# Directive 2008/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on environmental quality standards in the field of water policy, amending and subsequently repealing Council Directives 82/176/EEC, 83/513/EEC, 84/156/EEC, 84/491/EEC, 86/280/EEC and amending Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Division 3

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

The water EQS laid down in this Annex are expressed as total concentrations in the whole water sample.
By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, in the case of cadmium, lead, mercury and nickel (hereinafter ‘ metals ’ ), the water EQS refer to the dissolved concentration, i.e. the dissolved phase of a water sample obtained by filtration through a 0,45 μm filter or any equivalent pre-treatment, or, where specifically indicated, to the bioavailable concentration.
Member States may, when assessing the monitoring results against the relevant EQS, take into account:
(a) natural background concentrations for metals and their compounds where such concentrations prevent compliance with the relevant EQS;
(b) hardness, pH, dissolved organic carbon or other water quality parameters that affect the bioavailability of metals, the bioavailable concentrations being determined using appropriate bioavailability modelling.

---
Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudr/2008/105/annex/I/part/B/division/3 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-directive-2008-105/annex-I/part-B/division-3
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.