Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

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abcdefgh
Legal obligations for
Dutch national water
quality monitoring
20 december 2004

abcdefgh
Legal obligations for
Dutch national water
quality monitoring
20 december 2004
Auteurs: J.G. Timmerman
A. Houben
J.M. van Steenwijk
M. van der Weijden
RIZA werkdocument nr.: RIZA/2004.131X

Content
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Summary 4
1 Introduction 5
1.1 Developments in the Dutch water quality 5
1.2 Dutch national monitoring 5
1.3 Evaluation of the monitoring network 7
1.4 Purpose of this document 9
2 Legal obligations and parameters measured 10
2.1 Prevailing water law 10
2.2 International agreements 11
2.3 Results of the study 11
2.4 Justification of the data used. 21
3 Conclusions 22
4 References 23
Annex: Listings of parameters in several EC directives 26
3 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

Summary
This document provides an overview of a study into the parameters
measured in the Dutch national water quality monitoring network
between 1952 and 2001. The legal monitoring obligations over this
period are compared to the realisation in terms of parameters to
determine if the Dutch monitoring network can be labelled ‘data-rich’
in terms of measuring parameters that are not legally required.
From this study it is concluded that the parameters measured can
almost entirely be attributed to the legal requirements. The monitoring
network is not ‘data-rich’ from this perspective.
4 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

1 Introduction
1.1 Developments in the Dutch water quality
The fast developments in urbanisation and industry after the second
world war in Western-Europe has led to remarkable deterioration of the
quality of surface waters. New industrial processes increased the
standard of living but also led to new streams of wastewater of less
favourable composition. The deterioration of the quality of the surface
waters was especially apparent in the river Rhine; the load of inorganic
and organic waste increased remarkably in the 1950’s and 1960’s (RIZA
1965). The pollution situation of the river Rhine was at its worst in
1971 when the water lacked oxygen in the downstream sections and
aquatic life was disappearing. Figure 1 shows the oxygen situation from
1952 to 1998 in the river Rhine at the monitoring station Lobith, where
the river enters the Netherlands. A similar pattern can be found in most
of the Dutch national water bodies. This bad situation urged the
countries riparian to the river Rhine to take action leading to an
improved water quality after 1971 (Huisman 1996). For several
substances like copper and zinc but also nitrogen and phosphorous,
concentrations in water are however still above the norms.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Figure 1
Mean annual values of Oxygen
concentration and BOD
(Biological Oxygen Demand) at
Lobith (BOD5a is oxygen
demand over 5 days with
allylthio-ureum, BOD5a
measurements stopped after
1992, BOD5 measurements
stopped after 1999)
1.2 Dutch national monitoring
The Netherlands has a very long history of water management. The
first dikes and dams were built in this country more than 2000 years
ago. Many dikes and other water works followed such as the dams in
the rivers Amstel and Rotte, where settlements were located that are
currently known as the two largest towns of the Netherlands
(Amsterdam and Rotterdam respectively). Land-reclamation and
construction of polders have led to a situation where large parts of the
country are below sea-level, with the lowest point at -6.7 meters.
These developments, together with a dense population and fast growth
5 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

of economic interests, make water management to become ever more
important.
The Directorate-General of Public Works and Water Management
(Rijkswaterstaat) within the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and
Water Management is responsible for management of the national
waters in the Netherlands. The Rijkswaterstaat organisation is divided
into three groups. There are the regional departments that are
responsible for implementation programs relating to the management,
construction and maintenance of highways and waterways, the
specialist services that have the main task of developing and applying
specialist knowledge for management and policy, and the headquarter
that has the overall responsibility.
Before the 1960’s, surface water quality research in the Netherlands
was done in the margin of the studies for treatment of effluents of
waste-water in case of local problems, usually emissions of municipal or
industrial waste water that had negative effects on other interests like
supply of drinking water, agricultural use or fisheries (Rijkswaterstaat
1967). Therefore in the 1950’s and early 1960’s, much effort was put
into wastewater treatment in which the Institute for Water
Management and Waste Water Treatment (RIZA) had an advisory role.
More or less systematic studies into the water quality of the Dutch
national waters are conducted in the river Meuse since 1950. The river
Rhine is under regular study from 1953 within the framework of the
International Commission for the protection of the Rhine, while the
Dutch estuary (Nieuwe Maas - Nieuwe Waterweg) is monitored from
1961 onwards. During the 1960’s a growing awareness of the value of
routine monitoring to keep track of the quality of the surface waters
can be observed. On different government levels monitoring initiatives
developed. Several Rijkswaterstaat divisions like the Delta Department,
the Department of Hydrology and Regional Rijkswaterstaat
Departments, but also the National Institute for Human Health and the
National Institute for Drinking Water (both under the Ministry of Public
Health and Environmental Management) performed water quality
monitoring. The water quality monitoring RIZA already performed
related to the IRC was supplemented with monitoring for national
water management reasons. As of 1965, several existing regular studies
were integrated into one routine monitoring program, which was
coordinated by RIZA. At first this program comprised the existing
sampling locations. Later on, the monitoring network was evenly
divided over the large rivers. In 1969, the Law on Pollution of Surface
Waters (WVO) comes into force. Permits for industrial emissions on the
national surface waters will be responsibility of the Ministry of
Transport, Public Works and Water Management. From 1971 onwards,
RIZA will co-ordinate all the national water quality monitoring (RIZA
1971).
To date, the measurements are performed within a programme for the
maintenance of a baseline set of information about hydro-
morphological, chemical and ecological characteristics called ‘basic
6 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

