Explanatory note

These Regulations prescribe a system of classifying the quality of inland freshwaters, coastal waters and relevant territorial waters (as defined in regulation 2).

Regulation 3 and Schedules 1 to 7 create a system for classifying waters according to the presence in them of concentrations of the dangerous substances listed in the Schedules.

Sampling requirements are prescribed in regulation 4.

Regulation 5, by modifying section 4C of the Water Act (Northern Ireland) 1972, requires (and enables) the Department of the Environment to establish water quality objectives for those dangerous substances by applying the classifications prescribed in the Regulations. The Regulations, in requiring the establishment of water quality objectives for the dangerous substances listed in the Schedules, fulfil the requirements of Articles 3 and 7 of Council Directive 76/464/EEC in relation to the families and groups of substances within List I and List II respectively of that Directive.

Regulation 6 revokes the Pollution of Waters by Dangerous Substances Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1990 and the Pollution of Waters by Dangerous Substances (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992, which formerly imposed controls on discharges of substances within List I of that Directive.