1979L0869 — EN — 05.06.2003 — 002.001 — 1
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►B COUNCILDIRECTIVE
of9October1979
concerning the methods of measurement and frequencies of sampling and analysis of surface
waterintendedfortheabstractionofdrinkingwaterintheMember States
(79/869/EEC)
(OJ L 271, 29.10.1979, p. 44)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1Council Directive of 19 October 1981 (81/855/EEC) L 319 16 7.11.1981
►M2Council directive of 23 December 1991 (91/692/EEC) L 377 48 31.12.1991
►M3Council Regulation (EC) No 807/2003 of 14 April 2003 L 122 36 16.5.2003
Amended by:
►A1Act of Accessionof Spainan d Portugal L 302 23 15.11.1985
►A2Act of Accession of Austria, Sweden and Finland C241 21 29.8.1994
(adapted by Council Decision 95/1/EC, Euratom, ECSC) L 1 1 1.1.1995
▼B
COUNCILDIRECTIVE
of9October1979
concerning the methods of measurement and frequencies of
samplingandanalysisofsurfacewaterintendedfortheabstraction
ofdrinkingwaterintheMemberStates
(79/869/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic
Community, and in particular Articles 100 and 235 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee (3),
Whereas the programme of actionof the EuropeanCommun ities onthe
environment (4) provides for the standardization or harmonization of
the measuring methods used, so as to render the results of pollution
measurements in the Community comparable;
Whereas Council Directive 75/440/EEC of 16 June 1975 concerning
the quality required of surface water intended for the abstraction ofdrinking water in the Member States (
5), and in particular Article 5 (2)
thereof, provides for adoption of a Community policy regarding thefrequency of sampling and analysis of parameters, together with
methods of measurement;
Whereas any disparity between the provisions already applicable or in
preparation in the various Member States concerning methods ofmeasurement and the frequency of sampling and analysis for each para-meter to determine the quality of surface water may create unequalconditions of competition and consequently directly affect the func-
tioning of the common market; whereas it is therefore necessary to
approximate the laws inthis field, un der Article 100 of the Treaty;
Whereas it seems necessary for this approximation of laws to be
accompanied by Community action designed to achieve through morecomprehensive legislation one of the objectives of the Community inthe sphere of protection of the environment and improvement of the
quality of life; whereas certainspecific provision s to this effect should
therefore be laid down; whereas Article 235 of the Treaty should beinvoked, as the powers required for this purpose have not beenprovided by the Treaty;
Whereas, for the analyses carried out in the Member States, it is neces-
sary to fix common reference methods of measurement to determine
the values of the parameters defining the physical, chemical and micro-
biological characteristics of surface water intended for the abstractionof drinking water;
Whereas, for the purpose of monitoring the required quality, it is neces-
sary to take a regular minimum number of samples of surface water inorder that the parameters specified in Annex II to Directive 75/440/
EEC may be measured;
Whereas the minimum frequency of sampling and analysis for each
parameter should increase in proportion to the volume of waterabstracted and the population served; whereas the frequency shouldincrease with the degree of risk engendered by the deterioration of thequality of the water;1979L0869 — EN — 05.06.2003 — 002.001 — 2
(1) OJ No C 208, 1. 9. 1978, p. 2.
(2) OJ No C 67, 12. 3. 1979, p. 48.
(3) OJ No C 128, 21. 5. 1979, p. 4.
(4) OJ No C 112, 20. 12. 1973, p. 1.
(5) OJ No L 194, 25. 7. 1975, p. 34.
▼B
Whereas technical and scientific progress may necessitate the rapid
adjustment of some of the requirements defined in Annex I to thisDirective, inorder to take accoun t, inparticular, of alteration s inthe
levels of the parameters specified in Annex II to Directive 75/440/
EEC; whereas, in order to facilitate implementation of the necessarymeasures, a procedure should be laid downfor establishin g close colla-borationbetweenthe Member States an d the CommissioninaCommittee on Adaptation to Technical and Scientific Progress,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
This Directive concerns the reference methods of measurement and
frequencies of sampling and analysis for the parameters listed in Annex
II to Directive 75/440/EEC.
Article 2
For the purposes of this Directive:— ‘reference method of measurement’ means the designation of a
measurement principle or a succinct description of a procedure fordetermining the value of the parameters listed in Annex I to thisDirective,
— ‘limit of detection’ means the minimum value of the parameter
examined which it is possible to detect,
— ‘precision’ means the range within which 95% of the results of
measurements made on a single sample, using the same method,
are located,
— ‘accuracy’ means the difference between the true value of the para-
meter examined and the average experimental value obtained.