information’. Collection of this 'basic information' is a task of
Rijkswaterstaat and is performed jointly by RIZA and the Institute for
Marine and Coastal Zone Management (RIKZ).
1.3 Evaluation of the monitoring network
The initial monitoring network was set up to address the evident
problems in the river Rhine like the oxygen situation. Over the years,
the network design, that is the exact monitoring locations, choice of
parameters, and sampling frequencies, is determined each year and put
down in a monitoring schedule. Such schedules are usually based on
the preceding years and include only minor changes. However, over
time the changes with regard to the original plan may be extensive.
Regular evaluation of the network is therefore necessary to determine if
the network still satisfies the information needs and to conclude if the
monitoring strategy is still valid, taken that new technological
developments may lead to more efficient data collection. The
optimisation and evaluation studies to improve the monitoring
networks that were carried out after 1952 will be described below.
In 1965 the available data from the monitoring network were
evaluated. The study was done by RIZA and comprised an analysis of
the available data. The major problems; eutrophication and organic
pollution were the basis for the analysis. Two conclusions were drawn
(RIZA 1966):
• The results of the analyses of the same parameter from subsequent
monitoring locations in rivers showed high correlations. Some of
these locations could therefore be deleted.
• A sampling frequency of once per two weeks was enough to get a
good impression of the overall water quality.
The analysis was not explicitly based on a specification of information
needs but was done on a technical/scientific basis where the experts
had determined the parameters. The parameters that were measured
were considered relevant and a statistical optimisation of the network
was carried out.
Between 1978 and 1981, a study was done to optimise and structure
the existing water quality monitoring programme (OSTWAT). On the
basis of the available knowledge on water quality, the monitoring
programme was evaluated. The study was done by RIZA in cooperation
with Delft Hydraulics. The most important events to start this study
were (Schilperoort 1979):
• The introduction of surface water directives of the European
Community on production of drinking water, bathing and fisheries;
• The changes in the national law on surface water pollution; and
• The development of a national automatic hydrologic information
system.
The study comprised a statistical analysis of the number and location of
sampling points, the laboratory analysis programme and the sampling
frequencies, aiming at developing a statistical optimisation
methodology. The study also accounted for the new legislation that
had been put in place. An important conclusion was that a higher
7 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

sampling frequency would only marginally improve the possibilities for
trend detection, which was the goal of the monitoring network.
Another conclusion was that a monitoring network with few locations
and a high sampling frequency would yield more information than a
network with much locations and a low frequency (Groot 1981). As a
result, the number of monitoring locations was substantially reduced
and the included parameters were better structured (RIZA 1983). At the
same time, a method was developed to further analyse and optimise
the sampling frequencies (Schilperoort and others 1982). Again there
was no explicit specification of information needs but an expert-based
set of parameters.
Since new water quality plans were made, legislation changed (a new
Dutch directive came into force in 1984)(Anonymous 1983), and a new
water management policy document was drafted (Anonymous 1985), a
revision of the monitoring programme was done in 1984. As a result,
some monitoring locations were deleted and the set of parameters was
revised (Cappon 1984). The information needs in this exercise were
determined on a regulatory/standard-driven basis by including those
parameters for which standards were included in the policy document
and the relevant legal act.
After 40 years of monitoring and after publication of the 3rd National
Policy Document on Water (NW3) in 1991 (Anonymous 1991), in 1991
and 1992 an extensive study was carried out to evaluate, optimise and
adapt the existing national inland water quality monitoring network.
NW3 contained large lists of environmental quality standards. Limiting
regular measuring as described in NW3 could be achieved in two ways:
• Measuring surface water should be focused more on variation in
time and less in variation in space; and
• Measuring of the sediment in the waterbed to be focused on
variation in space and less on variation in time.
Next to statistical analyses and testing against monitoring objectives
and legislation, much attention was paid to information needs. The
relevance of the parameters was judged on the basis of toxicological
information, production and use of substances and existent monitoring
data. The parameters were also judged on a regulatory/standard driven
basis by looking at the lists of quality standards in policy documents
(Anonymous 1990). Additionally, other reasons like recent calamities or
other political reasons, will make parameters relevant for water
management and therefore for including in the monitoring network
(Breukel and others 1995; Breukel and Schäfer 1991). The study
comprised three goals:
• To effectively meet the information needs;
• To use the available capacity and resources in an efficient way; and
• To raise the quality of information.
Evaluation was done on the basis of the information needs as described
above and through a statistical analysis focusing on parameters,
measuring frequencies, density of the network, and the
representativeness of the locations. It was concluded that the low
sampling frequencies at many monitoring locations was not suitable for
detection of significant trends. The result of the study was a large
8 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

reduction in monitoring locations and a radical change in choice of
parameters (Adriaanse 1992). Major results of the study were:
• The number of locations was reduced to 26;
• The choice of parameters was tuned to the information needs;
• Generally, the measuring frequency had to be raised;
• More intensive monitoring of the chemical quality of suspended
solids was needed.
A revision of the 1992 study was done in 1996, and was effectuated in
1998 (Hesen and others 1998). The study took the same starting points
as for the 1992 study, looking at legal obligations, relevance and
statistical uncertainty. The information needs were determined on a
regulatory/standard-driven basis by looking at the national and
international policy documents. Next to that, several Rijkswaterstaat
employees as users of the information were interviewed (Hesen and
others 1998). The study has led to some changes in the choice of
parameters. Because of the limitations in the available budget, the
recommendations from the study have only been implemented
partially.
1.4 Purpose of this document
In 1986, the 'data-rich but information-poor syndrome' was introduced
(1986). The expression ‘data-rich’ in this syndrome entails a notion of
superfluous data; the data that are produced are not really required.
‘Information-poor’ on the other hand brings about the idea that more
information is expected than is provided. The data-rich but
information-poor syndrome therefore describes a situation where too
much data are produced and too little information is provided.
Monitoring networks suffering from this syndrome are consequently
wasteful. The ‘data-richness’ of the Dutch national monitoring network
is challenged with this document by means of comparing the measured
parameters with the prevailing legal obligations. This document gives
an overview of the different parameters that were measured within the
framework of the national water quality monitoring network over the
period from 1952 until 2001 compared to the parameters included in
existing legislation to determine if the parameters measured are also
legal obligations. The EU Water Framework Directive (European
Commission 2000) came into force in December 2000 and did not
affect the monitoring network in 2001. The directive already had its
influence on the monitoring network at the time of writing (2004) but
reaching a more stable situation is expected to take some more years.
The period after 2001 is kept out of this analysis to avoid the uncertain
influence of the WFD.
9 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

