Pursuant to Article 92, paragraph (4) and paragraph (5) of the Law on waters
(OG 87/08, 6/09, 161/09, 83/10, 51/11, 44/12, 23/2013, 163/2013, ____/15 ),
the Government of the Republic of Macedonia adopted the
DECREE
On classification of groundwater bodies
I. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1
Subject matter
(1) This decree shall regulate:
-
-
Criteria, method and Procedure for assessing groundwater chemical
status,
Groundwater quality standards
Minimum list of pollutants and their indicators
Criteria, method and Procedure for establishing threshold values for
groundwater pollutants and indicators of pollution,
Criteria, method and Procedure for Identification of significant and
sustained upward trends and the definition of starting points for trend
reversals
Criteria for the classification of the quantitative status
Article 2
Purpose of the Decree
(1) This decree aims to prevent and control groundwater pollution, in order to
achieve the environmental objectives as defined in article 72 and 92 of the Law
on Waters (hereinafter the Law) for all the bodies of groundwater identified and
characterized in accordance with the methodology referred to in article 71, par. 3
of the Law.
(2) This decree also aims to:
1) avoid deterioration of their quantitative and chemical status of groundwater;
2) decrease the significant and long-term growing trend of concentration of
polluting material in waters resulting from human activities;
3) ensure a balance between the abstraction and recharging of groundwater, and
4) achieve good quantitative and chemical status of groundwater
Article 3
Definitions
The terms used in this Decree shall have the following meaning:
1. Groundwater: means all water, which is below the surface of the ground in
the saturated zone and in direct contact with the ground or subsoil
2. Aquifer: means a subsurface layer or layers of rock or other geological strata
of sufficient porosity and permeability to allow either a significant flow of
groundwater or the abstraction of significant quantities of groundwater
3. Body of groundwater: Body of groundwater means a distinct volume of
groundwater within an aquifer or aquifers
4. Groundwater status is the general expression of the status of a body of
groundwater, determined depending on whether it is in poorer quantitative or
chemical status in accordance to
5. Good groundwater chemical status is the chemical status which meets the
conditions for a body of groundwater identified in accordance to the criteria
for assessing the groundwater chemical status referred to in article 4 and
assessed in accordance to the procedure referred to in article 8 of this decree
6. Quantitative status of groundwater is an expression of the degree to
which a body of groundwater is affected by direct and indirect abstractions as
defined in Annex 5 integral part of this decree;
7. Good quantitative status is the status defined in Annex 5 integral part of
this decree
8. Groundwater quality standard shall mean an environmental quality
standard expressed as the concentration of a particular pollutant, group of
pollutants or indicator of pollution in groundwater, which should not be
exceeded in order to protect human health and the environment in
accordance to article 5 of this decree ;
9. Groundwater threshold value shall mean a groundwater quality standard
set in accordance to article 6 of this decree ;
10. Groundwater significant and sustained upward trend shall mean any
statistically and environmentally significant increase of concentration of a
pollutant, group of pollutants, or indicator of pollution in groundwater
identified in accordance to article 10 of this Decree for which trend reversal is
identified as being necessary in accordance to article 12 of this Decree,
11. Groundwater background level shall mean the concentration of a
substance or the value of an indicator referred to in Annex 4 of this Decree,
in a body of groundwater corresponding to no, or only very minor,
anthropogenic alterations to undisturbed conditions
12. Baseline level shall mean the average value measured at least during the
reference years on the basis of monitoring programs implemented under the
provisions of the Law, in the case of substances identified after these
reference years, during the first period for which a representative period of
monitoring data is available”
II. CRITERIA, PARAMETERS AND PROCEDURES FOR THE ASSESSMENT
OF THE QUANTITATIVE AND CHEMICAL STATUS OF
GROUNDWATER
Article 4
Criteria for assessing the groundwater chemical status
(1) The state administrative body responsible for carrying out the activities in the
field of environment shall assess the chemical status of a body or group of bodies
of groundwater by using the following criteria:
-
The groundwater quality standards and
The threshold values.
