The Public Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations 2014

[F1 PART D S Sampling methods and sampling points

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 1A inserted (27.10.2017) by The Public Water Supplies (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2017 (S.S.I. 2017/281), reg. 1(1), sch. 1 (as amended by The Public and Private Water Supplies (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 (S.S.I. 2017/321), regs. 1, 3(2))

1.— (1) Sampling points, in relation to water, must be determined by Scottish Water so as to ensure that the results of the analysis of discrete water samples collected at those points will establish whether or not the water meets the water quality standards at each point of compliance. S

(2) In the case of a supply of water in pipes to any premises used for a commercial or public activity, the sampling points must include a point of compliance within each premises.

(3) In the case of a supply of water in pipes to premises (including any premises used for a commercial or public activity), Scottish Water may take samples of the water within the water supply zone or at a treatment works for a particular parameter—

(a) if it can be demonstrated that there would be no adverse change to the measured value of the parameter concerned; and

(b) in the case of any premises used for a commercial or public activity, the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland, by notice to Scottish Water, consents to the samples being taken within the water supply zone or at the treatment works for the particular parameter, and that consent has not been revoked under sub-paragraph (6).

(4) In a case where Scottish Water may take samples of the water within the water supply zone or at a treatment works for a particular parameter, the point at which the samples are taken is to be treated for the purposes of these Regulations as the point of compliance for the parameter.

(5) As far as possible, the number of samples must be distributed equally in time and location.

(6) The Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland may, by notice to Scottish Water, revoke with immediate effect any consent given by it under sub-paragraph (3)(b).

2.   Subject to paragraph 1, sampling at the point of compliance must meet the following requirements:— S

(a) a sample for copper, lead or nickel must be taken at the consumer’s tap without prior flushing;

(b) a sample for any such parameter or any other chemical parameter must—

(i) be a random daytime sample of one litre volume; or

(ii) use a fixed stagnation time method that better reflects the national situation, provided that, at the water supply zone level, this does not result in fewer cases of non-compliance than using the random daytime method; and

(c) a sample for microbiological parameters at the point of compliance must be taken and handled in accordance with sampling purpose B of European standard EN ISO 19458:2006 entitled “Water quality - Sampling for microbiological analysis (ISO 19458:2006)”.

3.   Sampling of water in a public water supply system, with the exception of sampling at the consumer’s tap, must be in accordance with international standard ISO 5667-5:2006 entitled “Water quality. Sampling. Guidance on sampling of drinking water from treatment works and piped distribution systems”. S

4.   For microbiological parameters, sampling of water in a public water supply system must be taken and handled in accordance with sampling purpose A of European standard EN ISO 19458:2006 entitled “Water quality - Sampling for microbiological analysis (ISO 19458:2006)”.] S