2 Legal obligations and parameters measured
2.1 Prevailing water law
For each of the 364 parameters measured in the period between 1952
and 2001 it has been verified if there is a piece of legislation or
international agreement for which the parameter was included.
Important legislation concerning water quality was established in the
early 1970s and 1980s. The first law to counteract and prevent
pollution of surface waters in the Netherlands was the Act on Pollution
of Surface Waters (WVO) in 1969. The act encompassed regulations on
licensing emissions and maximum concentrations in surface waters.
These were included in the Decision on Implementation of the Act on
Pollution of Surface Waters with respect to National Waters
(Anonymous 1970). In 1983 this Decision was included in the more
generic Decision concerning quality targets and measuring of surface
waters (Anonymous 1983). In the mean time, between 1975 and 1978,
the European Union laid out legislation on surface waters describing
lists of parameters to be monitored, including analysis methods and
frequencies. Table 1 provides an overview of legislation that was
included in this study1. The lists of parameters included in a number of
directives mentioned in Table 1 are included as an annex to this report.
Year Directive / Agreement
1969
Act on Pollution of Surface Waters (Anonymous 1970).
1975 Council Directive of 16 June 1975 concerning the quality
required of surface water intended for the abstraction of
drinking water in the Member States (75/440/EEC) (European
Commission 1975).
1976 Council Directive of 8 December 1975 concerning the quality
of bathing water (76/160/EEC) (European Commission
1976a).
Council Directive of 4 May 1976 on pollution caused by
certain dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic
environment of the Community (76/464/EEC) (European
Commission 1976b).
1977 Council Decision concluding the Convention for the protection
of the Rhine against chemical pollution and an Additional
Agreement to the Agreement, signed in Berne on 29 April
1963, concerning the International Commission for the
Protection of the Rhine against Pollution (77/586/EEC)
(European Commission 1977).
1978 Council Directive of 18 July 1978 on the quality of fresh
waters needing protection or improvements in order to support
fish life (78/659/EEC) (European Commission 1978).
1979 Council Directive of 30 October 1979 on the quality required
of shellfish waters (79/923/EEC) (European Commission
1979).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Table 1
List of essential legislation
concerning water quality.
1 A full overview of the policy and legal basis monitoring is provided in the report by Gilde and
others (1999).
10 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

Year Directive / Agreement
1980 Council directive of 15 July 1980 relating to the quality of
water intended for human consumption (80/778/EEC)
(European Commission 1980).
1983 Decision of 3 November 1983 on regulation concerning quality
standards and measurements of surface waters (Stb 1983 606)
(Anonymous 1983).
1998 Council directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 on the
quality of water intended for human consumption (98/83/EC)
(European Commission 1998).
1999 Fourth National Policy Document on Water Management
(Anonymous 1998).
2000 Water Framework Directive (European Commission 2000).
2.2 International agreements
Next to the legislation, international agreements were included, namely
the agreements made in the framework of the International
Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR), International
Commission for the Protection of the Meuse (ICPM) and the
International Commission for the Protection of the Scheldt (ICPS)2. For
comparison, also the list of parameters that are included in
Eurowaternet, the European water-monitoring network of the EEA
(European Environment Agency) is included. Table 2 shows the result of
the comparison and also shows the first and last year in which the
separate parameters have been measured.
A complicating factor in comparing legislation with the choice of
parameters was that the directives and policy documents not always list
the individual parameters but often mention a parameter group.
Examples of this are: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)
(Anonymous 1983; European Commission 1975); organophosphorous
and organotin compounds (European Commission 1976b); pentachlor
benzene and tetrabutyl compounds (Anonymous 1998); etc. In such
cases several individual parameters were attributed to this group. A
special column in Table 2 is the column of RIWA (Association of River
Waterworks). This column shows parameters that are included in the
network on request of RIWA. In return, RIWA has included some
parameters in their network that are of use for the national monitoring
network.
2.3 Results of the study
A total of 46 individual parameters were not linked to any of the legal
obligations or agreements. Five of these; % and Total burning remnant,
Duration of centrifuge, Feofytine, and Sum of nitrate and nitrite are
measured as part of or step in the analysis method of other parameters
while turbidity and extinction are measured instead of transparency.
2 The ICPM has changed its name and structure into IMC (International Meuse Commission)
in 2002. The ICPS has changed its name and structure into ISC (International Scheldt
Commission).
11 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

Most pesticides and organic micropollutants are included as a by-
product of the analysis method and are stored in the database for
possible future use. Often, these parameters are no longer included
when, because of a change of analysis method, the parameter no
longer comes as a by-product or when the quality of analysis for the
parameter is not high enough. Scandium was measured to standardise
metals in suspended solids and sediments.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Table 2
Overview of parameters
measured within the Dutch
national monitoring network and
the legislation to which the
parameters can be attributed.
Gray color indicates that the
directive or agreement includes
the parameter or parametergroup.
References to the respective
directives and agreements are
included in the footnotes. The
column measured from – to
indicate the first and last year
that the parameter was included
in the network. The study
includes the years 1952 until
2001.
Measured
Parameterdescription from to
Human consumption 3
Bathing water4
Aquatic environment5
WVO6
NW47
WFD8
ICPR9
ICPM10
ICPS11
RIWA12
Eurowaternet13
General parameters
Potassiumpermanganate use 1952 1981
Phenol-index 1952 1989
Acidity 1952 2001
Chloride 1952 2001
Oxygen 1952 2001
Percentage of burning remnant 1952 2001
Percentage oxygen 1952 2001
Suspended solids 1952 2001
Temperature 1952 2001
Hardness_German 1956 1985
Hardness temporary 1958 1981
Conductivity 1959 2001
Burning remnant 1960 2001
Sulfate 1960 2001
Sum Methyleneblue-active
substances (anionactive) 1960 2001
Hardness 1963 1981
Fluoride 1969 2001
Extractable organic sulfur 1972 1980
Cyanide 1972 2001
Mineral oil 1972 2001
Salinity 1973 2001
3 Water for human consumption (European Commission 1975; European Commission 1980;
European Commission 1998)
4 Quality of bathing water (European Commission 1976a)
5 Quality of waters to support aquatic life and aquatic environment (European Commission
1976b; European Commission 1978; European Commission 1979)
6 Decision on quality targets and measurements of surface waters (Anonymous 1983)
7 Fourth National Policy Document on Water Management (Anonymous 1998)
8 Water Framework Directive (European Commission 2000)
9 International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine starting with the Rhine convention
(European Commission 1977), also see www.iksr.org
10 International Commission for the Protection of the Meuse, see (CIPM/ICBM 2003) and
www.cipm-icbm.be
11 International Commission for the Protection of the Scheldt, see www.isc-cie.com
12 Association of River Waterworks, see www.riwa.org
13 Eurowaternet (see Nixon and others 1998)
12 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