(2) Assessment of the chemical status shall be carried out using available
monitoring data collected during the period of ………
(3) The quality standards and the threshold values, as referred to in paragraph
(1) of this article, shall apply to the pollutants, groups of pollutants and indicators
of pollution which, have been identified within the territory of the Republic of
Macedonia, and listed in Annex 1 of this decree as contributing to the
characterisation of bodies or groups of bodies of groundwater in accordance with
art. 71 of the Law, and as being at risk not to achieve the environmental
objectives as defined in Article 72 and 92 of the Law.
(3) Where, for a given body of groundwater, it is considered that the groundwater
quality standards could result in failure to achieve the environmental objectives
specified in Article 72 and 92 of the Law for associated bodies of surface water, or
in any significant diminution of the ecological or chemical quality of such bodies,
or in any significant damage to terrestrial ecosystems which depend directly on
the body of groundwater, more stringent threshold values will be established in
accordance with Criteria for assessing the groundwater chemical status and of
Annex 2 on the which shall be considered an integral part of this decree.
(4) Groundwater chemical status provisions shall not apply to high naturallyoccurring levels of substances or ions or their indicators contained either in a
body of groundwater or in associated bodies of surface water, due to specific
hydro geological conditions, which are not covered by the definition of pollution.
(5) Groundwater chemical status provisions do not apply to temporary spatiallylimited changes in flow direction and chemical composition, which are not
regarded as intrusions
Article 5
Groundwater quantitative and quality standards
(1) The groundwater quality standards referred to in article 4 paragraph 1 of this
decree shall be determined on basis of:
-
parameters for the classification of quantitative status of the groundwater,
and
parameters for the determination of groundwater chemical status
(2) The groundwater level regime shall be the parameter adopted for the
classification of quantitative status of the groundwater as referred to in paragraph
1 line 1 of this article as defined in Annex 5 “Definition of quantitative status”
which shall be considered as an integral part of this decree.
Groundwater quantitative status. Parameter for the classification of quantitative
status:
- Groundwater level
Table 1. Definition of quantitative status of groundwater
Elements
Groundwater table
Good Condition
The groundwater level in the groundwater body is
such that the average rate of abstraction, Pr. year
over a long period of time does not exceed the
available groundwater resource.
Groundwater is not subject to anthropogenic
changes, which would result in:
- Failure to achieve the environmental objectives set
out under article XX of this Order for associated
surface waters for which a significant deterioration
of such waters which are directly dependent on the
groundwater body and changes in the flow direction
as a result of changes in the water table may occur
temporarily, or continuously in a spatially limited
area, but such reversals do not cause
saltwater/thermal/mineral or other penetrates, and
do not indicate a sustained and clearly defined trend
flow direction due to anthropogenic interference,
which can result in such intrusions.
(3) The parameters for the determination of groundwater chemical status as
referred to in paragraph 1 line 2 of this article shall be:
-
Conductivity
Concentrations of pollutants
(4) The groundwater body is considered to be of good status when:
1.
2.
3.
The conditions referred in Annex 2 have been met
No relevant threshold Values referred to in article 6, and identified in
Annex 4, or Groundwater quality standards referred to Annex 3 have been
exceeded at any monitoring point, or
A threshold Values referred to in article 6, and identified in Annex 4, or
Groundwater quality standards referred to Annex 3 has been exceeded at
one or more monitoring points but appropriate investigations in
accordance to article 8 and 9 of this decree confirm that :
a) Pollutant concentrations do not present a significant environmental
risk taking account, where appropriate, the extent of the
groundwater body which is affected;
b) Other conditions for good status of Annex 2 of this decree are met
c) No deterioration in quality of waters for human consumption
occurred in accordance with the Law on water safety; and
d) No significant impairment of human uses occurs.