Article 3
1. Analysis of samples of water taken shall concern those para-
meters set out in Annex II to Directive 75/440/EEC to which I and/orG values have beenassign ed.
2. Member States shall as far as possible use the reference methods
of measurement referred to in Annex I to this Directive.
3. The values for the limit of detection and for the precision and
accuracy of the methods of measurement used to check the parametersset out in Annex I to this Directive must be respected.
Article 4
1. The minimum annual frequencies of sampling and analysis for
each parameter are set out in Annex II to this Directive. Sampling
must as far as possible be spread over the year so as to give a represen-
tative picture of the quality of the water.
2. Surface water samples must be representative of the quality of the
water at the sampling point as defined in Article 5 (4) of Directive 75/
440/EEC.
Article 5
The containers used for samples, the agents or methods used to
preserve part of a sample for the analysis of one or more parameters,the conveyance and storage of samples and the preparation of samples
for analysis must not be such as to bring about any significant change
inthe results of the an alysis.
Article 6
1. The competent authorities of the Member States shall fix frequen-
cies of sampling and analysis for each parameter for each samplingpoint.1979L0869 — EN — 05.06.2003 — 002.001 — 3
▼B
2. The frequencies of sampling and analysis shall be not less than
the minimum annual frequencies given in Annex II to this Directive.
Article 7
1. Where a survey by the competent authorities of surface water
intended for the abstraction of drinking water shows that the values
obtained for certain parameters are considerably superior to those setby the Member States in accordance with Annex II to Directive 75/440/EEC, the Member State concerned may reduce the frequency ofsampling and analysis for these parameters.
2. If there is n o pollutioninthe cases referred to inparagraph 1 an d
if there is no risk of the quality of water deteriorating and if the waterin question is superior in quality to the indications given in column A1
of Annex II to Directive 75/440/EEC, the authorities concerned may
decide that no regular analysis is necessary.
Article 8
At intervals of three years the Member States shall send information to
the Commissiononthe implemen tationof this Directive, inthe form ofa sectoral report which shall also cover other pertinent CommunityDirectives. This report shall be drawnup onthe basis of a question -naire or outline drafted by the Commission in accordance with the
procedure laid downinArticle 6 of Directive 91/692/EEC (
1) The ques-
tionaire (SIC! questionnaire) or outline shall be sent to the MemberStates six months before the start of the period covered by the report.The report shall be sent to the Commission within nine months of theend of the three-year period covered by it.
The first report shall cover the period from 1993 to 1995 inclusive.The Commission shall publish a Community report on the implementa-
tion of the Directive within nine months of receiving the reports fromthe Member States.
Article 9
To take account in particular of alterations in the levels of the para-
meters specified in Annex II to Directive 75/440/EEC, theamendments required to adapt:
— the reference methods of measurement set out in Annex I to this
Directive,
— the limit of detection, the precision and the accuracy of these
methods,
— the materials recommended for the container
to technical progress, shall be adopted in accordance with the proce-
dure set out inArticle 11 of this Directive.
Article 10
1. A Committee on Adaptation to Technical and Scientific Progress
(hereinafter referred to as the ‘Committee’), consisting of representa-tives of the Member States and chaired by a Commissionrepresentative, is hereby set up for the purpose laid down in Article 9.
Article 11
1. The Commissionshall be assisted by the Committee onAdapta-
tion to Technical and Scientific Progress.1979L0869 — EN — 05.06.2003 — 002.001 — 4
(1) OJ No L 377, 31. 12. 1991, p. 48.▼M2
▼B
▼M3
▼M3
2. Where reference is made to this Article, Articles 5 and 7 of Deci-
sion1999/468/EC (1) shall apply.
The period laid downinArticle 5(6) of Decision1999/468/EC shall be
set at three months.
3. The committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.
Article 12
1. Directive 75/440/EEC is hereby amended as follows:
(a) Article 5 (2) shall be deleted;
(b) inArticle 5 (3) the words ‘those referred to inparagraph 2’ shall be
replaced by the words ‘the parametric values for the water qualityinquestion ’.
2. Paragraph 1 shall take effect withintwo years of the n otification
of this Directive.
Article 13
The Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and
administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive
within two years of its notification. They shall forthwith inform theCommissionthereof.