Measured
Parameterdescription from to
Human consumption 3
Bathing water4
Aquatic environment5
WVO6
NW47
WFD8
ICPR9
ICPM10
ICPS11
RIWA12
Eurowaternet13
Hardness German temporary 1975 1981
Odor 1975 1993
Fluorine 1978 1985
Pigment 1978 1985
Turbidity in JTU 1982 1985
Turbidity in FTU 1986 1988
Color-intensity 1986 1998
Sum pikrate-active non-
ionogenous and kation active
detergents
1988 1988
Grainsize fraction 1988 2001
Percentage dry substance 1988 2001
Extractable chlorides 1989 1989
Percentage calciumcarbonate 1989 1989
Percentage carbon 1989 1989
Discharge over sampling period 1993 1998
Duration centrifuge hours 1993 1998
Extinction 1993 2001
Odor dilution factor 1994 1998
Eutrofication
Ammonium 1952 2001
Kjehldahl nitrogen 1952 2001
Sum Nitrate and Nitrite 1952 2001
Ortho-phosphate 1956 2001
Nitrite 1959 2001
Total phosphate 1964 1977
Phosphorus 1964 2001
Silicate 1970 2001
Transparency 1971 2001
Percentage chlorophyll-a 1974 1987
Chlorophyll-a 1974 2001
Nitrogen 1974 2001
Nitrate 1984 2001
Feofytine 1986 2001
Metals
Potassium 1957 2001
Sodium 1962 2001
Copper 1968 2001
Lead 1968 2001
Nickel 1968 2001
Zinc 1968 2001
Cadmium 1971 2001
Calcium 1971 2001
Chromium 1971 2001
Magnesium 1971 2001
Mercury 1971 2001
Cobalt 1972 1984
Arsenicum 1972 2001
Iron 1972 2001
Manganese 1972 2001
13 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

Measured
Parameterdescription from to
Human consumption 3
Bathing water4
Aquatic environment5
WVO6
NW47
WFD8
ICPR9
ICPM10
ICPS11
RIWA12
Eurowaternet13
Iron bivalent 1974 1985
Lithium 1975 1981
Vanadium 1975 1986
Antimoon 1975 2001
Beryllium 1975 2001
Selenium 1975 2001
Barium 1978 2001
Boron 1978 2001
Scandium 1988 1994
Aluminium 1993 2001
Bromide 1993 2001
Bromate (brome
oxygencompounds) 1995 1997
Organic pollution
Biochemical oxygen demand with
allylthio-ureum 1952 2001
Total organic carbon 1955 2001
Chemical oxygen demand 1968 2001
Oxygenbinding capacity 1972 1974
Bicarbonate 1975 1988
Dissolved organic carbon 1977 2001
Particle organic carbon 1978 2001
Biochemical oxygen demand over
5 days 1984 2001
Active carbon absorbed organic
tied halogene 1987 2001
Percentage organic carbon 1988 2001
Percentage anorganic carbon 1992 1992
Organic carbon demand in water
DOC, TOC, POC 1996 1998
Radiochemistry
Sum Strontium 89 and Strontium
90 1957 1984
Beta activity 1957 2001
Beta activity of potassium
calculated 1957 2001
Rest beta activity 1957 2001
Alfa activity 1960 2001
Activity of Radium 226 1961 2001
Activity of Strontium 90 1971 2001
Beta activity of tritium 1972 2001
Activity of Cesium 134 1992 2001
Activity of Cesium 137 1992 2001
Activity of Cobalt 58 1992 2001
Activity of Cobalt 60 1992 2001
Activity of Iodine 131 1992 2001
Activity of Lead 210 1992 2001
Activity of Manganese 54 1992 2001
Activity of Polonium 210 1992 2001
Beta activity of potassium 40 1992 2001
14 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

Measured
Parameterdescription from to
Human consumption 3
Bathing water4
Aquatic environment5
WVO6
NW47
WFD8
ICPR9
ICPM10
ICPS11
RIWA12
Eurowaternet13
Organic micropollutants
Sum aromatic amines 1974 1981
Sum 1,2-dichlorobenzene and 1,4-
dichlorobenzene 1975 1994
Sum PAH's 1975 2000
2,4,5-trichlorophenol 1976 2001
2,4,6-trichlorophenol 1976 2001
Pentachlorphenol 1976 2001
Benz(a)pyrene 1977 2001
Benzo(b)fluoranthene 1980 2001
Sum 1,2,3- and 1,2,4- and 1,3,5-
trichlorobenzene 1982 1994
Benzo(ghi)perylene 1983 2001
Benzo(k)fluoranthene 1983 2001
Fluoranthene 1983 2001
Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene 1983 2001
Sum volatile phenols 1984 2001
Sum 1,2,3,4- and 1,2,3,5- and
1,2,4,5-tetrachlorobenzene 1985 1994
Sum 2,3- and 2,4- and 2,5- and
3,4-dichloronitrobenzene 1985 1994
1,2,4,5-tetrachlorobenzene 1985 2001
1,2-dichlorobenzene 1985 2001
1,3-dichlorobenzene 1985 2001
1,4-dichlorobenzene 1985 2001
1-chloro-2-nitrobenzene 1985 2001
1-chloro-3-nitrobenzene 1985 2001
1-chloro-4-nitrobenzene 1985 2001
2,3-dichloronitrobenzene 1985 2001
Sum xylenes 1986 1995
Sum monocyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons 1986 1998
Antracene 1986 2001
Benz(a)antracene 1986 2001
Benzene 1986 2001
Chrysene 1986 2001
Dibenzo(ah)antracene 1986 2001
Fenantrene 1986 2001
Pyrene 1986 2001
Styrene (vinylbenzene) 1986 2001
Toluene 1986 2001
Ethylbenzene 1987 2001
Tetrachlorbenzene 1989 1989
Acenaftylene 1989 1997
Acenaftene 1989 1998
Fluorene 1989 1998
Naftalene 1989 1998
Pentachlorbenzene 1989 1998
Sum 1,3-xylene and 1,4-xylene 1989 2001
2,3-dichloraniline 1990 1990
15 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

