Guidance: Monitoring discharges to water: CEN and ISO monitoring methods
Summary
The Environment Agency has updated its guidance on CEN and ISO monitoring methods for discharges to water, including the addition of new standards for several pollutants and the replacement of the PFOS/PFOA standard with one for PFAS. The document notes that some updated methods, including those for biochemical oxygen demand and total nitrogen, supersede previous versions.
Why it matters
Residential property surveyors may encounter sites, developments or environmental due diligence issues where discharge monitoring standards are relevant, particularly in relation to contamination and regulatory compliance. The update also signals changing expectations around water-quality testing and pollutant monitoring that can affect risk assessment and reporting.
Key points
- Environment Agency guidance lists CEN and ISO methods for monitoring discharges to water.
- PFAS has replaced the previous PFOS/PFOA standard in the guidance.
- New standards have been added for BOD, cyanide, total nitrogen, TOC, organochlorine pesticides, PAHs, short-chain polychlorinated alkanes and VOCs.
- The BOD and total nitrogen standards supersede earlier versions.
- The methods are described as international standards recommended by regulation.
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