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This Directive concerns surface water used or intended for the abstraction of drinking water after appropriate treatment and supplied by public distribution networks.

• parameters defining the physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics;
• limit values and guide values for these parameters;
• the minimum frequency of sampling and analysis;
• common non-mandatory reference methods for measuring the parameters.

The Member States set the values for the parameters and the frequency of analysis of surface water in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Directive. If no values are set for the parameter in the Directive, Member States are under no obligation to set one.

Member States may set more stringent requirements than laid down in the Directive.

Surface water is classified on the basis of its characteristics into three categories with different limit values. A standard method of treatment is defined for each category to turn it into tap water.

Subject to certain conditions, surface water is deemed to conform to the parameters, even where a certain percentage of samples fail to meet the limit values.

Exemptions to the provisions are included, for example in the case of flooding or natural disasters.

There is a procedure for adapting to technical progress the reference methods of measurement, the limit of detection, and the precision and accuracy of these methods.

The Member States report every three years on implementation of Directive 75/440/EEC on the basis of a questionnaire or outline drafted by the Commission in accordance with the procedure laid down in Directive 91/692/EEC.