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Implementing the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003: Development of environmental standards and conditions limits - phase II: A Consultation

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ANNEX 1: SURFACE WATER QUALITY - PROPOSED STANDARDS FOR TEMPERATURE IN RIVERS

1. SEPA shall classify any river or part thereof designated as a cyprinid water under Directive 2006/44/EC as being of the Type "cyprinid" for the purpose of determining which of the standards for temperature specified in Table A below apply.

2. SEPA shall classify all rivers or parts thereof not classified as being of the Type "cyprinid" in accordance with paragraph 1 above as being of the Type "non-cyprinid" for the purpose of determining which of the standards for temperature specified in Table A apply.

3. Once SEPA has classified, in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 above, a river or part thereof as being of a Type specified in Row 2 of Table A below, it shall apply to that river or part, as applicable and subject to paragraph 4 below, the "high", "good", "moderate" or "poor" temperature standards specified in Row 3; Columns 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively, and the "high" and "good" temperature standards specified in Row 4; Columns 2 and 3, respectively, of that Table.

Table A: Temperature standards for rivers

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Column 4

Column 5

Row 1

High

Good

Moderate

Poor

Row 2

River temperature type

Non-cyprinid

Cyprinid

Non-cyprinid

Cyprinid

Non-cyprinid

Cyprinid

Non-cyprinid

Cyprinid

Row 3

River temperature (°C) as an annual 98-percentile standard

20

25

23

28

28

30

30

32

Row 4

Increase or decrease in temperature (°C) in relation to the ambient river temperature, as an annual 98-percentile standard

2

2

3

3

-

-

-

-

Note to Table A

The standards specified for temperature in Row 4; Columns 2 and 3 of Table A shall not be used for the purpose of classifying the status of bodies of surface water.

New definitions:

"Ambient river temperature" means the river temperature in degrees centigrade of a river or part thereof in the absence of any discharge or artificial recharge that would affect the river temperature of that river or part thereof.

"98-percentile standard" means a standard that is failed if the environmental quality metric to which the standard applies is greater than the standard for 2 % or more of the time.

"Environmental quality metric" means the concentration of a substance; the pH of water; the temperature of water; or a change in temperature in relation to ambient river temperature.

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Page updated: Thursday, June 26, 2008