Article 14
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.1979L0869 — EN — 05.06.2003 — 002.001 — 5
(1) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.▼B
ANNEX I
Reference methodofmeasuringtheIand/orGvaluesoftheparametersinCouncilDirective 75/440/EEC
ParameterLimit of
detectionPrecision
±Accuracy
±Reference method of measurementMaterials
recommended
for the container
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F) (G)
1 pH pH unit — 0·1 0·2 — Electrometry
Measured insituat the time of sampling
without prior treatment of the sample
2 Coloration(after
simple filtration)mg Pt/l 5 10 % 20 % — Filtering through a glass fibre membrane
Photometric method using the platinumco-
balt scale
3 Total suspended
solidsmg/l — 5 % 10 % — Filtering through a 0·45 µm filter
membrane, drying at 105 ºC and weighing
— Centrifuging (for at least 5 mins with mean
accelerationof 2 800 to 3 200 g), dryin g at
105 ºC and weighing
4 Temperature ºC — 0·5 1 — Thermometry
Measured insituat the time of sampling
without prior treatment of the sample
5 Conductivity at
20 ºCµS/cm — 5 % 10 % — Electrometry
6 Odour Dilutionfactor
at 25 ºC— — — — By successive dilutions Glass
7 Nitrates mg/l NO32 10 % 20 % — Molecular absorptionspectrophotometry▼B1979L0869 — EN — 05.06.2003 — 002.001 — 6
ParameterLimit of
detectionPrecision
±Accuracy
±Reference method of measurementMaterials
recommended
for the container
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F) (G)
8 Fluorides mg/l F 0·05 10 % 20 % — Molecular absorptionspectrophotometry
after distillationif n ecessary
— Ionselective electrodes
9 Total extractable
organic chlorinemg/l Cl
10 Dissolved ironmg/l Fe 0·02 10 % 20 % — Atomic absorption spectrophotometry after
filtering through a filter membrane
(0·45 µm)
— Molecular absorptionspectrophotometry
after filtering through a 0·45 µm filter
membrane
11 Manganese mg/l Mn 0·01(2) 10 % 20 % — Atomic absorptionspectrophotometry
0·02(3) 10 % 20 % — Atomic absorptionspectrophotometry
— Molecular absorptionspectrophotometry
12 Copper(10) mg/l Cu 0·005 10 % 20 % — Atomic absorptionspectrophotometry
— Polarography
0·02(4) 10 % 20 % — Atomic absorptionspectrophotometry
— Molecular absorptionspectrophotometry
— Polarography
13 Zinc (10) mg/l Zn0·01(2) 10 % 20 % — Atomic absorptionspectrophotometry
0·02 10 % 20 % — Atomic absorptionspectrophotometry
— Molecular absorptionspectrophotometry▼B1979L0869 — EN — 05.06.2003 — 002.001 — 7
ParameterLimit of
detectionPrecision
±Accuracy
±Reference method of measurementMaterials
recommended
for the container
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F) (G)
14 Boron(10) mg/l B 0·1 10 % 20 % — Molecular absorptionspectrophotometry Materials n ot
containing
boroninan y
significant
quantities— Atomic absorptionspectrophotometry
15 Beryllium mg/l Be
16 Cobalt mg/l Co17 Nickel mg/l Ni
18 Vanadium mg/l V
19 Arsenic(
10) mg/l As 0·002(2) 20 % 20 % — Atomic absorptionspectrophotometry
0·01(5) — Atomic absorptionspectrophotometry
— Molecular absorptionspectrophotometry
20 Cadmium (10) mg/l Cd 0·0002 30 % 30 % — Atomic absorptionspectrophotometry
0·001(5) — Polarography
21 Total chro-
mium (10)mg/l Cr 0·01 20 % 30 % — Atomic absorptionspectrophotometry
— Molecular absorptionspectrophotometry
22 Lead (10) mg/l Pb 0·01 20 % 30 % — Atomic absorptionspectrophotometry
— Polarography
23 Selenium (10) mg/l Se 0·005 — Atomic absorptionspectrophotometry▼B1979L0869 — EN — 05.06.2003 — 002.001 — 8
ParameterLimit of
detectionPrecision
±Accuracy
±Reference method of measurementMaterials
recommended
for the container
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F) (G)
24 Mercury (10) mg/l Hg 0·0001
0·0002(5)30 % 30 % — Flameless atomic absorptionspectrophoto-
metry (cold vaporization)
25 Barium (10) mg/l Ba 0·02 15 % 30 % — Atomic absorptionspectrophotometry
26 Cyanide mg/l CN 0·01 20 % 30 % — Molecular absorption spectrophotometry
27 Sulphates mg/l SO410 10 % 10 % — Gravimetric analysis
— EDTA compleximetry— Molecular absorptionspectrophotometry
28 Chlorides mg/l Cl 10 10 % 10 % — Titration(Mohr's method)
