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

Regulation 24 (2)(a)

SCHEDULE 8 Monitoring for parameters other than radioactive substances in water bottled and labelled as “spring water” and bottled drinking water

PART 1 Check monitoring

Sampling

1.  A district council must undertake check monitoring in accordance with this Part.

2.  Check monitoring means sampling water bottled and labelled as “spring water” and bottled drinking water for each parameter listed in Table 1 in the circumstances listed in that table in order—

(a) to determine whether the water complies with the parametric concentrations or values in Parts 2 and 3 of Schedule 7;

(b) to provide information on the organoleptic and microbiological quality of the water; and

(c) to establish the effectiveness of the treatment of the water, including disinfection.

Table 1

Parameter	Circumstances
Aluminium	Necessary only when used as flocculant
Ammonium	In all supplies
Colour	In all supplies
Conductivity	In all supplies
Clostridium perfringens (including spores)	Necessary only if the water originates from or is influenced by surface water
Escherichia coli (E. Coli)	In all supplies
Hydrogen ion concentration	In all supplies
Iron	Necessary only when used as flocculant
Nitrite	Necessary only when chloramination is used as a disinfectant
Odour	In all supplies
Pseudomonas aeruginosa	In all supplies
Taste	In all supplies
Colony count 22°C and 37°C	In all supplies
Coliform bacteria	In all supplies
Turbidity	In all supplies

Frequency of sampling

3.  Sampling must be carried out at frequencies specified in Table 2.

Table 2

Volume of water produced for offering for sale in bottles or containers each day (m3)(1)	Number of samples per year
(1) The volumes are calculated as averages taken over a calendar year.
≤ 10	1
> 10 ≤ 60	12
> 60	1 for each 5m3 and part thereof of the total volume

PART 2 Audit Monitoring

Sampling

1.  A district council must undertake audit monitoring in accordance with this Part.

2.  Audit monitoring means sampling water bottled and labelled as “spring water” and bottled drinking water for each parameter listed in Part 2 and 3 of Schedule 7 (other than parameters already being sampled under check monitoring) in order to—

(a) provide the information necessary to determine whether the water complies with the parametric concentrations or values in Schedule 7;

(b) check that, if disinfection is used, disinfection by-products are kept as low as possible without compromising disinfection; and

3.  Sampling must be carried out at frequencies specified in Table 3.

Table 3

Volume of water produced for offering for sale in bottles or containers each day (m3)(1)	Number of samples per year
(1) The volumes are calculated as averages taken over a calendar year.
≤ 10	1
> 10 ≥ 60	1
> 60	1 for each 100 m3 and part thereof of the total volume