SCHEDULE 5Constituents of natural mineral water

Regulation 10

PART 1Maximum limits for constituents of natural mineral water

Constituents(1)

Maximum limits (mg/l)

Antimony

0.0050

Arsenic

0.010 (as total)

Barium

1.0

Cadmium

0.003

Chromium

0.050

Copper

1.0

Cyanide

0.070

Fluoride

5.0

Lead

0.010

Manganese

0.50

Mercury

0.0010

Nickel

0.020

Nitrate

50

Nitrite

0.1

Selenium

0.010

(1)

The constituents described above refer to constituents naturally present in the water at source and not to substances present as the result of contamination.

PART 2Performance characteristics for analysing the constituents in Part 1

Constituents(1)

Accuracy of parametric value in %(2)

Precision of parametric value(3)

Detection limit of parametric value in %(4)

Antimony

25

25

25

Arsenic

10

10

10

Barium

25

25

25

Cadmium

10

10

10

Chromium

10

10

10

Copper

10

10

10

Cyanide (5)

10

10

10

Fluoride

10

10

10

Lead

10

10

10

Manganese

10

10

10

Mercury

20

10

20

Nickel

10

10

10

Nitrate

10

10

10

Nitrite

10

10

10

Selenium

10

10

10

(1)

The method of analysis used to measure the concentration of the constituents in Part 1 must be capable of measuring concentrations equal to the parametric value with the specified accuracy, precision and detection limits. Regardless of the sensitivity of the method of analysis, the result must be expressed to at least the same number of decimal places as the maximum limit set out in Part 1 for the particular constituent being analysed.

(2)

Accuracy is the systematic error and represents the difference between the average value of a large number of repeated measurements and the exact value.

(3)

Precision represents the random error and is expressed in general as the standard deviation (within a batch and between batches) of a sample of results from the average. Acceptable precision is equal to twice the relative standard deviation.

(4)

The detection limit is—

(a) three times the relative standard deviation within a batch of a natural sample containing a low concentration of the constituent; or

(b) five times the relative standard deviation within a batch of a virgin sample.

(5)

The method should make it possible to determine cyanide in all its forms.