concentration or Value
(1) Remedial action is deemed to be justified on radiological protection grounds, without further consideration, where radon concentrations exceed 1000 Bq/l.
(2) Elevated levels of tritium may indicate the presence of other artificial radionuclides. If the tritium concentration exceeds its parametric value, an analysis of the presence of other artificial radionuclides is required.
1.	Radon	Bq/l	100(1)
2.	Tritium	Bq/l	100(2)
3.	Indicative Dose	mSv	0.10