Glossary of water management terms

Definitions of technical terms used in water license reviews or environmental assessments.

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) Water Resources division mandate falls within 2 areas:

• water management and planning activities
• regulatory activities

CIRNAC's responsibilities are in accordance with Article 13 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA) involve participating in the Nunavut Water Board's (NWB) procedures for water licensing.

The NWB derives its mandate and associated responsibilities from the NLCA and the Nunavut Waters and Nunavut Surface Rights Tribunal Act.  The NWB, CIRNAC, Inuit organizations, other regulators and interested parties all work in partnership to protect the environment and manage sustainable development.

Abandonment

the permanent dismantlement of a facility, so it is permanently incapable of its intended use. This includes the removal of associated equipment and structures.

Acid Drainage

any drainage from mine workings, waste or tailings, with a low (acidic) pH

Acid Rock Drainage (ARD)

the production of acidic leachate, seepage or drainage from underground workings, open pits, ore piles, waste rock, construction rock that can lead to the release of metals to groundwater or surface water during the life of a project and after closure

Acidity

a measure of the capacity of a solution to neutralize bases

Act

the Nunavut Waters and Nunavut Surface Rights Tribunal Act.

Acutely Lethal

in respect of an effluent as defined in the Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations

Adaptive Management

a management approach that describes a way of managing risks associated with uncertainty and provides a flexible framework for mitigation, monitoring and management measures to be implemented and actions to be taken, when specified thresholds are exceeded. Measures may include special studies, operational changes, revised or new water and waste management systems, structures or facilities or implementing mitigation activities to prevent, stabilize or reverse a change in environmental conditions or otherwise protect the receiving environment

Addendum

the supplemental text that is added to a full plan or report, usually included at the end of the document and is not intended to require a full resubmission of the revised report. It may also be considered as an appendix or supplement

Adit

a horizontal entrance, or passage, in a mine

Aeration

process of blowing air (or another gas such as carbon dioxide) through a liquid or solid

Aerobic

any biological process that occurs in the presence of oxygen; also applies to organisms that require oxygen to survive

Alkalinity

a measure of the capacity of a solution to neutralize acids

Amendment

a change to any terms and conditions of this licence through application to the NWB, requiring a change, addition, or deletion of specific terms and conditions of the licence not considered as a modification.

Anaerobic

any process that can occur without oxygen; also applies to organisms that can survive without oxygen

Analysis

a close look at something to find out more about it; can involve looking closely at the individual parts of something and describing them

Analyst

means an analyst designated by the minister under section 85 (1) of the act

Anthropogenic

caused or produced as a result of human activity

Appurtenant Undertaking

an undertaking in relation to which a use of water or a deposit of waste is permitted by a licence issued by the board

Assessment

an evaluation on the nature, importance, size or value of something; for example, an environmental assessment may describe the value of arctic char after a study of the char, the fishermen, the method of fishing and the effect on the environment

Assimilative Capacity

the amount of pollutants that a water body may absorb while continuing to meet water quality standards

Attenuate

reduce in significance or concentration

Aquatic

term used to describe any organism growing in, living in, or frequenting water; some plants and animals that live in water are called aquatic species

Aquifer

an underground layer of rock or soil that contains water and can supply a large quantity of water to wells or springs

Backfilling

the return of wastes or other material underground for disposal

Bedrock

solid rock underlying soil, gravel or loose boulders; the Canadian Shield is composed of bedrock

Best Management Practices

management or construction practices designed to be effective and reduce the impact on the environment

Bioaccumulation

occurs when plants or animals collect contaminants in their tissues over time; when low amounts of contaminants are continually absorbed, they build up and can cause illness

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

a laboratory test to measure the amount of oxygen consumed by microorganisms as they decompose organic matter; the test indicates the amount of organic material in a water sample

Biodegradable

material that will decompose under natural, biological conditions and processes

Biodiversity

the number of different plants and animals that live in a specific area

Bioindicators

organisms that are used to detect changes in environmental pollutant levels, such organisms are usually sensitive to changes in their surroundings

Biomagnification

an increase in concentration of a substance at each progressive link in the food chain (for example: berries birds foxes bears; the concentration of a contaminant such as lead would be highest in a large meat-eater)

Bioremediation

a process to reduce contaminant levels in soil or water by using microorganisms or vegetation

Biota

the animals, plants, and microorganisms that live in a specific area

Borrow Pits

sites used for the purpose of extracting materials, such as gravel or sand, for the construction of site infrastructure and facilities.

