The Surface Waters (Fishlife) (Classification) Regulations 1997

Regulations 2, 3 and 4

SCHEDULE

PART I CRITERIA FOR CLASSIFICATION OF WATERS AS SALMONID AND CYPRINID WATERS

No. in Annex I to 78/659/EEC	Parameter	Requirements to be satisfied for salmonid waters	Requirements to be satisfied for cyprinid waters	Methods of analysis or inspection	Minimum sampling and measuring frequency	Observations
1	Temperature (°C)	1.  Temperature measured downstream of a point of thermal discharge (at the edge of a mixing zone) must not exceed the unaffected temperature by more than 1.5°C for salmonid waters and 3°C for cyprinid waters Derogations limited in geographical scope may be decided by the Environment Agency if the Agency can show that there are no harmful consequences for the balanced development of the fish population 2.  Thermal discharges must not cause the temperature downstream of the point of thermal discharge (at the edge of the mixing zone) to exceed— (a) 10°C (0) during the breeding season in the case of waters which contain species which need cold water for reproduction; (b) at other times or in the case of waters which do not contain such species, 21.5°C (0) for salmonid waters and 28°C (0) for cyprinid waters Temperature limits may, however, be exceeded for 2% of the time		Thermometry	Weekly, both upstream and downstream of the point of thermal discharge	Over-sudden variations in temperature must be avoided
2	Dissolved oxygen (mg/l O2)	50%>=9 When the oxygen concentration falls below 6 mg/l, the Environment Agency shall comply with regulation 4(6) and the Agency must prove that this situation will have no harmful consequences for the balanced development of the fish population	50%>=7 When the oxygen concentration falls below 4 mg/l, the Environment Agency shall comply with regulation 4(6) and the Agency must prove that this situation will have no harmful consequences for the balanced development of the fish population	Winkler’s method or specific electrodes (electro-chemical method)	Monthly,minimum one sample representative of low oxygen conditions on the day of sampling However, where major daily variations are suspected, a minimum of two samples in one day shall be taken
3	pH	6 to 9 (0) Artificial pH variations with respect to the unaffected values shall not exceed ±0.5 of a pH unit within the limits falling between 6 and 9 provided that these variations do not increase the harmfulness of other substances present in the water		Electrometry calibration by means of two solutions with known pH values, preferably on either side of, and close to the pH being measured	Monthly
8	Phenolic compounds (mg/l C6 H5 OH)	Phenolic compounds must not be present in such concentrations that they adversely affect fish flavour		By taste		An examination by taste shall be made only where the presence of phenolic compounds is presumed
9	Petroleum hydrocarbons	Petroleum products must not be present in the water in such quantities that they— (a) form a visible film on the surface of the water or form coatings on the beds of water-courses and lakes; (b) impart a detectable “hydrocarbon” taste to fish; (c) produce harmful effects on fish.		Visual and by taste	Monthly	A visual examination shall be made regularly once a month, with an examination by taste only where the presence of hydrocarbons is presumed
10	Non-ionised ammonia (mg/l NH3)	<=0.025		Molecular absorption spectrophotometry using indophenol blue or Nessler’s method associated with pH and temperature determination	Monthly	Values for non-ionised ammonia may be exceeded in the form of minor peaks in the daytime
11	Total ammonium (mg/l NH4)	In order to diminish the risk of toxicity due to non-ionised ammonia, of oxygen consumption due to nitrification and of eutrophication, the concentrations of total ammonium should not exceed 1 mg/l In particular geographical or climatic conditions and particularly in cases of low water temperature and of reduced nitrification or where the Environment Agency can show that there are no harmful consequences for the balanced development of the fish population, the Agency may fix a value higher than 1 mg/l		Molecular absorption spectrophotometry using indophenol blue or Nessler’s method associated with pH and temperature determination	Monthly
12	Total residual chlorine (mg/l Zn)	<=0.005		DPD-method (diethyl-p-phenylenediamene)	Monthly	The value corresponds to pH = 6 Higher concentrations of total chlorine can be accepted if the pH is higher
13	Total Zinc (mg/l Zn)	<=0.3	<=1.0	Atomic absorption spectrometry	Monthly	The values correspond to a water hardness of 100 mg/l CaCO3 For hardness levels between 10 and 500 mg/l corresponding limit values can be found in the Table in Part II of this Schedule

PART II ZINC CONCENTRATIONS (mg/l Zn) FOR DIFFERENT WATER HARDNESS VALUES BETWEEN 10 AND 500 mg/l CaCO₃

Classification of waters	Water hardness (mg/l CaCO3)
	10	50	100	500
Salmonid waters (mg/l Zn)	0.03	0.2	0.3	0.5
Cyprinid waters (mg/l Zn)	0.3	0.7	1.0	2.0