Regulatory overview of fluorescent dye tracer testing in the EU

Regulatory overview of fluorescent dye tracer testing in the EU Resources: • Wolkersdorfer, C., & LeBlanc, J. (2012). Regulations, legislation, and guidelines for artificial surface water and groundwater tracer tests in Canada. Water Quality Research Journal of Canada, 47(1), 42–55. https://doi.org/10.2166/wqrjc.2012.042 • National Geological Surveys • Local hydrogeological experts from EU Member States involved in fluorescent dye tracer testing

Country

Guideline

Legislation

Permit / authorisation

Remarks

Links

Austria

Yes

X

Yes

ÖWAV-Regelblatt 214: Markierungsversuche in der Hydrologie und Hydrogeologie

ÖWAVRegelblatt 214

Belgium

X

X

X

Recommended to inform local authority

Bulgaria

X

X

X

Recommended to inform local authority

Croatia

X

X

Yes

Authorisation from ‘Hrvatske Vode’ (Croatian Waters)

Hrvatske Vode Public Health Institute (HZJZ)

Authorisation to import new tracer from Croatian Public Health Institute.

Cyprus (Republic of)

X

X

Yes

Authorisation required to inject any type of substance in groundwater. Permit from the Department of Environment.

Department of Environment

Czech Republic

X

X

Yes

Contact up to 4 authorities to carry out a dye tracer test: (1) Water Authority (2) Public Health Authority (drinking water) (3) Local Nature Protection Authority (in nature reserves) (4) Owner of water supply system (if risk for drinking water)

Denmark

X

X

Yes

Authorisation from local authority (commune).

Estonia

X

X

X

No information

Finland

X

Yes

Yes

National Water Act 27.5.2011/587

France

X

X

X

Recommended to inform local authority

Germany

Yes (regional)

X

Yes

German Water Budget Law. Guidelines for f.e.

Bavaria Länder (region).

Water Act No. 254/2001 Coll.

Ministry of Environment Water Authority

National Water Act

Federal Ministry for the Environment Tracer tests guidelines Bavaria

Greece

X

X

Yes

Authorisation from local authority

Hungary

Yes

X

Yes

Authorized for scientific research or to protect groundwater resources.

Environmental Protection Authority and the National Health Organization give strict regulations for the concentration values.

Ireland

X

X

X

Recommended to inform local authority

Italy

X

X

X

Recommended to inform local authority (regional ARPA) and other stakeholders

Latvia

X

X

X

Recommended to inform local authority (Regional Environmental Board)

Lithuania

X

X

X

No information

Luxembourg

X

X

X

No information

Decree No. 219 of 2004 (VII. 21.)

Korm. of the Government on the protection of underground waters

Malta

X

X

X

No information

The Netherlands

X

X

X

No information

Poland

X

X

Yes

Authorisation required according to Water Law OJ. 2017 no. 1566

Water Law

Portugal

X

X

Yes

Authorisation required according to Water Act No. 58/2005

Water Act

Romania

X

X

X

Tracer test required for Drinking Water Zones (Romanian Ministry of Environment and Forests Ordinance no. 1278/2011)

Romanian Ministry of Environment and Forests

Slovakia

X

X

Yes

Paragraph 18 of Water Law no. 364/2004 Z.z.

Water Law

Slovenia

X

X

X

Currently no authorization required (before required from the Slovenian Environment Agency ARSO).

ARSO GIS database Article on Tracer Test Inventory

GIS database with all previous tracer tests available on ARSO website.

Spain

Yes (regional)

X

Yes

Authorisation from regional authority (Hydrographic Confederations – Confederationes Hidrogáficas). Guidelines for Basque Country.

Sweden

X

X

X

Recommended to inform local authority.

If a tracer test is combined with a pumping test, it may be necessary to obtain a ruling on water rights.

Switzerland

Yes

X

Yes

Authorisation and guidelines on InfoTracer platform.

Database and guidelines Basque Country

InfoTracer

UK

Yes (regional)

X

Yes (regional)

England: Authorisation from Environment Agency.

Wales: Authorization from Natural Resources Wales Scotland: Authorisation from SEPA, but not for low concentrations. Draft authorisation approach for groundwater tracer tests.

NI: Guidelines and authorisation required for marine environment.

England: Environment Agency Wales: Natural Resources Wales Scotland: SEPA NI: Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs Tracer test database by CNCC

Remarks: • This regulatory overview is subject to changes and updates.

• If you have any updates or comments on the information in this overview, please don't hesitate to contact Sofie de Volder at contact@traqua.be.

• This regulatory overview has not been established with the aim of proposing a regulation on fluorescent dye tracing at EU level, but simply to facilitate the performance of tracer tests in the EU Member States and to highlight some 'good practices' put in place by countries such as Switzerland (InfoTracer) and Slovenia (GIS database).

• •

This overview was prepared by Sofie de Volder (TRAQUA S.A.), Rudy Plouvier (Polytech Montpellier, Cabinet Tramoy), and Jérémy Reboul (Polytech Montpellier, ASH Ingénierie).

We wish to express our gratitude to all experts who have answered our questionnaires on regulations of fluorescent dye tracing in their respective countries.