The Surface Waters (Classification) Regulations 1989

Statutory Instruments

1989 No. 1148

WATER, ENGLAND AND WALES

The Surface Waters (Classification) Regulations 1989

Made

6th July 1989

Laid before Parliament

7th July 1989

Coming into force

1st September 1989

The Secretary of State for the Environment and the Secretary of State for Wales, acting jointly in exercise of the powers conferred on them by section 104(1) of the Water Act 1989(1) hereby make the following Regulations:—

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Surface Waters (Classification) Regulations 1989 and shall come into force on 1st September 1989.

Classification of waters

2.  The classifications prescribed by these Regulations apply only in relation to inland waters (including any lake or pond which, by virtue of an order made under section 103(5) of the Water Act 1989, is to be treated as a relevant lake or pond).

3.  The classifications DW1, DW2 and DW3 and the criteria for those classifications set out in the Schedule to these Regulations shall apply for classifying waters by reference to their suitability for abstraction by water undertakers for supply (after treatment) as drinking water.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State

Michael Howard

Minister for Water and Planning

Department of the Environment

6th July 1989

Peter Walker

Secretary of State for Wales

6th July 1989

Regulation 3

SCHEDULE Criteria for the classification of waters

The limits set out below are maxima

(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
No. in Annex II to 75/440/EEC	Parameters	DW1	DW2	DW3
Note (1) The value given is an upper limit set in relation to the mean annual temperature (high and low).
2	Coloration (after simple filtration) mg/1 Pt Scale	20	100	200
4	Temperature °C	25	25	25
7	Nitrates mg/1 NO3	50	50	50
8(1)	Fluorides mg/1 F	1·5
10	Dissolved iron mg/1 Fe	0·3	2
12	Copper mg/1 Cu	0·05
13	Zinc mg/1 Zn	3	5	5
19	Arsenic mg/1 As	0·05	0·05	0·1
20	Cadmium mg/1 Cd	0·005	0·005	0·005
21	Total chromium mg/1 Cr	0·05	0·05	0·05
22	Lead mg/1 Pb	0·05	0·05	0·05
23	Selenium mg/1 Se	0·01	0·01	0·01
24	Mercury mg/1 Hg	0·001	0·001	0·001
25	Barium mg/1 Ba	0·1	1	1
26	Cyanide mg/1 Cn	0·05	0·05	0·05
27	Sulphates mg/1 SO4	250	250	250
31	Phenols (phenol index) paranitraniline 4 aminoantipyrine mg/1 C6H5OH	0·001	0·005;	0·1
32	Dissolved or emulsified hydrocarbons (after extraction by petroleum ether) mg/1	0·05	0·2	1
33	Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons mg/1	0·0002	0·0002	0·001
34	Total pesticides (parathion, BHC, dieldrin) mg/1	0·001	0·0025	0·005
39	Ammonia mg/1 NH4		1·5	4

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations prescribe the system of classifying the quality of inland waters (as defined in section 103(1)(c) of the Water Act 1989) according to their suitability for abstraction by water undertakers for supply (after treatment) as drinking water.

The classifications DW1, DW2 and DW3 reflect the mandatory values assigned by Annex II to Council Directive 75/440/EEC, (OJ No. L 194, 25.7.75, p.26) (concerning the quality required of surface water intended for the abstraction of drinking water) to the parameters listed in the Schedule to the Regulations.

The classifications are relevant for the purposes of setting water quality objectives for rivers, lakes and other inland waters under section 105 of the Act and for ascertaining the treatment to which the water is to be subjected before it is supplied for public use, in accordance with Part VI of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989 (S.I. 1989/1147).

(1)

1989 c. 15.