— Molecular absorptionspectrophotometry
29 Surfactants
(reacting with
methylene blue)mg/l (Lauryl
Sulphate)0·05 20 % — Molecular absorptionspectrophotometry
30 Phosphates mg/l P
2O50·02 10 % 20 % — Molecular absorptionspectrophotometry
31 Phenols (phenol
index)mg/l C6H5OH 0·0005 0,0005 0,0005 — Molecular absorptionspectrophotometry 4
amionoantipyrine methodGlass
0·001(6) 30 % 50 % — Paranitraniline method
32 Dissolved or
emulsified
hydrocarbonsmg/l 0·01 20 % 30 % — Infra-red spectrometry after extraction by
carbontetrachlorideGlass
0·04(3) — Gravimetry after extractionby petroleum
ether▼B1979L0869 — EN — 05.06.2003 — 002.001 — 9
ParameterLimit of
detectionPrecision
±Accuracy
±Reference method of measurementMaterials
recommended
for the container
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F) (G)
33 Polycyclic
aromatic hydro-
carbons(10)mg/l 0·00 004 50 % 50 % — Measurement of fluorescence in the UV
after thinlayer chromatography
Comparative measurement in relation to a
mixture of six control substances with the
same concentration (8)Glass or alumi-
nium
Glass or alumi-
nium
34 Total pesticides
(parathion,
hexachlorocy-
clohexane, diel-
drin)(10)mg/l 0·0001 50 % 50 % — Gas or liquid chromatography after extrac-
tion by suitable solvents and purification
Identification of the constituents of the
mixture
Quantitative analysis (9)Glass
35 Chemical
oxygendeman d
(COD)mg/l O215 20 % 20 % — Potassium dichromate method
36 Dissolved
oxygensatura-
tionrate% 5 10 % 10 % — Winkler's method Glass
— Electrochemical method
37 Biochemical
oxygendeman d
(BOD5)a t2 0º C
without nitrifi-
cationmg/l O22 1,5 2 — Determination of dissolved oxygen before
and after five-day incubation at 20 ºC
± 1 ºC, incomplete darkn ess Additionof a
nitrification inhibitor
38 Nitrogenby
Kjeldahl method
(except inNO2and NO3)mg/l N 0·5 0,5 0,5 — Mineralization, distillation by Kjeldahl
method and ammonium determination by
means of molecular absorption spectropho-
tometry or titration
39 Ammonium mg/l NH40·01(2)
0·1 (3)0,03 (2)
10 % (3)0,03(2)
20 % (3)— Molecular absorptionspectrophotometry▼B1979L0869 — EN — 05.06.2003 — 002.001 — 10
ParameterLimit of
detectionPrecision
±Accuracy
±Reference method of measurementMaterials
recommended
for the container
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F) (G)
40 Substances
extractable with
chloroformmg/l (11) — — — Extractionat n eutral pH value by purified
chloroform, evaporationinvacuo at room
temperature, weighing of residue
41 Total organic
carbonmg/l C
42 Residual organic
carbonafter
flocculationan d
membrane filtra-
tion(5 µm)mg/l C
43 Total coliforms /100 ml 5(2)
500 (7)— Culture at 37 ºC onanappropriate specific
solid medium (such as Tergitol lactose
agar, Endo agar, 0·4 % Teepol broth) with
filtration(2) or without filtration(7)a nd
colony count. Samples must be diluted or,
where appropriate, concentrated in such a
way as to contain between 20 and 100
colonies. If necessary, identification by
gasification.Sterilized glass
5(2)
500 (7)— Method of dilutionwith fermen tationliquid
substrates inat least three tubes inthree
dilutions. Sub-culturing of the positive
tubes on a confirmation medium. Count
according to MPN (most probable number).
Incubation temperature: 37 ºC ± 1 ºC.
44 Faecal coliforms /100 ml 2(2)
200 (7)— Culture at 44 ºC onanappropriate specific
solid medium (such as Tergitol lactose
agar, Endo agar, 0·4 % Teepol broth) with
filtration(2) or without filtration(7)a nd
colony count. Samples must be diluted or,
where appropriate, concentrated in such a
way as to contain between 10 and 100
colonies. If necessary, identification by
gasification.Sterilized glass▼B1979L0869 — EN — 05.06.2003 — 002.001 — 11
ParameterLimit of
detectionPrecision
±Accuracy
±Reference method of measurementMaterials
recommended
for the container
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F) (G)
2(2)
200 (7)— Method of dilutionwith fermen tationin
liquid substrates inat least three tubes in
three dilutions. Sub-culturing of the posi-
tive tubes ona con firmationmedium.