Article 6
Threshold values
(1) The state administrative body responsible for carrying out the activities in the
field of environment shall establish threshold values for the pollutants, groups of
pollutants and indicators of pollution which, pursuant to the characterisation of
bodies or groups of bodies of groundwater performed in accordance with article
71 of the Law, have been identified as being at risk of failing to achieve the
environmental objectives as defined by the Law.
(2) Groundwater bodies considered not at risk to achieve environmental
objectives shall be classified as being of good status.
(3) The threshold values referred to in article 4 paragraph 1 of this decree
applicable to good chemical status, as defined in Annex 2 shall be based on the
protection of the body of groundwater in accordance with Article 7 having
particular regard to its impact on, and interrelationship with, associated surface
waters and directly dependent terrestrial ecosystems and wetlands and shall inter
alia take into account human toxicology and ecotoxicology knowledge
(4) The threshold values shall be established following the criteria manner and
procedure defined in Article 7 and 8 of this decree
(5) In case of groundwater abstracted for the purpose of human consumption,
the provisions related to the specific use of water regulated by Art. 97 of the Law
and the provisions of water are applicable.
(6) In case of transboundary water courses, threshold values shall be established
in accordance with the procedure identified in Article 10, par. 3 of the Law, on
“Management of transboundary river basin districts” for the first time by……..
All threshold values established, including a summary of the information on the
pollutants and their indicators for which threshold values have been identified,
shall be summarized in the river basin management plans to be submitted in
accordance with art. 66 par. 9 of the Law and related secondary legislation.
(7) The state administrative body responsible for carrying out the activities in the
field of environment shall amend the list of threshold values whenever new
information on pollutants, group of pollutants or indicators of pollution indicates
that a threshold value should be set for an additional substance, that an existing
threshold value should be amended, or that a threshold value previously removed
from the list should be re-inserted, in order to protect human health and
environment, taking into account the scientific and technical knowledge available
in the country
(8) Any changes to the list of threshold values shall be reported in the context of
the periodic review of the River Basin management plans.
Article 7
Manner, procedure and criteria for establishment of threshold values
(1) Threshold values shall be established on basis of monitoring data obtained in
accordance to the Law.
(2) The threshold values shall be at least the list established for substances which
are:
Substances or ions or indicators which may occur both naturally and/or as
a result of human activities
Man-made synthetic substances
Parameters indicative of saline or other intrusion
(3) Threshold values will be established in such a way that, should the monitoring
results at a representative monitoring point exceed the thresholds, this will
indicate a risk that one or more of the conditions for good groundwater chemical
status referred to in Article 8 (2)(c)(ii), (iii) and (iv) of this decree are not being
met.
(4) The determination of threshold values should be based on:
the extent of interactions between groundwater and associated aquatic
and dependent terrestrial ecosystems;
the interference with actual or potential legitimate uses or functions of
groundwater;
all pollutants which characterise bodies of groundwater as being at risk,
taking into account the minimum list set out in Annex 1 of this decree
hydro-geological characteristics including information on background levels
and water balance;
(5) When deriving threshold values, the state administrative body competent for
water management shall consider the following two criteria:
environmental criteria and/or
usage criteria and, or other legitimate uses of groundwater involving a
significant surface (or volume) of the groundwater body compared to the
whole surface (or volume) of the groundwater body.
(6) The determination of threshold values should also take account of the origins
of the pollutants, their possible natural occurrence, their toxicology and
dispersion tendency, their persistence and their bioaccumulation potential;
(7) Wherever elevated background levels of substances or ions or their indicators
occur due to natural hydro-geological reasons, these background levels in the
relevant body of groundwater shall be taken into account when establishing
threshold values
(8) The determination of threshold values shall be supported by a control
mechanism for the data collected, based on an evaluation of data quality,
analytical considerations, and background levels for substances which may occur
both naturally and as a result of human activities.
