S.L. 549.53 ст. 5Procedure for assessing groundwater chemical status.

(1) The Unit shall use the procedure mentioned in sub-

regulation (2) in order to assess the chemical status of a body of groundwater. The Unit shall establish that a body or a group of bodies of groundwater is considered to be of good chemical status when:

(a) the relevant monitoring demonstrates that the conditions set out in Table 2.3.2 of the Fifth Schedule of the Water Policy Framework Regulations are being satisfied; or

(b) the values for the groundwater quality standards listed in the First Schedule and the relevant threshold values established in accordance with regulation 4 and the Second Schedule 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 but an appropriate investigation in accordance with the Third Schedule confirms that:

(i) on the basis of the assessment referred to in paragraph 3 of the Third Schedule, 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 Table 2.3.2 in the Fifth Schedule of the Water Policy Framework

Regulations are being satisfied in accordance with paragraph 4 of the Third Schedule;

(iii) for bodies of groundwater identified in accordance with the Water Policy Framework Regulations, the requirements of such regulations are being satisfied in accordance with paragraph 4 of the Third Schedule;

(iv) the ability of the body of groundwater or of any of the bodies in the group of bodies of groundwater to support human uses has not been significantly impaired by pollution.

(2) The choice of the groundwater monitoring sites shall satisfy the requirements of Section 2.4 of the Fifth Schedule of the Water Policy Framework Regulations, on being designed so as to provide a coherent and comprehensive overview of groundwater chemical status and to provide representative monitoring data.

(3) The Unit shall publish a summary of the assessment of groundwater chemical status in the river basin management plans in accordance with the Water Policy Framework Regulations. Such summary, established at the level of the river basin district or the part of the international river basin district falling within the Maltese territory, 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.

(4) The Unit shall take such measures as may be necessary in accordance with the Water Policy Framework Regulations, to protect aquatic ecosystems, terrestrial ecosystems and human uses of groundwater dependent on the part of the body of groundwater represented by the monitoring point or points at which the value for a groundwater quality standard or the threshold value has been exceeded, where a body of groundwater is classified as being of good chemical status in accordance with subregulation (1)(c).