Count according to MPN (most probable
number). Incubation temperature 44 ºC
± 0.5 ºC.
45 Faecal strepto-
cocci/100 ml 2(2)
200 (7)— Culture at 37 ºC onanappropriate solid
medium (such as sodium azide) with filtra-
tion(2) or without filtration(7) and colony
count. Samples must be diluted or, where
appropriate, concentrated in such a way as
to contain between 10 and 100 colonies.Sterilized glass
2(2)
200 (7)— Method of dilutioninsodium azide broth in
at least three tubes with three dilutions.
Count according to MPN (most probable
number)
46 Salmonella (12) 1/5 000 ml
1/1 000 ml— Concentraion by filtration (on membrane or
appropriate filter).Sterilized glass
— Innoculation into pre-enrichment medium.
Enrichment and transfer into isolating
gelese — Identification.
(1) Surface water samples taken at the abstraction point are analysed and measured after sieving (wire mesh sieve) to remove any floating debris such as w ood or plastic.
(2) For waters of Category A1, G value.
(3) For waters of Categories A2 and A3.
(4) For waters of Category A3.
(5) For waters of Categories A1, A2, and A3, I value.
(6) For waters of Categories A2, I value and A3.
(7) For waters of Categories A2 and A3, G value.
(8) Mixture of six standard substances all of the same concentration to be taken into consideration: fluoranthene; 3,4 benzofluoranthene: 11, 12-benz ofluoranthene; 3, 4-
benzopyrene; 1, 12-benzoperylene; indano /1, 2, 3 - cd/pyrene.
(9) Mixture of three substances all of the same concentration to be taken into consideration: parathion, hexachlorocyclohexane, dieldrin.
(10) If the samples contain so much suspended matter as to require special preliminary treatment, the accuracy values shown in column E in this Annex may as anexception
be exceeded and will be regarded as a target. These samples must be treated so as to ensure that the analysis covers the largest quantity of substances to be measured.
(11) As this method is not in current use in all the Member States, it is not certain that the limit of detection required for checking the values in Directive 75/440/EEC canbe
attained.
(12) Absence in 5 000 ml (A1, G) and absence in 1 000 ml (A2, G).▼B1979L0869 — EN — 05.06.2003 — 002.001 — 12
ANNEX II
MinimumannualfrequencyofsamplingandanalysisforeachparameterinDirective 75/440/EEC
PopulationservedA1(*) A2 (*) A3(*)
I (**) II (**) III (**) I (**) II (**) III (**) I (**) II (**) III(**)
≤10000 (***) (***) (***) (***) (***) (***) (***)(1)
> 10000 to
≤300001 1 (***) 2 1 (***) 3 1 1
> 30000 to
≤1000002 1 (***) 4 2 1 6 2 1
> 100000 3 2 (***) 8 4 1 12 4 1
(*) Quality of surface waters, Annex II Directive 75/440/EEC.
(**) Classification of parameters according to frequency.
(***) Frequency to be determined by the competent national authorities.(
1) Assuming that such surface water is intended for the abstraction of drinking water, the Member States are recom-
mended to carry out at least annual sampling of this category of water (A3, III, ≤10 000).
CATEGORIES
I II III
Parameter Parameter Parameter
1 pH 10 Dissolved iron8 Fluorides
2 Coloration 11 Manganese 14 Boron
3 Total suspended solids 12 Copper 19 Arsenic
4 Temperature 13 Zinc 20 Cadmium
5 Conductivity 27 Sulphates 21 Total chromium
6 Odour 29 Surfactants 22 Lead
7 Nitrates 31 Phenols 23 Selenium
28 Chlorides 38 Nitrogenby Kjeldahl method 24 Mercury
30 Phosphates 43 Total coliforms 25 Barium▼B1979L0869 — EN — 05.06.2003 — 002.001 — 13
I II III
Parameter Parameter Parameter
35 Chemical oxygen demand (COD) 44 Faecal coliforms 26 Cyanide
36 Dissolved oxygensaturationrate 32 Dissolved or emulsified hydrocarbon s
37 Biochemical oxygendeman d (BOD5) 33 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
39 Ammonium 34 Total pesticides
40 Substances extractables with chloroform
45 Faecal streptococci
46 Salmonella▼B1979L0869 — EN — 05.06.2003 — 002.001 — 14