-
Article 8
Procedure for assessing the groundwater chemical status
(1) The state administrative body responsible for carrying out the activities in the
field of environment shall use the procedure described in paragraph (6) to assess
the chemical status of a body of groundwater.
(2) The procedure for assessing the chemical status of a body or a group of
bodies of groundwater will be carried out in relation to all bodies or groups of
bodies of groundwater characterized as being at risk and in relation to each of the
pollutants which contribute to the body or group of bodies of groundwater being
so characterised.
(3) Where appropriate the state administrative body responsible for carrying out
the activities in the field of environment may group bodies of groundwater taking
into account the data obtained by the monitoring program as defined by the Law
(4) In assessing status, the results of individual monitoring points within a
groundwater body shall be aggregated for the body as a whole.
(5) For those chemical parameters for which quality standards have been set in
Annex 3:
-
the mean value of the results of monitoring at each point in the
groundwater body or group of bodies shall be calculated; and
these mean values shall be used to demonstrate compliance with good
groundwater chemical status.
(6) In assessing status, the state administrative body competent for environment
shall take into account any other relevant information including a comparison of
the annual arithmetic mean concentration of the relevant pollutants at a
monitoring point with the groundwater quality standards and the threshold
values.
(7) A body or a group of bodies of groundwater shall be considered to be of good
chemical status when:
(a) it is in compliance the conditions set out in Annex 2 of this decree;
(b) the values for the groundwater quality standards listed in Annex 3 and
4, are not exceeded at any monitoring point in that body or group of
bodies of groundwater; or
(c) The value for a groundwater quality standard or threshold value is
exceeded at one or more monitoring points, representing not more than
the 20% of the whole area of the total volume of the water body
investigated, for one or more substances, and an appropriate investigation
in accordance with article 9 of this decree confirms that:
(i) on the basis of the assessment referred to in Article 9, the
concentrations of pollutants exceeding the groundwater quality
standards or threshold values are not considered to present a
significant environmental risk, taking into account, where appropriate,
the extent of the body of groundwater which is affected;
(ii) the other conditions for good groundwater chemical status set out in
Annex 2, are met;
(iii) bodies of groundwater used or to be used for the abstraction of
water intended for human consumption, which provide as an average
more than 10 m3 / day or serving more than 50 people, are subject to
a protection that prevents deterioration in their quality or an increase in
the level of treatment for water necessary to ensure the requirements
referred to regulations on the minimum values, standards and
parameters for of water intended for human consumption
(iv) the capacity of the body of groundwater or of any of the bodies in
the group if bodies of groundwater to support human uses has not been
significantly impaired by pollution.
(8) Groundwater bodies shall be monitored, choice of the groundwater monitoring
sites has to satisfy the requirements of the Law in order to provide a coherent
and comprehensive overview of groundwater chemical status and to provide
representative monitoring data.
(9) In cases referred to in paragraph 6 point c
(i) and (iv), the state
administrative bodies will estimate the extent of the groundwater body having an
annual arithmetic mean concentration of a pollutant higher than groundwater
quality standards or threshold values;
(10) In cases referred to in paragraph 6 point c (ii) and (iii), the state
administrative bodies will assess:
-
-
the impact of pollutants in the groundwater body
the amount and concentrations of pollutants being, or likely to be,
transferred from the groundwater body to the associated surface waters or
directly dependent terrestrial ecosystems, and the resulting likely impacts
the extent of any saline or other intrusions into the groundwater body
-
the risks from pollutants in the groundwater body to the quality of water
abstracted or intended to be abstracted for human consumption.
(11) A summary of the assessment of groundwater chemical status in the river
basin management plan shall publish, as prescribed by art. 66 par. 9 and 10 of
the Law.
(12) This summary, established at the level of the river basin district or part of
international river basin district falling within the territory of the RM, shall also
include an explanation as to the manner in which exceedances of groundwater
quality standards or threshold values at individual monitoring points have been
taken into account in the final assessment.