Buffering Capacity

the ability of a substance to resist an increase or decrease in pH

Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME)

the organizations of Canadian Ministers of Environment that sets guidelines for environmental protection across Canada, such as the Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Freshwater Aquatic Life

Care and Maintenance

in respect of a mine, means the status of the facility, when the Licensee ceases production or commercial operation temporarily for an undefined period of time; "Closure" means when an operator ceases operations at a facility without the intent to resume mining activities in the future

Chlorination

process of purifying/disinfecting water by adding chlorine

Climate

the average weather for a particular region and time period

Coarse Rejects

waste rock that is produced early in a mine's processing stage; the rock is not further crushed or concentrated because it contains little or nothing of economic value

Collection Pond or Containment Pond

a facility designed to temporarily contain runoff from areas impacted by mining activities and from site infrastructure

Concentrate

a product containing a valuable mineral or metal and from which most of the waste material has been removed

Concentration

the process of separating a mineral from valueless host rock in preparation for further processing; also the amount of a substance in a given weight or volume of another material

Conductivity

a measure of the ability of a liquid to transmit electrical current or heat

Conservation

protection, preservation, management, or restoration of a resource

Consumptive Water Use

when water is used and not returned to its source, such as through evaporation or by including it in a product

Contact Water

any water that may be physically or chemically affected by mining activities

Contaminant

introduced species, substance or material which was either not previously present or was present in a lesser amount, and that may have a harmful effect on the environment

Cumulative Effects

the combined environmental impacts that accumulate over time and space as a result of a series of similar or related individual actions, contaminants, or projects

Decommissioning

the process of permanently closing a facility/site; includes rehabilitation and plans for future maintenance of affected land and water

Dewater

the process of removing water

Deposit

the placement of waste rock, tailings or other materials on land or in water

Diamond Drill

a piece of equipment used to drill through hard rock, the drill has a diamond on the drill bit and can cut through hard rock better than a metal drill bit

Discharge

the release of any water or waste to the receiving environment

Dilution

to decrease the concentration of a substance by mixing it with another such as the addition of water

Disinfection

to destroy or prevent the growth of micro organisms

Disposal

the relocation and/or containment, of materials

Dissolution

the process of dissolving a solid in a liquid

Ecosystem

a community of plants, animals, and non-living things that exist in the same place

Effluent

treated or untreated liquid waste material that is discharged into the environment from a structure such as a settling pond or treatment plant

Emulsion Plant

a facility designed for manufacturing of emulsion-based explosives

Engineer

a professional engineer registered to practice in Nunavut in accordance with the Consolidation of Engineers and Geoscientists Act S. Nu 2008, c.2 and the Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act S.N.W.T. 2006, c.16 Amended by S.N.W.T. 2009, c.12

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

a report submitted by a company to describe a project or development, the possible positive or negative impacts of its actions, and its plans to reduce, mitigate or avoid these impacts; the information in the report is based on studies that have been carried out; the report is reviewed by the Nunavut Water Board, Nunavut Impact Review Board, appropriate government agencies and the public

Erosion

the wearing away of rock or soil by water, rain, waves, wind or ice; the process may be accelerated by human activities

Evaporation

the process by which water is converted to vapour (such as the heat of the sun converts puddles of rain water into vapour)

Fecal Coliform

bacteria that come from the intestinal tracts of mammals and are released in faeces

Filtration

the process of separating liquids from solids by passing the liquids through a porous barrier (filter)

Flocculent

a chemical added to water that attaches to small particles and helps them sink; the material that settles on the bottom can be removed to improve the clarity of the water

Freeboard

the vertical space remaining in a containment structure; the vertical distance between the surface of the water and the top of a dam or dyke

Geotechnical Engineer

a professional engineer registered with the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists, and whose principal field of specialization with the engineering properties of earth materials in dealing with man-made structures and earthworks that will be built on a site. These can include shallow and deep foundations, retaining walls, dams, and embankments

Glacier

a huge mass of ice, formed on land by the compaction and re-crystallization of snow, that moves very slowly downslope or outward due to its own weight

Grab Sample

an undiluted quantity of material collected at a particular time and place that may be representative of the total substance being sampled at the time and place it was collected

Greywater

the component of effluent produced from domestic use (such as washing, bathing, food preparation and laundering), excluding sewage

Groundwater

water that occupies pores and fractures in rock and soil below the ground surface in a liquid or frozen state

Grab Sample

a single water, wastewater, or soil  sample taken at a single point in time and location

