ANNEX I

Parametric values for radon and tritium and parametric values for Total Indicative Dose, for other radioactive substances, in water intended for human consumption

Radioactivity

Note 1: Excluding tritium, potassium - 40, radon and short-lived radon decay products [Am. 43]

ANNEX II

Monitoring of radioactive substances

1.   General principles and monitoring frequencies

A Member State is not required to monitor drinking water for tritium or radioactivity to establish and radon with a view to establishing the total indicative dose (TID) where it is satisfied on the basis of other monitoring that the levels of both tritium and of the calculated total indicative dose are well below the parametric value. Monitoring drinking water for radon is not required where a Member State is satisfied on the basis of other monitoring that the levels of radon are well below the parametric value. In these cases, it shall communicate the grounds for its decision to the Commission, including the results of the other monitoring carried out for natural radioactivity and radioactivity attributable to human activities .

Monitoring shall include reference analyses and periodic analyses.

The reference analyses must be conducted as part of the examination of the application for authorisation to distribute drinking water. In the case of already-operating distribution networks, Member States shall set the deadlines within which the analyses must be conducted, on the basis of the volumes of water distributed and the level of potential risk, both for natural radioactivity and the radiological impact of human activities. The reference analyses must enable all the relevant natural and artificial radionuclides to be investigated and quantified.

In the case of natural radiation, the activity of at least the following 9 radionuclides must be quantified: uranium 238, uranium 234, radium 226, radon 222, lead 210, polonium 210, radium 228 (if necessary via its immediate descendant direct, actinium 228), actinium 227 (if necessary via its immediate descendant thorium 227).

In the case of the impact of human activities, potential sources of contamination must be investigated, and a list drawn up of the radionuclides to be checked on the basis of that research. Besides the specific checks arising from the investigations, all reference analyses must include measurement of tritium, carbon 14, strontium 90 and plutonium isotope levels, as well as a gamma spectrometry test to assess the activity levels of the main artificial radionuclides emitting gamma rays (including cobalt 60, iodine 131, caesium 134, caesium 137 and americium 241).

The result of the reference analyses should be used to establish the analysis strategy to be implemented during monitoring periods. Subject to the outcome of the reference analyses, as a result of which the system may be reinforced, the periodic checks shall be conducted at the audit frequency indicated in point 4. [Am. 44]

2.   Radon and Tritium

Monitoring of drinking water for radon or tritium shall be carried out where a source of radon or tritium is present within the catchment and it cannot be shown on the basis of other surveillance programmes or investigations that the level of radon or tritium is well below its parametric indicator value 100 Bq/l. Where monitoring for radon or tritium is required, it shall be carried out at the audit frequency.

3.   Total Indicative Dose

Monitoring of drinking water for Total Indicative Dose (TID) shall be carried out where a source of artificial or enhanced natural radioactivity is present within the catchment and it cannot be shown on basis of other surveillance programmes or investigations that the level of TID is well below its parametric indicator value 0,1 mSv/year. Where monitoring for artificial radionuclide levels is required, it shall be carried out at the audit frequency indicated in the table. Where monitoring for natural radionuclide levels is required, Member States shall define the frequency of the monitoring having regard to all relevant information available on temporal variations of natural radionuclide levels in different types of waters. Depending on the expected variations, monitoring frequency may vary from a single check measurement to the audit frequency. Where only a single check for natural radioactivity is required, a re-check shall be required at least where any change occurs in relation to the supply likely to influence the concentrations of radionuclides in the drinking water.

Where methods for removing radionuclides from drinking water have been applied in order to ensure that a parametric value is not exceeded, monitoring shall be carried out at the audit frequency.

Where results of other surveillance programmes or investigations than those required as provided in the first paragraph of this point are used to ensure compliance with this Directive, the Member State shall communicate the grounds for its decision to the Commission, including the relevant results of these monitoring programmes or investigations. [Am. 45]

4.   The audit frequency of monitoring shall be as set out in the following table:

TABLE

Audit frequency of monitoring for water intended for human consumption supplied from a distribution network

Note 1: A supply zone is a geographically defined area within which water intended for human consumption comes from one or more sources and within which water quality may be considered as being approximately uniform.

Note 2: The volumes are calculated as averages taken over a calendar year. A Member State may use the number of inhabitants in a supply zone instead of the volume of water to determine the minimum frequency, assuming a water consumption of 200 l/day/capita provided that the water in question is not sold or distributed outside the zone concerned . [Am. 46]

Note 3: As far as possible, the number of samples should be distributed equally in time and location.

