Complying with water quality limits set out in water-use licences (WULs) is imperative for mines, industrial organisations and other authorised South African water users. However, there are good reasons for taking a broad view when considering the option of treating water.
Among the responsibilities of public sector water regulators is the maintenance of water resource quality in rivers, streams and other natural water bodies. WUL holders must generally comply with quality limits set for water discharged into natural water courses. These limits are specified within the terms of a WUL.
Stricter limits and other water treatment triggers
Many users, both mining and industrial, may now be faced with the need to meet more onerous water quality obligations. For example, if a new ecological reserve, including resource quality objectives is published, this might affect the quality limit specified in the WUL. The resource quality objectives are a set of limits and requirements published by government for rivers and their tributaries. It provides pollutant concentrations that should not be exceeded in that river system, to protect both aquatic ecosystems and people.
Some WULs state that once the ecological reserve is published, any resource quality objectives (limits) will apply in place of the original WUL limits. In many cases, that means there are far more stringent water quality limits for those water users. Other licences implicitly require considerations of the ecological reserve - by stating that users need to assess impacts in terms of the ecological reserve. Organisations should read their WULs carefully and consider the implications if such clauses are included.
Download Publication
