HVO 2009 Annual Environmental Management Report - Final

Coal & Allied – Hunter Valley Operations
Surface Water Monitoring Results for Hunter River
The surface water monitoring results for the Hunter River are shown in Table 26 and Figure 29 to Figure 31.
The Hunter River was sampled at two sites upstream (W109 and W1) and three sites downstream (H1, H2
and H3) of point sources of runoff (Wollombi Brook and Farrells Creek) to monitor the impact of mining on the
Hunter River. Site W109 is located furthest upstream of operations and H3 furthest downstream.
The river stations have been traditionally sampled monthly subject to safe access. Coal & Allied has built up a
large knowledge base from 30 years of river monitoring, and in that time the DWE (Department of Water and
Energy) (now DECCW) have greatly increased the level of real time river monitoring within the river. The DoP
and DECCW have agreed that there is no risk posed to river management if the frequency of monitoring was
reduced. During 2009 surface water sampling at Hunter River sites was conducted quarterly.
Results for water quality remained within historical trends, and there were no indication that mining activity
adversely affected river water quality.
Table 26: Surface Water Results from Hunter River Sites for 2009
Location
pH EC (S/cm) TSS (mg/L)
Average Min Max Average Min Max Average Min Max
W109 8.3 8 8.5 790 510 1,090 31 15 44
W1 8.3 8.2 8.5 820 520 1,140 36 14 70
W3 (Hunter River) 8.3 8.1 8.4 913 640 1,200 31 4 56
W4 (Hunter River) 8.5 8.3 8.6 853 580 1,200 27 11 44
H1 8.2 7.7 8.8 732 590 890 39 15 83
H2 8.3 7.7 8.4 697 490 920 31 14 68
H3 8.2 8.1 8.3 667 500 850 18 6 32
AEMR 2009 75