The Water Quality Regulations (Fourth Edition).

In the new Regulations, the reference bodies for the standards are the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) Drinking Water Standards endorsed by the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) or the World Health Organization (WHO) Water Quality Guidelines (art.2.4). New articles in Part 3 give details to have a relaxation authorized by the Bureau. Some changes are introduced in Part.4, relating to Monitoring of water supplies. New Parts are introduced, respectively: Part 5 entitled Water quality sampling and testing about the guarantee by a licensed supplier that the appropriate requirements, specified below, are satisfied in taking, handling, transporting, storing and analyzing of any sample taken; Part 6 entitled New products, substances and process regarding the eventuality for a supplier of applying any substance or product to, or introduce any substance or product into water, which is to be supplied for drinking, washing, cooking or food production purposes; Part 7 entitled Water quality audits and assessments on the possibility to the Bureau of conducting a water quality management system audit which covers analytical arrangements, sampling processes, data quality and reporting. It also covers water treatment chemicals used in water production processes for the supply of wholesome water. The following articles give details; Part 8 entitled Drinking water safety plan which is developed to ensure that good drinking water supply practices are adopted through the use of a comprehensive risk assessment plan in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO); and Part 10 entitled Water quality non-compliance and incidents reporting on how the supplier must behave in case that the result of the test fails to meet the limits or lies outside the prescribed values or any water quality incidents may occur. In Part 9 some details are added to the record prepared by the supplier in respect of each of its Plants, Water Supply Zones and Water Tankers.