(13) If a body of groundwater is classified as being of good chemical status in
accordance with paragraph 2(c), pursuant to Article 73 of the Law, a program of
measures shall be adopted for each river basin area on the territory of the
Republic of Macedonia, determined in Article 7 of the Law, to protect aquatic
ecosystem, terrestrial ecosystem and human uses of groundwater represented by
the monitoring point or points at which the value for groundwater quality
standard or the threshold value has been exceeded.
(14) The groundwater chemical status of a body or a group of bodies of
groundwater shall be presented on maps in accordance with art. 66, par 10 and
related secondary legislation. All monitoring points where groundwater quality
standards and/or threshold values are exceeded, where relevant and feasible,
shall be added to the map.
Article 9
Investigations
(1) In undertaking any investigations referred to in Article 8(7)(c), the following
elements shall be taken into account:
(a) the information collected as part of the characterisation to be carried out
in accordance with the methodology defined in article 71 of the Law;
(b) the results of the groundwater monitoring network obtained in accordance
with the Law; and
(c) any other relevant information including a comparison of the annual
arithmetic mean concentration of the relevant pollutants at a monitoring
point with the groundwater quality standards set out in Annex 3 and the
threshold values set in accordance with Article 6 and identified in Annex 4.
(2) For the purposes of investigating whether the conditions for good
groundwater chemical status referred to in Article 8 (7)(c)(i) and (iv) are met,
the state administrative body shall, where relevant and necessary, and on the
basis of appropriate aggregations of the monitoring results, supported where
necessary by concentration estimations based on a conceptual model of the body
or group of bodies of groundwater, estimate the extent of the body of
groundwater having an annual arithmetic mean concentration of a pollutant
higher than a groundwater quality standard or a threshold value.
(3) For the purposes of investigating whether the conditions for good
groundwater chemical status referred to in Article 8 (7)(c)(ii) and (iii) are met,
the state administrative body shall, where relevant and necessary, and on the
basis of relevant monitoring results and of a suitable conceptual model of the
body of groundwater, assess:
(a) the impact of the pollutants in the body of groundwater;
(b) the amounts and the concentrations of the pollutants being, or likely to
be, transferred from the body of groundwater to the associated surface waters
or directly dependent terrestrial ecosystems;
(c) the likely impact of the amounts and concentrations of the pollutants
transferred to the associated surface waters and directly dependent terrestrial
ecosystems;
(d) the extent of any saline or other intrusions into the body of groundwater;
and
(e) the risk from pollutants in the body of groundwater to the quality of water
abstracted, or intended to be abstracted, from the body of groundwater for
human consumption.
III. THE DETERMINATION OF THE REVERSAL OF SIGNIFICANT AND
SUSTAINED UPWARD TRENDS AND THE DEFINITION OF STARTING
POINTS FOR TREND REVERSALS,
Article 10
Identification of significant and sustained upward trends and the
definition of starting points for trend reversals
(1) The state administrative body responsible for water management, shall
identify any significant and sustained upward trend in concentrations of
pollutants, group of pollutants or indicators of pollution found in bodies or groups
of bodies of groundwater identified as being at risk in accordance with art. 71 of
the Law and define the starting point for reversing that trend, in accordance with
the procedure described in article 11 and 12 of this decree.
(2) Upward trends in concentration of pollutants which present a significant risk
of harm to the quality of aquatic ecosystems or terrestrial ecosystems, to human
health, or to actual or potential legitimate uses of the water environment shall be
reversed, through the definition of an adequate programme of measures as
referred to in article 73 of the Law, and related secondary legislation, in order to
progressively reduce pollution and prevent deterioration of groundwater.
(3) The starting point for trend reversal shall be considered as a percentage of
the level of the groundwater quality standards set out in Annex 3 and of the
threshold values established pursuant to Article 6, on the basis of the identified
trend and the environmental risk associated therewith, in accordance with article
12 of this decree.
