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An Overview of Challenges Associated with Defining and Applying Water Quality Standards in the Absence of Applicable Regulatory Limits

Water quality protection is a key guiding principle for responsible mining companies. This paper reviews challenges with identifying appropriate water quality standards for mining projects in various jurisdictions that lack comprehensive standards. Baseline conditions and criteria for ‘compliance’ need to be defined before a risk assessment can be completed. However, the development of site specific criteria can require extensive effort. Various internationally recognised standards are available, but these vary with respect to parameters and values. Stakeholder engagement is essential to develop a shared understanding with regulators and communities of the water quality objectives (what receptors need protecting and what are the risks) and how to achieve that compliance.