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Council Directive 98/83/ECShow full title

Council Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 on the quality of water intended for human consumption

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PART CU.K.Indicator parameters

ParameterParametric valueUnitNotes
Aluminium200μg/l
Ammonium0,50mg/l
Chloride250mg/lNote 1
Clostridium perfringens (including spores)0number/100 mlNote 2
ColourAcceptable to consumers and no abnormal change
Conductivity2 500μS cm-1 at 20 °CNote 1
Hydrogen ion concentration≥ 6,5 and ≤ 9,5pH unitsNotes 1 and 3
Iron200μg/l
Manganese50μg/l
OdourAcceptable to consumers and no abnormal change
Oxidisability5,0mg/l O2Note 4
Sulphate250mg/lNote 1
Sodium200mg/l
TasteAcceptable to consumers and no abnormal change
Colony count 22oNo abnormal change
Coliform bacteria0number/100 mlNote 5
Total organic carbon (TOC)No abnormal changeNote 6
TurbidityAcceptable to consumers and no abnormal changeNote 7
RADIOACTIVITY
ParameterParametric valueUnitNotes
Tritium100Bq/lNotes 8 and 10
Total indicative dose0,10mSv/yearNotes 9 and 10

Note 1:U.K.

The water should not be aggressive.U.K.

Note 2:U.K.

This parameter need not be measured unless the water originates from or is influenced by surface water. In the event of non-compliance with this parametric value, the Member State concerned must investigate the supply to ensure that there is no potential danger to human health arising from the presence of pathogenic micro-organisms, e.g. cryptosporidium. Member States must include the results of all such investigations in the reports they must submit under Article 13(2).U.K.

Note 3:U.K.

For still water put into bottles or containers, the minimum value may be reduced to 4,5 pH units.U.K.

For water put into bottles or containers which is naturally rich in or artificially enriched with carbon dioxide, the minimum value may be lower.

Note 4:U.K.

This parameter need not be measured if the parameter TOC is analysed.U.K.

Note 5:U.K.

For water put into bottles or containers the unit is number/250 ml.U.K.

Note 6:U.K.

This parameter need not be measured for supplies of less than 10 000 m3 a day.U.K.

Note 7:U.K.

In the case of surface water treatment, Member States should strive for a parametric value not exceeding 1,0 NTU (nephelometric turbidity units) in the water ex treatment works.U.K.

Note 8:U.K.

Monitoring frequencies to be set later in Annex II.U.K.

Note 9:U.K.

Excluding tritium, potassium -40, radon and radon decay products; monitoring frequencies, monitoring methods and the most relevant locations for monitoring points to be set later in Annex II.U.K.

Note 10:U.K.

1.

[F1The Commission shall adopt the measures required under Note 8 on monitoring frequencies, and Note 9 on monitoring frequencies, monitoring methods and the most relevant locations for monitoring points in Annex II. Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 12(3).

When elaborating those measures the Commission shall take into account, inter alia, the relevant provisions under existing legislation or appropriate monitoring programmes including monitoring results as derived from them.]

2.

A Member State is not required to monitor drinking water for tritium or radioactivity to establish total indicative dose where it is satisfied that, on the basis of other monitoring carried out, [X1the levels of tritium or the calculated total indicative dose] are well below the parametric value. In that case, it shall communicate the grounds for its decision to the Commission, including the results of this other monitoring carried out.

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