Note 4: The frequency is to be decided by the Member State concerned.

ANNEX III

Sampling and analysis methods

1.     Natural radioactivity

1. 1.1.    Screening for compliance with total indicative dose (TID) for natural radioactivity

Member States may use screening methods for gross alpha activity and gross beta activity to monitor for the parametric indicator value for TID, excluding tritium, potassium–40, radon and short-lived radon decay products to identify water with a potentially excess TID that requires further analysis . Member States must demonstrate that the method selected does not produce false negatives (water considered to comply with the TID when its consumption results in dose levels higher than the parametric value of 0,1 mSv/year). The monitoring strategy shall take into account the outcome of the general radioactivity analyses of the water . [Am. 47]

If the gross alpha and the gross beta activity are less than 0,1 Bq/l and 1,0 Bq/l respectively, the Member State may assume that the TID is less than the parametric indicator value of 0,1 mSv/year and no radiological investigation is needed unless it is known from other sources of information that specific radionuclides are present in the water supply and are liable to cause a TID in excess of 0,1 mSv/year. Member States that wish to make use of screening techniques based on measuring total alpha and total beta activity must pay attention to possible metrological limits (e.g. failure to take into account low energy beta rays), to select correctly the guideline value below which water is considered compliant, in particular for total beta activity, and take account of the cumulated impact of beta and alpha activity . [Am. 48]

If the gross alpha activity exceeds 0,1 Bq/l or the gross beta activity exceeds 1,0 Bq/l, analysis for specific radionuclides shall be required. The radionuclides to be measured shall be defined by Member States taking into account all relevant information about likely sources of radioactivity. Since elevated levels of tritium may indicate the presence of other artificial radionuclides, tritium, gross alpha activity and gross beta activity should be measured in the same sample.

In replacement of gross alpha and gross beta activity screening discussed above, Member States may decide to use other reliable screening methods for radionuclides to indicate the presence of radioactivity in drinking water. If one of the activity concentrations exceeds 20 % of its reference concentration or the tritium concentration exceeds its parametric value of 100 Bq/l, an analysis of additional radionuclides shall be required. The radionuclides to be measured shall be defined by Member States taking into account all relevant information about likely sources of radioactivity.

1.1.1.     Selection of the guideline value

With regard to total beta activity and residual total beta activity (following deduction of the potassium-40 component), the use of a guideline value of 1 Bq/l is not necessarily a guarantee of compliance with the parametric value of 0,1 mSv/year. Member States must verify the activity concentration of lead-210 and radium-228, which are two radionuclide beta emitters of high radio-toxicity. For an adult consumer, the TID of 0,1 mSv/year is reached when the activity concentration in water reaches 0,2 Bq/l (cumulative activity of radium-228 and lead-210) — i.e. one fifth of the guideline value of 1 Bq/l; for the critical group of infants aged less than 1 year old, assuming a consumption of 55 cl of water per day, TID is reached when radium-228 activity nears 0,02 Bq/l or lead-210 activity approaches 0,06 Bq/l.

With regard to total alpha activity, Member States must verify the polonium-210 component, as the use of a guideline value of 0,1 Bq/l is not necessarily a guarantee of compliance with the parametric value of 0,01 mSv/year. For the critical group of infants aged less than 1 year old, assuming a consumption of 55 cl of water per day, the TID is exceeded when activity concentration of polonium-210 reaches 0,02 Bq/l, i.e. one fifth of the guideline value of 0,1 Bq/l . [Am. 49]

1.1.2.     Factoring-in of cumulative alpha and beta components

The TID derives from the doses generated by all the radionuclides present in water, be these of the alpha or beta type. The overall results of the total alpha and total beta activity rate checks must therefore be taken into account when assessing whether the TID has been exceeded.

