prEN 16003
(Main)Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption - Calcium magnesium carbonate
- Abstract
This European Standard is applicable to calcium magnesium carbonate used for treatment of water intended for human consumption.
It describes the characteristics of calcium magnesium carbonate and specifies the requirements and the corresponding test methods for calcium magnesium carbonate. It gives information on its use in water treatment.
- Status
- Not Published
- Publication Date
- 03-Jul-2028
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 164 - Water supply
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 164/WG 9 - Drinking water treatment
- Current Stage
- 4020 - Submission to enquiry - Enquiry
- Start Date
- 01-Oct-2026
- Due Date
- 23-Mar-2027
- Completion Date
- 01-Oct-2026
prEN 16003 is a CEN draft European Standard for calcium magnesium carbonate used in the treatment of water intended for human consumption. It specifies the product’s characteristics, purity requirements, and the corresponding test methods, and it also gives information on how the material is used in water treatment. In practice, it is a specification for suppliers, laboratories, water-treatment operators, and specifiers who need to identify, test, and handle this product consistently.
What does prEN 16003 specify?
prEN 16003 covers calcium magnesium carbonate for treating water intended for human consumption. The standard sets out the product description, purity criteria, sampling and analysis approach, and storage and marking information, so users can specify and check the material in a common way.
The document is organized into clauses 1 to 7 and one informative annex:
| Part | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Clause 1 | Scope |
| Clause 2 | Normative references |
| Clause 3 | Description |
| Clause 4 | Purity criteria |
| Clause 5 | Test methods |
| Clause 6 | Labelling, transportation and storage |
| Annex A | General information on calcium carbonate, including use and impact on drinking water |
The introduction also notes that national rules may still control whether the product may be used in a particular EU or EFTA state.
What are the key requirements of prEN 16003?
prEN 16003 focuses on product identity, purity, test methods, and handling requirements. For a buyer or plant operator, the most useful part is that it ties the material description to measurable chemical and physical criteria.
Clause 4.1 identifies the product as calcium magnesium carbonate, with dolomite as the synonym, and gives the chemical identifiers, formulae, CAS Registry Number, and EINECS reference. This helps avoid confusion in procurement and documentation.
Clause 4.1 and 4.2 describe the commercial form and physical state as crushed or granular material, with a white or grey to brownish appearance. It also gives density, bulk density, solubility, and particle-size information. In practice, this tells users what to expect when receiving, storing, and feeding the product.
Clause 4.2.13 describes the chemical behavior of the material in water, including its alkaline reaction and the way it reacts with carbon dioxide and water. This matters because the product is used to adjust water chemistry.
Clause 5.2 and 5.3 set composition and impurity criteria. The commercial product must meet minimum composition requirements, and the residue not soluble in hydrochloric acid is limited. This gives a basic quality screen for supplied material.
Clause 5.4 sets limits for chemical parameters including antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, nickel, and selenium. These limits are the main purity check for trace substances relevant to drinking-water treatment.
Clause 6 defines how to verify conformity. Sampling follows ISO 3165 and ISO 6206, and the laboratory sample preparation and analyses use EN 12485. This is the route to consistent testing and acceptance decisions.
Clause 7 covers delivery, marking, and storage. The product may be delivered in bags, containers, or bulk; delivery means must not contaminate it; marking includes the product name, trade name, net mass, supplier or manufacturer details, and a statement of conformity; dry storage is required, and the product should be kept away from acids. That is the practical guidance for warehouse and transport control.
Annex A gives application information, including the product’s role in partly removing carbon dioxide and increasing pH and hardness, its use in filters, and the usual particle-size ranges. It also explains the expected effect on drinking water quality.
What terms does prEN 16003 define?
- Calcium magnesium carbonate - The product covered by the standard, used in water treatment to modify water chemistry.
- Dolomite - The common synonym used for calcium magnesium carbonate in the standard.
- Dry substance - The basis used for the composition and impurity limits in the tables.
- EINECS reference - The European Inventory identifier listed for the product.
- REACH - The EU chemicals regulation referenced for classification and market placement of substances.
- Parametric values - The drinking-water limit values referenced when discussing the product’s impact on treated water.
- Neutralizing value - A way of expressing the combined effect of the carbonate content, mentioned in Annex A with reference to EN 12945.
Who uses prEN 16003?
prEN 16003 is used by manufacturers and suppliers of calcium magnesium carbonate, water-treatment plant operators, and laboratories that sample and test the product. It is also relevant to buyers, specifiers, and quality managers who need to verify that the material meets drinking-water treatment requirements. Regulators and technical reviewers can use it when checking product description, purity, marking, and storage conditions.
What changed in prEN 16003 from the previous edition?
prEN 16003:2026 will supersede EN 16003:2011. The foreword lists these changes: adjustment to the note in 5.4 for Table 3; addition of a direct reference to [5] in the note to 7.2 item 4; a new subclause A.2 on the impact of commercial products on drinking water quality, including a new Table A.1; direct references to [2] in A.3.2 and [1] in A.3.3; and replacement of the older Drinking Water Directive in the bibliography with the revised one.
Which standards are used with prEN 16003?
- EN 12485 - Supplies the test methods used for sampling support, laboratory sample preparation, and analysis.
- ISO 3165 - Gives general recommendations for sampling chemical products for industrial use.
