The assessment procedure for determining the chemical status of a body or a group of bodies of groundwater will be carried out in relation to all bodies or groups of bodies of groundwater characterised as being at risk and in relation to each of the pollutants which contribute to the body or group of bodies of groundwater being so characterised.

‘groundwater quality standard’ means an environmental quality standard expressed as the concentration of a particular pollutant, group of pollutants or indicator of pollution in groundwater, which should not be exceeded in order to protect human health and the environment.

These include the inventories of air pollutant emissions under the National Emission Ceiling Directive as well as under the UN-ECE Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution, the inventories of greenhouse gas emissions under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and Member States' reports on the impact on water bodies of diffuse sources of pollution under the Water Framework Directive.

The article mentions that there are water shortages in the Prairies; that there are diseases from contaminated water; that low water levels on the Great Lakes threaten shipping and reduce hydroelectric energy production; that Canada needs $41 billion over ten years for water treatment and sewage disposal; that water shortages cause friction between provinces, between industries, and between Canada and the U.S.; that we do not know how much groundwater we have in Canada; and that we do not understand the effects of newer pollutants such as pharmaceuticals that end up down the drains and can disrupt human hormone systems.

1. The European Parliament and the Council shall adopt specific measures against pollution of water by individual pollutants or groups of pollutants presenting a significant risk to or via the aquatic environment, including such risks to waters used for the abstraction of drinking water.

35". Environmental quality standard" means the concentration of a particular pollutant or group of pollutants in water, sediment or biota which should not be exceeded in order to protect human health and the environment.