(4) Pursuant to article 66 of the Law the following information shall be
summarized in the river basin management plans:
(a) the way in which the trend assessment from individual monitoring points
within a body or group of bodies of groundwater has contributed to identifying, in
accordance with article 66, par. 10 and related subsidiary legislation adopted on
presentation of groundwater status
(b) the reason of the starting point defined pursuant to par. 3 of this article.
(5) Where necessary to assess the impact of existing plumes of pollution in
bodies of groundwater that may threaten the achievement of the objectives in
art. 72 and 92 of the Law, and, in particular, those plumes resulting from point
sources and contaminated land, the state administrative body responsible for
carrying out the activities in the field of environment/ water management shall
carry out additional trend assessment for identified pollutants in order to verify
that plumes from contaminated sites do not expand, do not deteriorate the
chemical status of the body or group of bodies of groundwater, and do not
present a risk of human health and environment. The results of these assessment
shall be summarized in the river basin management plans pursuant to art. 66 of
the Law.
Article 11
Procedure for the identification of significant and sustained upward
trends and the definition of starting points for trend reversals
(1) The state administrative body responsible for water management, shall
identify any significant and sustained upward trend in concentrations of
pollutants, group of pollutants or indicators of pollution found in bodies or groups
of bodies of groundwater identified as being at risk in accordance with art. 71 of
the Law taking into account the following requirements:
1) The monitoring program shall be designed to detect any significant and
sustained upward trends in concentrations of pollutants identified pursuant to
article 4 of this decree;
2) The procedure for the identification of significant and sustained upward trends
will be based on the following elements
(a) monitoring frequencies and monitoring locations will be selected such as
are sufficient to:
(i) provide the information necessary to ensure that such upward trends can
be distinguished from natural variation with an adequate level of confidence
and precision;
(ii) enable such upward trends to be identified in sufficient time to allow
measures to be implemented in order to prevent, or at least mitigate as far
as practicable, environmentally significant detrimental changes in
groundwater quality. This identification will be carried out for the first time
by ….., if possible, and will take into account existing data, in the context of
the report on trend identification within the first river basin management
plan referred to in Article 66 of the Law, and at least every six years
thereafter;
(iii) take into account the physical and chemical temporal characteristics of
the body of groundwater, including groundwater flow conditions and
recharge rates and percolation time through soil or subsoil;
(b) the methods of monitoring and analysis used will conform to international
quality control principles, including, if relevant, CEN or national standardized
methods, to ensure equivalent scientific quality and comparability of the data
provided;
(c) the assessment will be based on a statistical method, such as regression
analysis, for trend analysis in time series of individual monitoring points;
(d) in order to avoid bias in trend identification, all measurements below the
quantification limit will be set to half of the value of the highest quantification
limit occurring in time series, except for total pesticides;
3) the identification of significant and sustained upward trends in the
concentrations of substances which occur both naturally and as a result of
human activities will consider the baseline levels and, where such data are
available, the data collected before the start of the monitoring program in
order to report on trend identification within the first river basin management
plan referred to in Article 66 of the Law.
Article 12
Criteria for the identification of starting points and trend reversal
(1) The reverse significant and sustained upward trends shall be identified, in
accordance with Article 10, taking into account the following requirements:
1) the starting point for implementing measures to reverse significant and
sustained upward trends will be when the concentration of the pollutant
reaches 75% of the parametric values of the groundwater quality standards
set out pursuant to Annex 3 and of the threshold values established
pursuant to Article 6 of this decree, unless:
(a) an earlier starting point is required to enable trend reversal measures to
prevent most cost-effectively, or at least mitigate as far as possible, any
environmentally significant detrimental changes in groundwater quality;
(b) a different starting point is justified where the detection limit does not
allow for establishing the presence of a trend at 75 % of the parametric
values; or
(c) the rate of increase and the reversibility of the trend are such that a
later starting point for trend reversal measures would still enable such
measures to prevent most cost-effectively, or at least mitigate as far as
possible, any environmentally significant detrimental changes in
groundwater quality. Such later starting point may not lead to any delay in
achieving the deadline for the environmental objectives.