Measured
Parameterdescription from to
Human consumption 3
Bathing water4
Aquatic environment5
WVO6
NW47
WFD8
ICPR9
ICPM10
ICPS11
RIWA12
Eurowaternet13
2,4,5-trichloraniline 1990 1990
2,4-dichloraniline 1990 1990
2,5-dichloraniline 1990 1990
2,6-dichloraniline 1990 1990
2-chloraniline 1990 1990
3,5-dichloraniline 1990 1990
3-chloraniline 1990 1990
3,4-dichloraniline 1990 2000
4-chloraniline 1990 2000
2-chlorophenol 1995 1998
2-chlorotoluene 1995 1998
3-chlorophenol 1995 1998
4-chlorophenol 1995 1998
Cumene 1995 1998
Di-isopropylether 1995 1998
Monochlorobenzene 1995 1998
N-propylbenzene 1995 1998
Tertiair butylbenzene 1995 1998
1,2,3,4-tetrachlorobenzene 1995 2001
1,2,3,5-tetrachlorobenzene 1995 2001
1,2,3-trichlorobenzene 1995 2001
1,2,4-trichlorobenzene 1995 2001
1,2-xylene (o-xylene) 1995 2001
1,3,5-trichlorobenzene 1995 2001
2-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4,6-
dinitrophenol 1995 2001
2-(1-methyl-n-propyl)-4,6-
dinitrophenol 1995 2001
2,3,4,5-tetrachlorophenol 1995 2001
2,3,4-trichlorophenol 1995 2001
2,3,5-trichlorophenol 1995 2001
2,3,6-trichlorophenol 1995 2001
2,3-dichlorophenol 1995 2001
2,4-dichloronitrobenzene 1995 2001
2,5-dichloronitrobenzene 1995 2001
2,6-dichlorophenol 1995 2001
2-methyl-4,6-dinitrophenol 1995 2001
3,4,5-trichlorophenol 1995 2001
3,4-dichloronitrobenzene 1995 2001
3,4-dichlorophenol 1995 2001
3,5-dichlorophenol 1995 2001
Cis-1,3-dichloropropene 1995 2001
Sum 2,3,4,6- and 2,3,5,6-
tetrachlorophenol 1995 2001
Sum 2,4- and 2,5-dichlorophenol 1995 2001
2,4-dinitrophenol 1996 2001
2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol 1997 1997
2,3,5,6-tetrachlorophenol 1997 1997
2,4-dichlorophenol 1997 1997
Benzo(e)pyrene 1999 2000
16 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

Measured
Parameterdescription from to
Human consumption 3
Bathing water4
Aquatic environment5
WVO6
NW47
WFD8
ICPR9
ICPM10
ICPS11
RIWA12
Eurowaternet13
Di[tri-(2-methyl-2-
fenylpropyl)tin]oxyde 1999 2000
Dicyclohexyltin 1999 2000
Tricyclohexyltinhydroxyde
(Cyhexatin) 1999 2000
Dibutyltin 1999 2001
Difenyltin 1999 2001
Monobutyltin 1999 2001
Monofenyltin 1999 2001
Phosphorousacid-triphenyl-ester 1999 2001
Phtalicacid(2-ethylhexyl)ester 1999 2001
Tributyltin 1999 2001
Trifenyltin 1999 2001
PCB's
PCB 101 2,2',4,5,5'-
pentachlorobifenyl 1983 2001
PCB138 2,2',3,4,4',5-
hexachlorobifenyl 1983 2001
PCB153 2,2',4,4',5,5'-
hexachlorobifenyl 1983 2001
PCB180 2,2',3,4,4',5,5'-
heptachlorobifenyl 1983 2001
PCB28 2,4,4'-trichlorobifenyl 1983 2001
PCB52 2,2',5,5'-tetrachlorobifenyl 1983 2001
PCB118 2,3',4,4',5-
pentachlorobifenyl 1987 2001
1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-
octachlorodibenzodioxine 1995 2001
1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-
octachlorodibenzofurane 1995 2001
1,2,3,4,6,7,8-
heptachlorodibenzodioxine 1995 2001
1,2,3,4,6,7,8-
heptachlorodibenzofurane 1995 2001
1,2,3,4,7,8,9-
heptachlorodibenzofurane 1995 2001
1,2,3,4,7,8-
hexachlorodibenzodioxine 1995 2001
1,2,3,6,7,8-
hexachlorodibenzodioxine 1995 2001
1,2,3,6,7,8-
hexachlorodibenzofurane 1995 2001
1,2,3,7,8,9-
hexachlorodibenzodioxine 1995 2001
1,2,3,7,8,9-
hexachlorodibenzofurane 1995 2001
1,2,3,7,8-
pentachlorodibenzodioxine 1995 2001
2,3,4,6,7,8-
hexachlorodibenzofurane 1995 2001
2,3,4,7,8-
pentachlorodibenzofurane 1995 2001
17 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

Measured
Parameterdescription from to
Human consumption 3
Bathing water4
Aquatic environment5
WVO6
NW47
WFD8
ICPR9
ICPM10
ICPS11
RIWA12
Eurowaternet13
2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxine 1995 2001
2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofurane 1995 2001
Sum 1,2,3,4,7,8- and 1,2,3,4,7,9-
hexachlorodibenzofurane 1995 2001
Sum 1,2,3,7,8- and 1,2,3,4,8-
pentachlorodibenzofurane 1995 2001
PCB 105 2,3,3',4,4'-
pentachlorobifenyl 1999 2000
PCB170 2,2',3,3',4,4',5-
heptachlorobifenyl 1999 2000
PCB18 2,2',5-trichlorobifenyl 1999 2000
PCB187 2,2',3,4',5,5',6-
heptachlorobifenyl 1999 2000
PCB31 2,4',5-trichlorobifenyl 1999 2000
PCB442,2',3,5'-tetrachlorobifenyl 1999 2000
Sum PCBnr
28,52,101,118,138,153,180 (7 of
Ballschmieter)
1999 2000
Pesticides
Beta-endosulfan 1972 1989
Heptachloro 1972 1998
2,4'-dichlorodifenyltrichlorethane 1972 2001
4,4'-dichlorodifenyldichlorethane 1972 2001
4,4'-dichlorodifenyldichlorethene 1972 2001
4,4'-dichlorodifenyltrichlorethane 1972 2001
Aldrin 1972 2001
Alfa-endosulfan 1972 2001
Alfa-hexachlorocyclohexane 1972 2001
Beta-hexachlorocyclohexane 1972 2001
Cholinesterase inhibitor 1972 2001
Dieldrin 1972 2001
Endrin 1972 2001
Gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane 1972 2001
Heptachlorepoxide 1972 2001
Hexachlorobenzene 1972 2001
In petrol-ether extractable organic
halogenes 1972 2001
Hexachlorobutadiene 1975 2001
Bis-(2-chlorisopropyl)ether 1977 1981
Trichloroethene (tri) 1977 2001
1,1,1-trichloroethane
(methylchloroform) 1979 2001
1,2-dichloroethane
(ethylenedichloride) 1979 2001
1,2-dichloropropane 1979 2001
Tetrachlorethene (per) 1979 2001
Tetrachloromethane (tetra) 1979 2001
Trichloromethane (chloroform) 1979 2001
Volatile organic halogenes 1979 2001
2,3:4,6-di-o-isopropylidene-a-L-
sorbofuranose 1983 1983
18 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

