Regulations on Use of Water for Mining and Related Activities aimed at the Protection of Water Resources (GN. 704 of 1999).

These Regulations place restrictions on mining operations for purposes of protecting water resources. It prescribes measures and precautions that persons in control of a mine must take; unpolluted water must be confined to a clean water system, away from any dirty area; any clean water system at the mine or activity shall be designed, constructed, maintained and operated so that it is not likely to spill into any dirty water system more than once in 50 years; water arising within any dirty area, including water seeping from mining operations, outcrops or any other activity, into a dirty water system shall be collected, etc. Every person in control of a mine or activity must take reasonable measures to: prevent water containing waste or any substance which causes or is likely to cause pollution of a water resource from entering any water resource; design, modify, locate, construct and maintain all water systems, including residue deposits, in any area so as to prevent the pollution of any water resource through the operation or use thereof and to restrict the possibility of damage to the riparian or in-stream habitat through erosion or sedimentation, or the disturbance of vegetation, or the alteration of flow characteristics; cause effective measures to be taken to minimise the flow of any surface water or floodwater into mine workings, open-cast workings, other workings or subterranean caverns, through cracked or fissured formations, subsided ground, sinkholes, outcrop excavations, entrances or any other openings; etc. Additional regulations relating to winning sand and alluvial minerals from watercourse or estuary are included. The Minister may require technical investigation and monitoring.