Member States shall ensure that the following formula is complied with:

Total alpha activity/total alpha guideline value + total beta activity/total beta guideline value < 1. [Am. 50]

2. 1.2.    Calculation of the TID

The TID is the committed effective dose for one year of intake resulting from all the natural radionuclides whose presence in a water supply has been detected, both of natural and artificial origin, excluding tritium, potassium–40, radon and short-lived radon decay products. The TID shall be calculated from the volumetric radionuclide concentrations activity rates and the dose coefficients for adults laid down in Annex III, Table A of Directive 96/29/Euratom or more recent information recognised by the competent authorities in the Member State. The calculation shall be performed for the population group most exposed to risk, on the basis of standard consumption rates established by the Commission. For natural radionuclides, the critical group shall be children under the age of one. Where the following formula is satisfied, Member States may assume that the TID is less than the parametric indicator value of 0,1 mSv/year and no further investigation shall be required: [Am. 51]

where

Ci(obs) = observed concentration of radionuclide i

Ci(ref) = reference concentration of radionuclide i

n = number of radionuclides detected.

Where the formula is not satisfied, the parametric value shall only be regarded as having been exceeded if the radionuclides are persistently present at similar activity concentrations for a full year additional analyses must be conducted in order to ensure that the result obtained is a representative one . The checks must be conducted to deadlines that can be shortened to reflect the degree to which the parametric value has been exceeded . Member States shall define the extent of resampling necessary , and the deadlines to meet, to ensure that the measured values are representative for an average activity concentration for a full year that the parametric value defined for the TID has in fact been exceeded . [Am. 52]

Reference concentrations for radioactivity of natural origin in drinking water (1)

2a.     Radiological significance of human activity

The radionuclides to be measured shall be defined by Member States on the basis of all the information gathered about potential sources of anthropogenic radiation.

2a.1.     Tritium monitoring

A specific analysis shall be conducted to quantify the level of tritium as part of the reference analysis, and when a periodic check on this parameter is required. An activity concentration in excess of 10 Bq/l is indicative of an anomaly whose origin must be investigated and which may indicate the presence of other artificial radionuclides. The threshold parametric value beyond which the source of the contamination must be investigated and the public informed is 20 Bq/l. The reference concentration corresponding to the parametric value 0,01 mSv/year is 680 Bq/l (500 Bq/l if the fœtus is taken into account).

2a.2.     Calculation of the TID for human activity sources

The TID is the committed effective dose for one year of intake resulting from all the anthropogenic radionuclides whose presence in a drinking-water supply has been detected, including tritium.

The TID shall be calculated from the radionuclide activity concentration and the dose coefficients laid down in Table (A) of Annex III to Directive 96/29/Euratom or more recent information recognised by the competent authorities in the Member State. The calculation shall be performed for the population group most exposed to risk, known as the critical group, on the basis of standard consumption rates established by the Commission.

Member States may use reference concentrations corresponding to the parametric value 0,01 mSv/year being attained. In this case, where the following formula is satisfied, Member States may assume that the parametric value has not been exceeded and that no further investigation is required:

where

Ci(obs) = observed concentration of radionuclide i

Ci(ref) = reference concentration of radionuclide i

n = number of radionuclides detected.

Where this formula is not satisfied, additional analyses must be conducted immediately in order to ensure that the result obtained is a valid one and to establish the source of the pollution. [Am. 54]

Reference concentrations for radioactivity of anthropogenic origin in drinking water  (3)

[Am. 55]

3.   Performance characteristics and methods of analysis

For the following radioactivity parameters, the specified performance characteristics are that the method of analysis used must, as a minimum, be capable of measuring concentrations equal to the parametric value with a limit of detection specified.

(1)  This table includes the most common natural and artificial radionuclides. Reference concentrations for other radionuclides can be calculated using the dose coefficients for adults laid down in Annex III, Table A of Directive 96/29/Euratom, or more recent information recognised by the competent authorities in the Member State, and by assuming an intake of 730 litres per year. The calculation must be performed for the age group most exposed to risk in order to ensure compliance with the total indicative dose of 0,1 mSv, regardless of the age of the consumer. The Commission shall define the water consumption rates for the various age brackets.

(2)  One milligram (mg) of natural uranium contains 12,3 Bq of U-238 and 12,3 Bq of U-234. This table allows only for the radiological properties of uranium, not for its chemical toxicity. [Am. 53]

(3)   This table includes the most common artificial radionuclides. Reference concentrations for other radionuclides can be calculated using the dose coefficients laid down in Annex Table (A) of Annex III toDirective 96/29/Euratom, or more recent information recognised by the competent authorities in the Member State concerned. The calculation must be performed for the age group most exposed to risk in order to ensure compliance with the total indicative dose of 0,01 mSv, regardless of the age of the persons consuming the water. The Commission shall define the water consumption rates for the various age brackets.