Measured
Parameterdescription from to
Human consumption 3
Bathing water4
Aquatic environment5
WVO6
NW47
WFD8
ICPR9
ICPM10
ICPS11
RIWA12
Eurowaternet13
Adenosine-triphosphate 1984 1985
Nitrilo-tri-acetic acid 1986 1986
2,4'-dichlorodifenyldichlorethene 1988 2001
2,4'-
dichlorodifenyldichloroethane 1988 2001
Sum 24DDD and 44DDD 1989 1989
Sum 24DDE and 44DDE 1989 1989
Sum 24DDT and 44DDT 1989 1989
Telodrin 1989 1998
Isodrin 1989 2001
Hexachlorethane 1994 1998
Aldicarb 1994 1999
Aldicarb_sulfon 1994 1999
Aldicarbsulfoxide 1994 1999
Carbofuran 1994 1999
Methomyl 1994 1999
Oxamyl 1994 1999
Propoxur 1994 1999
Atrazine 1994 2001
Chloridazon 1994 2001
chlorotoluron 1994 2001
Cis-heptachlorepoxide 1994 2001
Diazinon 1994 2001
Diuron 1994 2001
Ethylenediaminetetraethaneacid 1994 2001
Isoproturon 1994 2001
Linuron 1994 2001
Methabenzthiazuron 1994 2001
Methobromuron 1994 2001
Metoxuron 1994 2001
Monolinuron 1994 2001
Simazine 1994 2001
Trans-heptachloroepoxide 1994 2001
Tetrachlororthoftal acid 1995 1997
Chlorobromuron 1995 1998
Chloroxuron 1995 1998
1,2,3-trichloropropane 1995 2001
1,3-dichloropropane 1995 2001
2,4-dichlorofenoxy acetic acid 1995 2001
2,4-dichlorofenoxypropionacid 1995 2001
2-methyl-4-chlorofenoxyacetic
acid 1995 2001
2-methyl-4-
chlorofenoxypropionacid 1995 2001
Amino-methyl-fosfonacid 1995 2001
Bentazon 1995 2001
Dibromochloromethane 1995 2001
Dichloromethane
(methylenechloride) 1995 2001
Glyfosate (N-fosfonomethyl 1995 2001
19 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

Measured
Parameterdescription from to
Human consumption 3
Bathing water4
Aquatic environment5
WVO6
NW47
WFD8
ICPR9
ICPM10
ICPS11
RIWA12
Eurowaternet13
glycine)
Trans-1,3-dichloropropene 1995 2001
Tribromomethane 1995 2001
2-(1-methyl-n-propyl)-4,6-
dinitrophenolacetate 1996 1998
2-secundair-butyl-4,6-
dinitrofenylisopropylcarbonate 1996 1998
2-tertiair-butyl-5-methyl-4,6-
dinitrofenylacetate 1996 1998
Sum of MCPB and 24DB 1996 1998
2,4,5-trichlorofenoxy acetic acid 1996 2001
2,4,5-trichlorofenoxypropionacid 1996 2001
Dichlorobromomethane 1996 2001
Dimethoate 1996 2001
Dimethyl-dichlorovinylphosphate
(vapona) 1996 2001
Ethylparathion 1996 2001
Propazine 1996 2001
Terbutylazine 1996 2001
Butocarboxin 1997 1997
Butocarboxinsulfoxide 1997 1997
Ethiofencarb 1997 1997
Methiocarb 1997 1997
Methiocarbsulfon 1997 1997
Medinonterb-acetate 1997 1998
Demeton 1997 2000
Disulfoton 1997 2000
Carbaryl 1997 2001
Chlorofenvinfos 1997 2001
Coumafos 1997 2001
Ethoprophos 1997 2001
Ethylazinfos 1997 2001
Fenitrothion 1997 2001
Fenthion 1997 2001
Heptenophos 1997 2001
Malathion 1997 2001
Methyl Toclophos 1997 2001
Methylazinfos 1997 2001
Methylparathion 1997 2001
Mevinfos 1997 2001
Pirimicarb 1997 2001
Pyrazofos 1997 2001
Triazofos 1997 2001
chloropyrifos 1998 1998
Terbutryne 1998 1998
Prometryne 1998 2001
Trifluraline 1998 2001
Delta-hexachlorcyclohexane 1999 1999
Alachloor 1999 2001
Desethylatrazine 1999 2001
20 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

Measured
Parameterdescription from to
Human consumption 3
Bathing water4
Aquatic environment5
WVO6
NW47
WFD8
ICPR9
ICPM10
ICPS11
RIWA12
Eurowaternet13
Metamitron 1999 2001
Metazachlor 1999 2001
Metolachloro 1999 2001
Propiconazol 1999 2001
2.4 Justification of the data used.
All water quality- and quantity-monitoring data collected by
Rijkswaterstaat are stored in the so-called DONAR database. The data
presented in this chapter are selected from the DONAR database. A
selection was made of all chemical water quality data available from the
national inland monitoring network, which is stored with the label
RIZAMON_LAN as the owner of the data, the label for the national
water-quality monitoring network. A selection was made of the
columns year, parameter, medium, unit, capacity of the sample (for
instance filtrated), biotaxon (of the species in which the parameter is
measured (ecotoxicological data)), organ, class, location and number of
measurements. Literature like year reports and monitoring optimisation
studies were used to further specify and explain the developments in
locations, parameters and frequencies.
21 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

3 Conclusions
Only some 10% of the selection of parameters cannot be directly
attributed to a specific piece of legislation. This 10% can be explained
in terms of including results as part of analysis methods that provide
data on additional parameters that can consequently be included at
virtually no cost. On the other hand, some parameters that are included
in legislation like for instance tellurium and silver in EC Council
Directive 76/464/EEC (European Commission 1976b) are not included
in the monitoring network.
From this it is concluded that the criticism that monitoring networks are
data rich does not hold for the Dutch national monitoring network in
terms of data being measured that have no direct purpose. In this study
the purpose is defined as being a legal obligation. Next to this, not
even all legal obligations are met in the Dutch national water quality
monitoring network.
The ‘data-rich but information-poor’ syndrome is nevertheless a
qualitative appraisal, not a quantitative one. It may for instance be
argued that legal obligations do not always yield useful information. In
the case for instance that standards are met for a specific parameter,
monitoring of that parameter at a much lower frequency may prove
sufficient while the legal obligation requires a certain minimum
frequency. This study however does not allow for further considerations
of this kind.
22 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