(2) For activities falling within the scope of article 102 of the law on the nitrate
sensitive zones, the starting point for implementing measures to reverse
significant and sustained upward trends will be established in accordance with the
Law and, in particular, adhering to environmental objectives for water protection
as set out in Article 72 and 92 of the Law
2) once a starting point has been established for a body of groundwater
characterized as being at risk in accordance with article 71 of the Law and
pursuant to point 1 above, it will not be changed during the six-year cycle
of the river basin management plan required in accordance with 66 of the
Law;
3) trend reversals will be demonstrated, taking into account relevant
monitoring provisions contained in article 11, point 2
Article 13
Transitional provisions
……….
Article 14
Financial provisions
………..
Article 15
Entry into force
………….
ANNEX 1 – Indicative list of pollutants
1. Substances or ions or indicators which may occur both naturally and/or as a
result of human activities
1.
Arsenic
Cadmium
Lead
Mercury
Ammonium
Chloride Sulphate
Man-made synthetic substances
-
Trichloroethylene
Tetrachloroethylene
2. Parameters indicative of saline or other intrusions
Conductivity
With regard to saline concentrations resulting from human activities,
MoEPP may decide to establish threshold values either for sulphate and
chloride or for conductivity
ANNEX 2 – Definition of good groundwater chemical status
ELEMENT
General
Conductivity
Good Status
The chemical composition of the groundwater body is
such that the concentrations of pollutants:
- do not exhibit the effects of saline or other intrusions
- do not exceed the quality standards regulated in Table
2 and threshold values of Table 3 of this Annex if
applicable and
- are not such as would result in failure to achieve the
environmental objectives specified under Article 72 and
92 for associated surface waters nor any significant
diminution of the ecological or chemical quality of such
bodies nor in any significant damage to terrestrial
ecosystems which depend directly on the groundwater
body
Changes in conductivity are not indicative of saline or
other intrusion into the groundwater body
ANNEX 3 - Groundwater quality standard
Table 1
Pollutant
Quality standards
Nitrates
50mg/l
Active substances in pesticides
0,1 μg/l
including their relevant metabolites,
0,5 μg/l (total) (2)
1
degradation and reaction products ( )
(1) ‘Pesticides’ means plant protection products and biocidal products as defined in Law on
plant protection products „Official Journal of Republic of Macedonia “, No. 110/2007;
20/2009; 17/2011 и 53/2011and the Law on chemicals „Official Journal of Republic of
Macedonia “, No. 145/2010, 53/2011
(2) ‘Total’ means the sum of all individual pesticides detected and quantified in the
monitoring procedure, including their relevant metabolites, degradation and reaction
products.
The results of the application of the quality standards for pesticides in the manner
specified for the purposes of this decree will be without prejudice to the results of the risk
assessment procedures required by the Law on plant protection products „Official Journal
of Republic of Macedonia “, No. 110/2007; 20/2009; 17/2011 и 53/2011and the Law on
chemicals „Official Journal of Republic of Macedonia “, No. 145/2010, 53/2011
Programmes and measures required in relation to such a threshold value will also apply to
activities falling within the scope of article 102 of the Law.
Table 2 - Quantitative Status
Elements
Groundwater level
Good status
The level of groundwater in the groundwater
body is such that the available groundwater
resource is not exceeded by the long-term
annual average rate of abstraction.
Accordingly, the level of groundwater is not
subject to anthropogenic alterations such as
would result in:
failure to
achieve
the
environmental
objectives specified under Article 72 and 92
of the Law for associated surface waters
any significant diminution in the status of
such waters
any significant damage to terrestrial
ecosystems which depend directly on the
groundwater body, and alterations to flow
direction resulting from level changes may
occur temporarily, or continuously in a
spatially limited area, but such reversals do
not cause saltwater or other intrusion, and
do not indicate a sustained and clearly
identified anthropogenically induced trend in
flow direction likely to result in such
intrusions.
