Description

Under the Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations (MDMER), mines are required, as part of Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) studies, to conduct effluent and water quality monitoring studies, which include water quality monitoring. Water quality monitoring is conducted four times a year and at least one month apart, while the mine is depositing effluent, on a sample of water collected from the exposure area surrounding the point of entry of the effluent into water from each final discharge point and the related reference area. The parameters recorded under water quality monitoring include water temperature and dissolved oxygen while the others (e.g., pH, harness, alkalinity, electrical conductivity and salinity) vary depending on the type of receiving environment (i.e. fresh, estuarine or marine waters). The substances recorded under water quality monitoring include those recorded under effluent characterization in addition to the deleterious substances subject to effluent discharge limits such as arsenic, copper, cyanide, lead, nickel, radium 226, suspended solids, zinc, and un-ionized ammonia (since June 2021). Further information on the analytical requirements and conditions under which monitoring is required (i.e. for cyanide and radium 226 only) or may be discontinued (i.e. for mercury only) can be found in the MDMER. The data and information are published as reported by mines and have not been verified for accuracy and completeness.

Resources

Name	Format	Description	Link
Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) - Metal and Diamond Mines - Water Quality Monitoring	HTML		https://data-donnees.az.ec.gc.ca/data/substances/monitor/environmental-effects-monitoring/metal-and-diamond-mines-water-quality-monitoring?lang=en
Études de suivi des effets sur l’environnement (ESEE) - Mines de métaux et de diamants –  Suivi de la qualité de l'eau	HTML		https://data-donnees.az.ec.gc.ca/data/substances/monitor/environmental-effects-monitoring/metal-and-diamond-mines-water-quality-monitoring?lang=fr

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