4 References
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Wet verontreiniging oppervlaktewateren met betrekking tot
oppervlaktewateren onder beheer van het Rijk en de volle zee
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National responsibility and the wider sea). Staatsblad 377 (in
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Anonymous, 1983. Besluit van 3 november 1983 houdende regelen
inzake kwaliteitsdoelstellingen en metingen oppervlaktewateren
(Decision of 3 November 1983 on regulation concerning quality
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Anonymous, 1985. Indicatief Meerjaren Programma Water 1985-1989
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waterhuishouding. Regeringsbeslissing. (Water for now and the
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Anonymous, 1991. Water in the Netherlands: a time for action.
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Regeringsbeslissing. (Water frame; Fourth national policy
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Adriaanse, M., 1992. Optimalisatie routinematig onderzoek kwaliteit
rijksbinnenwateren. Deel 1: Hoofdrapport. (Optimisation of routine
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onderzoek kwaliteit rijksbinnenwateren. Deel 2: Informatiebehoefte
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Dutch)
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Cappon, J.J., 1984. Herziening routineprogramma kwaliteit
Rijkswateren 1985 (Revision of the routine program quality of the
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réseau de mesures homogène). (in French and Dutch).
http://www.cipm-icbm.be/files/pubs/29/Résultats%202001.pdf.
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concerning the quality required of surface water intended for the
23 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

abstraction of drinking water in the Member States (75/440/EEC).
Official Journal of the European Communities 25.7.75: L 194/26-L
194/31
European Commission, 1976a. Council Directive of 8 December 1975
concerning the quality of bathing water (76/160/EEC). Official
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European Commission, 1976b. Council Directive of 4 May 1976 on
pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into
the aquatic environment of the Community (76/464/EEC). Official
Journal of the European Communities 18.5.76: L 129/23-L 129/29
European Commission, 1977. Council Decision of 25 July 1977
concluding the Convention for the protection of the Rhine against
chemical pollution and an Additional Agreement to the Agreement,
signed in Berne on 29 April 1963, concerning the International
Commission for the Protection of the Rhine against Pollution
(77/586/EEC). Official Journal of the European Communities
19.9.77: L 240/35-L 240/52
European Commission, 1978. Council Directive of 18 July 1978 on the
quality of fresh waters needing protection or improvement in order
to support fish life (78/659/EEC). Official Journal of the European
Communities 14.8.78: L 222/1-L 222/10
European Commission, 1979. Council Directive of 30 October 1979 on
the quality required of shellfish waters (79/923/EEC). Official
Journal of the European Communities 10.11.79: L 281/47-L
281/52
European Commission, 1980. Council Directive of 15 July 1980 relating
to the quality of water intended for human consumption
(80/778/EEC). Official Journal of the European Communities
30.8.1980(L 229)
European Commission, 1998. Council Directive 98/83/EC of 3
November 1998 on the quality of water intended for human
consumption. Official Journal of the European Communities
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Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a
framework for Community action in the field of water policy.
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327/1-L 327/72
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national inland waters: policy- and legal frameworks). Riza report
nr. 99.021. 62 pp.
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de kwaliteit der Rijkswateren (OSTWAT): beschouwing en
toepassing van de methode Lettenmaier: verslag onderzoek.
(Optimising and structuring of the monitoring network for the
quality of the national waters (OSTWAT): discussion and
application of the method Lettenmaier: study report). Nota nr.
R1391, part 3. Delft Hydraulics, Delft, The Netherlands. (in Dutch)
Hesen, P.L.G.M., L.J. Gilde, and C.A.M. van Helmond, 1998.
Actualisatie van het landelijk chemisch meetnet voor zoete
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rijkswateren (Actualisation of the national chemical monitoring
network for national inland waters). H2O 22: 27-29 (in Dutch)
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in: The river Rhine: development and management. Deutsches
IHP/OHP-Nationalkomitee, Koblenz, germany.
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European Environment Agency's Monitoring and Information
Network for Inland Water Resources. Technical Guidelines for
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Denmark. http://reports.eea.eu.int/TECH07/en/tab_abstract_RLR.
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Nederland. (Study into the quality of public waters in the
Netherlands). Ministry of Transport and Public Works,
Rijkswaterstaat, The Hague, The Netherlands. 281 pp. (in Dutch)
RIZA, 1965. Jaarverslag 1964 (Yearreport 1964). RIZA mededeling nr.
1. Staatsuitgeverij, The Hague, The Netherlands. (in Dutch)
RIZA, 1966. Jaarverslag 1965 (Yearreport 1965). RIZA mededeling nr.
3. Staatsuitgeverij, The Hague, The Netherlands. (in Dutch)
RIZA, 1971. Jaarverslag 1969 (Yearreport 1969). RIZA mededeling nr.
8. Staatsuitgeverij, The Hague, The Netherlands. (in Dutch)
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(in Dutch)
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meetnet van de kwaliteit der Rijkswateren (OSTWAT): een
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structuring of the monitoring network for the quality of the
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techniques for monitoring frequency: study report). Nota nr.
R1391, part 1. Delft Hydraulics, Delft, The Netherlands. (in Dutch)
Schilperoort, T., S. Groot, B.G.M. van de Wetering, and F. Dijkman,
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Information-poor" syndrome in water quality monitoring.
Environmental Management 10(3): 291-297
25 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

Annex: Listings of parameters in several EC
directives
Parameter
Ammonia
Arsenic
Barium
Beryllium
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) (at 20 °C without nitrification)
Boron
Cadmium
Chemical oxygen demand (COD)
Chlorides
Cobalt
Coloration (after simple filtration
Conductivity
Copper
Cyanide
Dissolved iron
Dissolved or emulsified hydrocarbons (after extraction by petroleum ether)
Dissolved oxygen saturation rate
Faecal coliforms
Faecal streptococci
Fluorides
Lead
Manganese
Mercury
Nickel
Nitrates
Nitrogen by Kjeldahl method (except NO3)
Odour
pH
Phenols (phenol index) paranitraniline 4 aminoantipyrine
Phosphates
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Residual organic carbon after flocculation and membrane filtration (5 µ) TOC
Salmonella
Selenium
Substances extractable with chloroform
Sulphates
Surfactants (reacting with methyl blue)
Temperature
Total chromium
Total coliforms 37 °C
Total extractable organic chlorine
Total organic carbon
Total pesticides (parathion, BHC, dieldrin)
Total suspended solids
Vanadium
Zinc
Parameter
Ammonia
Antimony
Arsenic
Barium
Beryllium
Biocides
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Table 4
List of parameters included in
the directive on dangerous
substances
(77/464/EEC)(European
Commission 1977).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Table 3
List of parameters included in
the Council Directive on
bathing water
(76/160/EEC)(European
Commission 1976a).
26 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

