Legislation & Environmental Regulatory Requirements

Drinking Water Regulations and Quality Managment:

There are regulations in place to control the quality of drinking water (water compliance management) and to make sure that drinking water provided to the consumer is wholesome and safe.

In order to quantify risks to the consumer from drinking water the regulations consider quality parameters that are measurable and can be controlled through water treatment.

The Drinking Water Regulations define THREE types of parameter: Microbiological, Chemical and Indicator.

Microbiological: E. Coli and Enterococci are strictly controlled.

Chemical: There are 26 chemical parameters with specified upper limits are again strictly controlled. These include heavy metals, undesirable organic compounds (benzene & PAH's), pesticides and pesticide residues, cyanide, bromate, THM's, nitrate, nitrite, fluoride)

Indicator parameters: These 20 parameters indicate a possible deterioration in the quality of the supply or a breakdown of the treatment process. The parameters used as indicators of quality deterioration include, Coliforms, turbidity, colour, odour and taste. Radioactivity of the water is also controlled. Deterioration of the supply can occur if there is pollution of the source and the treatment works are unable to deal with the contamination.

Note 1: In the case where drinking water does not comply with either microbiological or chemical parameters, remedial or corrective action MUST be undertaken by the water provider.

Note 2: In the case where drinking water does not comply with an indicator parameter, the water provider must determine if the non-compliance poses a risk to the health of the consumer. If there is no risk to the health of the consumer, no remedial action is necessary.

Auditing of Drinking Water Quality:

• Check monitoring: provides information on organoleptic properties (odour, colour, taste) of water, its microbiological quality and the effectiveness of the water treatment (filtration, carbon treatment, disinfection). There are 13 relevant parameters monitored: Aluminium¹, ammonium, clostridium perfringens (surface waters), colour, conductivity, E. Coli, pH, iron¹, nitrite, odour, taste, general coliforms, turbidity.
  
  ¹(Iron and aluminium are determined where these are used in the treatment process)
  
  
• Audit monitoring: 46 parameters in total. The analytical data required are more extensive and sampling is carried out annually or more frequently depending on the volumes of water pumped.

Drinking Water and Related Regulations:

• The Drinking Water Directives: 98/83/EC and 80/778/EEC
• Drinking Water Legislation: SI 439 of 2000
• Surface Water Directive 75/440/EEC: This directive addresses the quality criteria required for surface waters to be used as a source of water for human consumption. Depending on the quality of the water, the appropriate treatment is applied.
• Methods of Analysis and Frequency of Sampling Directive 79/869/EEC: This directive identified 3 categories of surface water (A1, A2, A3) from which drinking water can be abstracted. The category depended on the quality of the raw water based on 39 parameters.
• European Communities (Quality of Surface Water intended for the Abstraction of Drinking Water) Regulations, 1989 (SI 294 of 1989): This regulation combined the requirements of the Surface Water Directive and the Methods of Analysis and Frequency of Sampling Directive, mentioned above.
• Dangerous Substances: (76/464/EEC) Is concerned with:

1. List I (organohalogen compounds, organophosphorus compounds, organotin compounds, cancer causing agents, mutagens, teratogens, mercury and its compounds, cadmium and its compounds, hydrocarbons, persistent synthetic substances) and
2. List II substances include biocides, named heavy metals and named metaloids other than cadmium and mercury).

• The Groundwater Directive: 80/68/EEC. Protection of groundwater from contamination by List I and List II substances.
• The Water Framework Directive. Aims to achieve 'good' status for all waters by 2015.
  

Note: The Local Government (Water Pollution) Regulations 1992 set a limit of ZERO for discharges of List I substances to ground water

Leisure Water Regulations and Quality Management:

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There are no regulations in existence which apply directly to leisure water used in pools and spas.

The Bathing Water Directive does not apply here, though public health regulations are relevant should leisure water pose a threat to health. Contaminants in bathing water under the control of local authorities are controlled and limits enforceable under the Bathing Water Directive. Refer to the EPA website and search under bathing water for the most recent report.