- ISO 6206 - Provides the sampling vocabulary used alongside ISO 3165.
- EN 12902 - Used in Annex A for determining particle-size range.
- EN 12945 - Used in Annex A where the carbonate content may be expressed as neutralizing value.
What does the prEN 16003 document contain?
prEN 16003 contains product identification data, physical properties, chemical properties, and purity tables for calcium magnesium carbonate. It includes a sampling and analysis clause, plus marking, transport, and storage instructions. Annex A adds background on raw materials and manufacturing, the effect on drinking-water quality, typical use in filters, usual particle-size ranges, and emergency handling notes. The bibliography points to supporting standards and the drinking-water and chemicals regulations referenced in the text.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 06-May-2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
prEN 16003 is a draft published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption - Calcium magnesium carbonate". This standard covers: This European Standard is applicable to calcium magnesium carbonate used for treatment of water intended for human consumption. It describes the characteristics of calcium magnesium carbonate and specifies the requirements and the corresponding test methods for calcium magnesium carbonate. It gives information on its use in water treatment.
This European Standard is applicable to calcium magnesium carbonate used for treatment of water intended for human consumption. It describes the characteristics of calcium magnesium carbonate and specifies the requirements and the corresponding test methods for calcium magnesium carbonate. It gives information on its use in water treatment.
prEN 16003 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 71.100.80 - Chemicals for purification of water. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
prEN 16003 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN 16003:2011. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
prEN 16003 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2026
Kemikalije, ki se uporabljajo za pripravo pitne vode - Kalcij-magnezijev karbonat
Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption - Calcium
magnesium carbonate
Produkte zur Aufbereitung von Wasser für den menschlichen Gebrauch -
Calciummagnesiumcarbonat
Produits chimiques utilisés pour le traitement de l'eau destinée à la consommation
humaine - Carbonate de calcium et de magnésium
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 16003
ICS:
13.060.20 Pitna voda Drinking water
71.100.80 Kemikalije za čiščenje vode Chemicals for purification of
water
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
October 2026
ICS Will supersede EN 16003:2011
English Version
Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human
consumption - Calcium magnesium carbonate
Produits chimiques utilisés pour le traitement de l'eau Produkte zur Aufbereitung von Wasser für den
destinée à la consommation humaine - Carbonate de menschlichen Gebrauch - Calciummagnesiumcarbonat
calcium et de magnésium
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 164.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.
Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 16003:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Description . 5
3.1 Identification . 5
3.2 Commercial forms . 6
3.3 Physical properties . 6
3.4 Chemical properties . 7
4 Purity criteria . 7
4.1 General. 7
4.2 Composition of commercial product . 7
4.3 Impurities and main by-product . 7
4.4 Chemical parameters. 8
5 Test methods . 8
5.1 Sampling . 8
5.2 Analyses. 8
6 Labelling - Transportation - Storage . 8
6.1 Means of delivery . 8
6.2 Risk and safety labelling according to the EU Directives . 8
6.3 Transportation regulations and labelling . 9
6.4 Marking . 9
6.5 Storage . 9
Annex A (informative) General information on calcium carbonate . 10
A.1 Origin . 10
A.2 Impact of commercial products on drinking water quality . 10
A.3 Use . 11
A.4 Rules for safe handling and use . 11
A.5 Emergency procedures . 12
Bibliography . 13
European foreword
This document (prEN 16003:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 164 “Water
supply”, the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 16003:2011.
to EN 16003:2011:
a) in 5.4 adjusting the NOTE to Table 3;
b) in 7.2 Note to 4) including [5] in direct reference to the Bibliography;
c) inserting a new subclause “A.2 Impact of commercial products on drinking water quality” with
a new “Table A.1 Maximum impact of Calcium magnesium carbonate on chemical parameter
contents of water. Drinking water limit values based on Drinking Water Directive.”;
d) in A.3.2, direct reference to [2] in the Bibliography was added;
e) in A.3.3, direct reference to [1] in the Bibliography was added;
f) in the Bibliography, the older Drinking Water Directive was replaced with the revised one.
Introduction
In respect of potential adverse effects on the quality of water intended for human consumption, caused
by the product covered by this Standard:
— this Standard provides no information as to whether the product may be used without restriction
in any of the Member States of the EU or EFTA;
— it should be noted that, while awaiting the adoption of verifiable European criteria, existing
national regulations concerning the use and/or the characteristics of this product remain in force.
NOTE Conformity with the standard does not confer or imply acceptance or approval of the product in any of
the Member States of the EU or EFTA. The use of the product covered by this European Standard is subject to
regulation or control by National Authorities.
1 Scope
This document is applicable to calcium magnesium carbonate used for treatment of water intended for
human consumption. It describes the characteristics of calcium magnesium carbonate and specifies the
requirements and the corresponding test methods for calcium magnesium carbonate. It gives
information on its use in water treatment.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 12485, Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption - Calcium carbonate,
high-calcium lime, half-burnt dolomite, magnesium oxide, calcium magnesium carbonate and dolomitic
lime - Test methods
ISO 3165, Sampling of chemical products for industrial use — Safety in sampling
ISO 6206, Chemical products for industrial use — Sampling — Vocabulary
3 Terms and definitions
No terms and definitions are listed in this document.
4 Description
4.1 Identification
4.1.1 Chemical name
Calcium magnesium carbonate.
4.1.2 S
...