Boron
Cadmium
Carcinogetic compounds
Chromium
Cobalt
Copper
Cyanide
Fluoride
Inorganic compounds of phosphorus and elemental phosphorus
Lead
Mercury
Molybdenum
Nickel
Nitrite
Non-persistent mineral oils and hydrocarbons of petroleum origin
Organohalogenated compounds
Organophosphorus compounds
Organotin compounds
Persistent mineral oils and hydrocarbons of petroleum origin
Persistent synthetic substances
Selenium
Silver
Substances affecting taste or smell
Tellurium
Thalium
Tin
Titanium
Toxic or persistent organic compounds of silicon
Uranium
Vanadium
Zinc
Parameter
Ammonia
Antimony
Arsenic
Barium
Beryllium
Biocides
Boron
Cadmium
Carcinogetic compounds
Chromium
Cobalt
Copper
Cyanide
Fluoride
Lead
Molybdenum
Nickel
Nitrite
Organohalogenated substances
Organophosphorus substances
Organotin substances
Persistent mineral oils and hydrocarbons of petroleum origin
Selenium
Silver
Substances affecting taste or smell
Tellurium
Thalium
Tin
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Table 5
List of parameters included in
the Convention for the
protection of the Rhine
(77/568/EEC)(European
Commission 1977).
27 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

Titanium
Toxic or persistent organic compounds of silicon
Uranium
Vanadium
Zinc
Parameter
BOD5
Dissolved copper
Dissolved oxygen
Nitrites
Non-ionised ammonia
Petroleum hydrocarbons
pH
Phenolic compounds
Suspended solids
Temperature
Total ammonium
Total phosphorus
Total residual chlorine
Total zinc
Parameter
Arsenic
Cadmium
Chromium
Coloration (after simple filtration)
Copper
Dissolved oxygen saturation
Faecal coliforms
Lead
Mercury
Nickel
Organohalogenated substances
Petroleum hydrocarbons
PH
Salinity
Saxitoxin
Silver
Substances affecting the taste of the shellfish
Suspended solids
Temperature
Zinc
Parameters
(K Mn O4) Oxidizability
Alkalinity
Aluminium
Ammonium
Antimony
Arsenic
Barium
Beryllium
Boron
Cadmium
Calcium
Chlorides
Chlorine
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Table 8
List of parameters included in
the Council Directive on
quality of water intended for
human consumption
(80/778/EEC)(European
Commission 1980).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Table 7
List of parameters included in
the Council Directive on
shellfish water
(79/923/EEC)(European
Commission 1979).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Table 6
List of parameters included in
the Council Directive on the
quality of fresh waters to
support fish life
(78/659/EEC)(European
Commission 1978).
28 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

Chromium
Cobalt
Colour
Conductivity
Copper
Cyanides
Dissolved or emulsified hydrocarbons (after extraction by petroleum ether); Mineral oils
Dissolved oxygen
Dissolved oxygen
Dry residues
Faecal coliforms
Faecal streptococci
Fluoride
Free carbon dioxide
Hydrogen ion concentration
Hydrogen ion concentration
Hydrogen sulphide
Iron
Kjeldahl Nitrogen
Lead
Magnesium
Manganese
Mercury
Nickel
Nitrates
Nitrites
Odour
Other organochlorine compounds not covered by parameters
Pesticides and related products
• insecticides:
• persistent organochlorine compounds
• organophosphorous compounds
• carbamates
• herbicides
• fungicides
• PCBs and PCTs
pH
Phenols (phenol index)
Phosphorus
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
• fluoranthene
• 3,4 — benzofluoranthene
• 11,12 — benzofluoranthene
• 3,4 — benzpyrene
• 1,12 — benzperylene
• indeno(1,2,3 — cd)pyrene
Potassium
Residual
Selenium
Silica
Silver
Sodium
Substances extractable in chloroform
Sulphates
Sulphitereducing Clostridia
Surfactants (reacting with methylene blue)
Suspended solids
Taste
Temperature
Total bacteria counts for water
Total coliforms
Total hardness
29 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

Total organic carbon (TOC)
Turbidity
Vanadium
Zinc
Parameter
1,2-dichloroethane
Acrylamide
Aluminium
Ammonium
Antimony
Arsenic
Benzene
Benzo(a)pyrene
Boron
Bromate
Cadmium
Chloride
Chromium
Clostridium perfringens (including spores)
Coliform bacteria
Colony count
Colour
Conductivity
Copper
Cyanidel
Enterococci
Epichlorohydrin
Escherichia coli (E. coli)
Fluoride
Hydrogen ion concentration
Iron
Lead
Manganese
Mercury
Nickel
Nitrate
Nitrite
Odour
Oxidisability
Pesticides
• organic insecticides
• organic acaricides
• organic algicides
• organic fungicides
• organic herbicides
• organic nematocides
• organic rodenticides
• organic slimicides
• related products (inter alia, growth regulators)
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
• benzo(b)fluoranthene
• benzo(ghi)perylene
• benzo(k)fluoranthene
• indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene
Selenium
Sodium
Sulphate
Taste
Tetrachloroethene and Trichloroethene
Total indicative dose
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Table 9
List of parameters included in
the Council Directive on
quality of water intended for
human consumption
(98/83/EC)(European
Commission 1998).
30 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring

Total organic carbon (TOC)
Trihalomethanes
Tritium
Turbidity
Vinyl chloride
Parameter
Acidification status
Arsenic and its compounds.
Biocides and plant protection products.
Cyanides.
Materials in suspension.
Metals and their compounds.
Nutrient conditions
Organohalogen compounds and substances which may form such compounds in the
aquatic environment.
Organophosphorous compounds.
Organotin compounds.
Oxygenation conditions
Persistent hydrocarbons and persistent and bioaccumulable organic toxic substances.
Priority substances
Salinity
Substances and preparations, or the breakdown products of such, which have been proved
to possess carcinogenic or mutagenic properties or properties which may affect
steroidogenic, thyroid, reproduction or other endocrine-related functions in or via the
aquatic environment.
Substances which contribute to eutrophication (in particular, nitrates and phosphates).
Substances which have an unfavourable influence on the oxygen balance (and can be
measured using parameters such as BOD, COD, etc.).
Thermal conditions
Transparency
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Table 10
Indicative list of the main
pollutants included in the
Water framework directive
(2000/60/EC)(European
Commission 2000).
31 Legal obligations for Dutch national water quality monitoring