INTEGRATED WATER AND WASTE MANAGEMENT PLANS (IWWMP)

The  Integrated  Water  and  Waste  Management  Plan  (IWWMP)  has  been compiled to assist mines and industries who apply for a Water Use License (WUL) in terms of Section 40 (1) of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act No. 36 of  1998)  (NWA).  The IWWMP acts as a management plan and requires approval in conjunction with the WUL by  the  Department  of  Water  and Sanitation (DWS). The aim of the IWWMP is to:

Provide the regulatory authorities with focused and structured information, not only to meet their general information needs, but also to articulate the required management measures and actions to achieve the water and waste related performance on an ongoing basis; and

Provide direction and guidance to the water user on water and waste management of any activity.

GCS has the required expertise to develop IWWMPs and has gained extensive experience in the compilation of IWWMPs across a variety of

mining sectors, which includes but is not limited to coal, gold, iron and platinum mining. GCS is also able to provide IWWMPs for all industries, golf courses, residential developments, municipal water supply projects and water bottling plants should they be required by DWS.

GCS adopts a holistic approach to the compilation of IWWMPs, aiming to provide the client with an integrated management plan that optimally addresses water and waste management issues applicable to the project area. This involves the identification of all water and waste sources and the  interaction  between  such  sources.  The most appropriate management measures and  key performance measures are then determined. GCS utilises the IWWMP Operational Guideline as well as the Best Practice Guidelines published by DWS. The Water Quality Management Hierarchy of decision-taking forms the basis of integrated water and waste management. This hierarchy is based on a precautionary principle and sets the following order of priority for mine water and waste management decisions and/or actions:

  1. Pollution Prevention;
  2. Water Reuse or Reclamation;
  3. Water Treatment; and
  4. Discharge or Disposal of Waste.

A typical IWWMP for an operation or site contains the following:

Assessment of regulatory requirements in terms of existing and required authorisations for all water and waste aspects on a particular site;

Identification of any existing Reserve Determination and Water Quality Objectives for the relevant catchment;     Detailed description of all operations and infrastructure on site;

Water and salt balance;

Storm water management plan and waste management plan;

Impact assessment and gap analysis with regard to water and waste aspects during the Construction, Operational and

Decommissioning phases of an operation or site;

Surface water and groundwater monitoring programme;

Description and assessment of support functions e.g. data management, performance reporting and auditing, emergency preparedness and response, training and environmental awareness, and the communication strategy; and

Key Performance Areas (KPAs), strategies and action plans.