S.L. 549.53 Art. 4Criteria for assessing groundwater chemical status.

(1) The following criteria shall be used for the purposes of the assessment of the chemical status of a body or a group of bodies of groundwater:

(a) groundwater quality standards as referred to in the

First Schedule;

(b) threshold values to be established by the Unit in accordance with the procedure set out in Part A of the Second Schedule for the pollutants, groups of pollutants and indicators of pollution which, within the Maltese territory, have been identified as contributing to the characterisation of bodies or groups of bodies of groundwater as being at risk, taking into account the list contained in Part B of the Second Schedule.

(2) The threshold values applicable to good chemical status shall be based on the protection of the body of groundwater in accordance with points 1, 2 and 3 of Part A of the Second Schedule, having particular regard to its impact on, and inter-relationship with, associated surface waters and directly dependent terrestrial ecosystems and wetlands and shall inter alia take into account human toxicology and ecotoxicology knowledge.

(3) The Unit shall establish and publish threshold values in the river basin management plans to be submitted in accordance with the Water Policy Framework Regulations, which shall include a summary of the information set out in Part C of the Second Schedule.

(4) The Unit, shall where it deems necessary, amend the list of threshold values whenever new information on pollutants, groups 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 the environment. Any such amendments to the list of threshold values shall be reported in the context of the periodic review of the river basin management plans.