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Impacts to water quality can be surface pollution through contaminants, chemicals, hydrocarbons, waste and other or underground through Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) and other harmful leachates. Where these contaminants enter receiving water resources, environmental degradation can take place and human health may be impacted (SGS, 2023) (CDC, 2020). Both of the aforementioned consequences can carry serious financial and sometimes legal consequence in terms of relevant environmental legislation. This is where regular water sampling and testing becomes important.

Water sampling can be done internally by the developer or mine operator, but some Water Use Licenses (WULs) and Environmental Authorisations (EAs) require an external, independent sampler. Water quality analysis will be done by a South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) accredited laboratory. The reason the laboratory needs to be SANAS accredited is to ensure conformity of assessment of the water quality sample, which is regulated by the Conformity Assessment, Calibration and Good Laboratory Practice Act (Act 19 of 2006) (SANAS, 2023).

When collecting the water sample, the independent sampler will use a bucket or sample bottle which is then closed with a lid and sealed to ensure that only the accredited laboratory breaks the seal to access and analyse the water sample. The sample bottle will need to be labelled correctly with the date of when the sample was taken and the name of the sample for easy identification during analysis (Madrid & Pedrero Zayas, 2007). A groundwater sample is taken from boreholes by use of a bailer or water pump and placed in the correct vessel as described above. All water sampling and analysis needs to be done in accordance with the relevant ISO guidelines as follows:

The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) (1996) (now the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS)) published the South African Water Quality Guidelines, which outlines various water quality parameters (pH, Dissolved Oxygen, etc) and acceptable limits for each parameter according to the environment and proposed use of water. Depending on the WUL, specific limits may be set which is specific to a particular project or activity. It is therefore the onus of the developer or operator of the activity to ensure compliance with the specified limits. Regular collection and subsequent analysis of water quality samples relative to a development or activity will monitor compliance to the specified parameter limits. Where exceedances are noted, the independent specialist will provide realistic mitigation and rehabilitation measures in an attempt to comply with the specified limits. Should exceedances persist, the relevant Competent Authority (e.g. DWS) may take necessary steps which could have financial or legal implications. Regular water quality sampling is therefore of critical importance to monitor compliance and to ensure early identification of any exceedances.

Environmental Assurance (Pty) Ltd. (ENVASS) offer highly skilled and suitably qualified teams of Environmental Specialist who are always ready to review and implement stringent water quality monitoring programmes for a new project or existing activities. If you require a proposal for these services, please do not hesitate to contact our highly qualified and experienced specialists at ENVASS on 012 460 9768 or info@envass.co.za.

References:
CDC, 2020. Importance of Water Quality and Testing. [Online]
Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/public/water_quality.html#:~:text=The%20presence%20of%20certain%20contaminants,especially%20at%20risk%20for%20illness.
[Accessed 13 April 2023].
Madrid, Y. & Pedrero Zayas, Z., 2007. Water sampling: Traditional methods and new approaches in water sampling strategy. TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 26(4), pp. 293 – 299.