Threshold valuesN.I.
8.—(1) A list of threshold values must be derived in accordance with Parts A and B of Annex II to the Directive on the basis of methodologies approved by the Department. [F1The Department may derive threshold values at the national level, level of the river basin district or at the level of a body or a group of bodies of groundwater]
(2) The Department shall amend the list of threshold values whenever new information indicates that a threshold value should be set for an additional substance, that an existing threshold value should be amended, or that a threshold value previously removed from the list should be reinserted, in order to protect human health and the environment.
(3) Where in the opinion of the Department a body of groundwater is no longer at risk from a pollutant, group of pollutants or indicator of pollution, the Department may revoke the threshold value for that pollutant, group of pollutants or indicator of pollution.
(4) The Department shall supply to the Government Department in Ireland having responsibility for corresponding functions, copies of proposals under this paragraph relating to threshold values for bodies of groundwater associated with the Neagh Bann, North Western and Shannon International River Basin Districts.
(5) The Department shall apply the threshold values [F2listed in [F3Schedule 1]] for the purposes of assessing groundwater chemical status and determining the starting point for trend reversal.
[F4(6) Where any threshold value is breached and subsequent monitoring is performed–
(a)the body of groundwater should not be classed as good chemical status if both (a) the average of all the monitoring results from all the monitoring points representative of the risk to the quality of the groundwater exceeds the threshold value; and (b), additionally, the concentration of the pollutant to which the threshold value applies exceeds the maximum concentration allowed for it in drinking water in at least one sample from an appropriately representative monitoring point;
(b)the body of groundwater should not be classed as good chemical status if (i) the threshold values is exceeded across any plume of pollutants extending for over 2 square kilometres or more; and (ii) the maximum concentration allowed in drinking water for any of the pollutants in the plume is exceeded in at least part of the plume.
(7) The Schedule has effect.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words in reg. 8(1) inserted (31.7.2014) by The Groundwater (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (S.R. 2014/208), regs. 1, 6(1)
F2Words in reg. 8(5) inserted (31.7.2014) by The Groundwater (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (S.R. 2014/208), regs. 1, 6(2)
F3Words in reg. 8(5) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Water (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/112), regs. 1(1), 7(4); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F4Reg. 8(6)(7) inserted (31.7.2014) by The Groundwater (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (S.R. 2014/208), regs. 1, 6(3)
Commencement Information