ANNEX 4 – Threshold values to be considered pursuant to Art. 4, par. 2 of
this decree1
1
All 10 pollutants/indicators listed in Annex II of the GWD are most commonly reported (some Member States established
threshold values for the sum of trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene and some Member States established additional TVs
for ammonium expressed in nitrogen). The following Table 1 lists the 13 pollutants/indicators which were reported by at least
10 Member States. Table 1, list the Pollutants/indicators for which at least 10 Member States have established threshold
values, including the range of threshold values.
Substance
/Indicator
Grou
p of
subst
ances
Nu
mb
er
of
Me
mb
er
Sta
tes
Range of
threshold
values
adopted
by MS
Fro To
m
Unit
Chloride
Anne
x II
22
24
mg/l
Arsenic
Anne
x II
21
0,7
5
12,
30
0
18
9
Sulphate
Anne
x II
21
4,2
00
mg/l
Ammoniu
m
Lead
21
52
Conductivi
ty
Anne
x II
Anne
x II
Anne
x II
Anne
x II
Anne
x II
12
9,7
5
0,0
84
5
Nickel
Copper
Metal
Metal
11
10
Tetrachlor
oethylene
Trichloroet
hylene
Sum of
Trichloroet
hylene and
Tetrachlor
oethylene
Nitrites***
Anne
x II
Anne
x II
Anne
x II
Draft
Anne
x II
Draft
Anne
x II
Cadmium
Mercury
Total
Phosphate
***
Indic
ators
ex
Decr
ee
1999
for
Class
I and
II
and
Unit
--
Rulebook
on water
safety
(OG
46/2008)
Range of
threshold
values
adopted
by MK
Threshold
values μg/l
(interactio
n with
surface
waters)**
--
??
??
10 μg/l
10 μg/l
??
μg/l
--
250 mg/l
250 mg/l
??
mg/l
1
0,50 mg/l
0,50 mg/l
??
32
0
27
μg/l
10
10
10
??
μg/l
5,0
0,1 μg/l
??
1
μg/l
0,1
μg/l
0,2
1,0 μg/l
0,2
??
10,
48
0
μS/cm
--
? 1000
μS/cm-1
pri 20°C
??
60
20
00
50
μg/l
μg/l
50
10
50
10
??
??
10
10
10,
1
1,1
μg/l
2
Electrocon
ductivity
1000
μS/cm-1
pri 20°C
20 μg/l
2000
μg/l*
--
2
??
10
1,5
50
μg/l
20
--
20
??
10
5
40
μg/l
??
??
??
--
--
--
10
0.05
--
--
--
20
0.2
20
19
18
14
0,0
8
0,0
3
48
5
μg/l
g/l
* Measures at the tap, thus after purification of the abstracted water.
**Relationship between TVs and environmental (EQ) objectives and other
standards
***D031851/01 Draft amendments to Annex 2 to the Directive 2006/118/EC of
the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of groundwater
against pollution and deterioration proposes to add Nitrites and Phosphate to the
list of pollutants and define the related threshold values
In case of interaction with surface water bodies the TVs established correspond to
the EQS included in the "EQS Directive" 2008/105/EC for surface water bodies
Relationship between threshold values and background levels for naturally
occurring substances
In groundwater bodies where the presence of naturally occurring substances
(metals and other parameters) is scientifically proven with background levels
higher than the relevant threshold values established in Annex 4, such
background levels represent the threshold values to be taken into account for the
definition of the good chemical status.
When threshold values for pesticides is established, these values shall be applied
instead of quality standard defined in Annex 3.
The threshold values of metals were determined for dissolved fraction, to be
considered as obtained by filtration through a 0.45 μm filter or any equivalent
pre-treatment.
For all the other parameters the threshold values is referred to the total
concentration in the water sample.