S.L. 549.24 Art. 8Sampling operations.

(1) The competent authorities shall carry out sampling operations, the minimum frequency of which is laid down in Annex I.

(2) Where the competent authority records that the quality of designated waters is appreciably higher than that which would result from the application of the values set in accordance with regulation 3 and the comments contained in columns G and I of Annex I, the frequency of the sampling may be reduced:

Provided that where there is no pollution or no risk of deterioration in the quality of the waters, the competent authority concerned may decide that no sampling is necessary.

(3) If sampling shows that a value set by the competent authority in accordance with regulation 3 or a comment contained in either of columns G or I of Annex I is not respected, the competent authority shall establish whether this is the result of chance, a natural phenomenon or pollution and shall adopt appropriate measures.

(4) The exact sampling point, the distance from this point to the nearest point where pollutants are discharged and the depth at which the samples are to be taken, shall be fixed by the competent authority on the basis of local environmental conditions in particular.