There are guidelines in place and voluntary schemes such as the White Flag administered by ILAM.
Those leisure centres registered to the White Flag standard are required to check their leisure water quality regularly.

The British Standard Institute Code of Practice: PAS39:2003 is relevant. The Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group (PWTAG) also recommend controls be placed on pool chemicals a possible pathogens.

There are two broad areas which may require attention:

1. Chemical content of the pool or spa water
2. The issue of hygiene.

1. Chemicals:

In order to maintain leisure water is a satisfactory condition, chemicals are added, mainly chlorine or bromine to ensure optimum hygiene practices. Ozone is also used to disinfect leisure water.
Chlorine is most commonly used as it is very effective and persists, maintaining its disinfection power long after dosing.

It is generally necessary to control the pH of leisure water for bather comfort and to reduce corrosivity. Addition of acids and bases are frequently required to maintain the pH in the region of 7.2 to 7.4.

2. Hygiene:

Micro-organisms that are classified as pathogens must be controlled in leisure water. Those targeted are E. Coli, pseudomonas and staphylococcus. Pseudomonas can be difficult to control and is known to cause throat and ear infections in those who succumb. Chlorine is very effective in controlling these pathogens, bromine less so. Constant vigilance is important in the pool operator's endeavours to maintain leisure water quality at the highest international standards.

The range of data requiring checks and the limits are given in the table below:

The issue of corrosivity may be an issue for pool infra-structure. High sulphates will affect cement grouting. Low pH low alkalinity, low hardness will mean that leisure water is corrosive and will attack metal pipe-work, though stainless steel will not be affected.

Waste Water / Effluent Regulations and Quality Management:

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The quality of wastewater from industry is controlled. The issue is one of pollution prevention. Treated wastewater is normally discharged to an estuary, to a water body or to ground. Wastewater poses a significant pollution threat to water-bodies and soil and hence the quality of the water must be controlled. There are two variables:

1. polluting power (BOD, TOC, suspended solids and COD
2. nutrients (phosphate, nitrate, ammonium)

Toxins are also controlled depending on the industry type, these would include solvents, heavy metals, phenols, chlorinated compounds and such like.

Heavy industry such as oil refineries, metal-processing industries, production of pharmaceuticals, farming, production of heavy chemicals, food processing and so forth can pose significant environmental risks. These industries are now licensed by the EPA or by the Local Authorities to discharge wastewater to the environment in accordance with regulations. Relevant regulations are given below.

There are a number of licensing regimens in place in Ireland whereby wastewater can be discharged in a controlled manner to sewer or to the environment directly.

• IPPC licensing - issued by the Environmental Protection Agency
  
• Section 16 licensing - issued by the Local Authority
  
• Section 4 licensing - issued by the Local Authority

The final effluent to environment should be clear and not present a nuisance (odours and/or foams). The basic minimum standard required is 20 mg/L BOD and 30 mg/L suspended solids. Depending on the sensitivity of the receiving environment these values can be lower and restrictions on nutrients also can be enforced.

Wastewater Regulations:

• Wastewater legislation: Local Government (Water Pollution Acts) 1977 and 1990.
• Council Directive 91/271/EEC. Concerns pollution from wastewater.
• Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992 (Urban Waste Water Treatment) Regulations 1994 (SI 419 of 1994). Specific requirements apply to wastewater management:
  • Raw wastewater collecting systems
    
  • Wastewater treatment plants
    
  • Treated wastewater quality specifications ((BOD, COD and Suspended solids)
    • Nutrients such as ammonium, phosphate and nitrate are controlled and limited, especially where the receiving waters are sensitive.
• Council Directive (96/91/EC) concerning integrated pollution prevention and control.
• The Nitrates Directive, Council Directive 91/676/EEC is an environmental measure designed to reduce water pollution by nitrate from agricultural sources and to prevent such pollution occurring in the future.

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