Decree approving the Regulation on the sanitary criteria of quality of water intended for human consumption.

With the present Decree the Regulation relating to the health criteria for the quality of water intended for human consumption is approved.
The objective of the regulation, which consists of 15 chapters, is to protect people's health by developing Title I of the Water Police and Protection Act of 31 July of 1985 and Articles 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 section b) of the General Health Act of 20 March 1989, in those aspects that may affect the sanitary quality of water intended for human consumption.
To this end, it establishes: 1. The wholesomeness criteria that water intended for human consumption and water supply facilities must meet from the water collection to its delivery to the consumers. 2. The criteria for protection, control and surveillance. 3. The powers and responsibilities of all public and private agents and/or institutions carrying out activities related to the recruitment, supply, transport, control and monitoring of water intended for human consumption.
Chapter 2 describes the characteristics of water intended for human consumption, including the absence of micro-organisms, parasites or substances defined in sections A, B and D of the first chapter of Annex I of this Regulation in quantities or concentrations exceeding the limits laid down therein.
Chapter 3 sets requirements for sockets and power supply while Chapter 4 establishes the Technical Commission of water intended for human consumption for the purposes of the concessions of the exploitation of water for human consumption and defines its functions which comprehend the evaluation of the documentation required for the exploitation of water for human consumption; the request, from the interested party, of all necessary information; the issue of a technical report expressing a favourable or unfavourable opinion on the granting or refusal of the administrative authorization for exploitation and the establishment of the limits and conditions for such exploitation.
The text further regulates the authorization and registration of water intakes, of companies carrying out supply activities, transport and analysis of water intended for human consumption (chapters 5 and 6).
It also sets up the general conditions of the materials and equipment which make up the water supply networks and provides for the systems of treatment of water intended for human consumption (chapters 7 and 8).
It establishes the sanitary requirements of facilities and personnel and provides criteria for the quality control of water intended for human consumption (chapter 9 and 10).
The surveillance on water intended for human consumption makes the object of Chapter 11 and the procedures of sampling and analysis are treated by chapter 12.
Chapter 13 establishes the obligations of water catchment, supply and transport companies and of analysis laboratories.
Competences and actions of the central administration are provided for by chapter 14 and chapter 15 foresees the penalties for the failure to comply with any of the provisions and obligations established in this Regulation.
This Regulation repeals the Regulation on health criteria for the quality of water intended for human consumption of 25 July 2007.