Habitat

the specific area in which a particular type of plant or animal lives

Hazardous Waste

a waste that contains any substance (solid, liquid, or gaseous) that is harmful or potentially harmful to life or the environment; this type of waste includes toxic flammable, corrosive and oxidizing substances and is subject to special handling, shipping, storage, and disposal requirements

Hydrocarbons

any substance containing carbon and hydrogen in various combinations (e.g. gasoline and oil)

Hydrogeology

the study of groundwater, with particular emphasis on the chemistry and movement of water

Hydrology

the science that deals with water, its properties, distribution and circulation over the Earth's surface

Impoundment

a structure or location used for confined storage, such as a pond, lake or reservoir

Impurity

an unwanted substance that is present within another substance or mixture

Inspector

an Inspector designated by the minister under section 85 (1) of the act

Interim Closure and Reclamation Plan or ICRP

a conceptual detailed plan addressing the reclamation of mine components, which will not be closed until the end of the operation, and operational detail for components, which are to be progressively reclaimed throughout the mine life

Intermittent Stream

a watercourse that does not flow continuously, or flows during spring and summer only

Inuit-Owned Land (IOL)

lands owned by a Designated Inuit Organization in accordance with section 19.3.1 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement

Kimberlite

a type of rock (produced by volcanic activity) that can contain diamonds

Kimberlite Pipe

an occurrence of kimberlite, so named because it is narrow and vertical in shape and resembles a pipe

Leachate

water or other liquid that has washed (leached) from a solid material, such as a layer of soil or waste; leachate may contain contaminants

Leaching

occurs when a liquid (e.g. water) passes through a substance, picking up some of the material and carrying it to other places; this can happen under ground in solid rock, or above ground through piles of material

Licensee

the entity, to whom the Licence is issued or to whom the Licence is subsequently assigned

Metal

a group of elements possessing certain qualities including metallic luster, malleability, ductility, high specific gravity and good conductivity ofheat and electricity metals are mined from the Earth

Metal Leaching

the mobilization of metals into solution under neutral, acidic or alkaline conditions

Milling Process

process by which the valuable components of the ore are separated from waste material. Water is used and the waste products are called tailings

Minewater

any water, including groundwater, that is pumped or flows out of any underground workings or open pit

Minister

the Minister of Northern Affairs

Mitigation

actions taken for the purpose of reducing the negative impacts on the environment of a particular land use or activity

Modification

an alteration to a physical work that introduces a new structure or eliminates an existing structure and does not alter the purpose or function of the work

Monitoring Program

the program to collect data on surface water and groundwater quality to assess impacts to the environment of an appurtenant undertaking

Neutralization

raising the pH of an acidic material or lowering the pH of an alkaline material to a nearly neutral pH level (7)

Nunavut Agreement

the "Agreement Between the Inuit of the Nunavut Settlement Area and Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada," including its preamble and schedules, and any amendments to that agreement made pursuant to it

Ore

a mineral or solid material containing a precious or useful substance in a quantity and form that makes its extraction/mining profitable

Overburden

material that must be removed to gain access to an ore, particularly at a surface (open pit) mine

Oxidation

occurs when a substance is exposed to air

Particulate Matter

very small, separate particles

Permafrost

soil or rock which remains below freezing point throughout the year, typically within  the  polar and alpine regions

pH

a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution; the pH scale ranges from 0-14, with 7 representing neutral solutions; a solution with a pH greater than seven is described as alkaline, and one with a pH below seven is called acidic; vinegar is an example of an acid, while household bleach is an alkaline solution

Pollutant

a contaminant that negatively impacts the physical, chemical, or biological properties of the environment

Portal

the ground level entrance or opening to an under ground mine

Potable Water

water safe for human consumption

Processed Kimberlite

the portion of washed or milled kimberlite that is regarded as too poor to be treated further; this material has little or no economic value

Process Water

water that is used in an industrial process and is not intended for human consumption

Progressive Reclamation

actions that can be taken during mining operations before permanent closure, to take advantage of cost and operating efficiencies by using the resources available from mine operations to reduce the overall reclamation costs incurred. It enhances environmental protection and shortens the timeframe for achieving the reclamation objectives and goals

Quality Assurance or Quality Control (QA/QC)

quality assurance means the system of activities designed to better ensure that quality control is done effectively. Quality control means the use of established procedures to achieve standards of measurement for the three principle components of quality: precision, accuracy and reliability.

Quarry or Quarries

the area of surface excavation for extracting rock material for use as construction materials in the development of site infrastructure and facilities

Receiving Environment

both the aquatic and terrestrial environments that receive any discharge resulting from the project

Reclamation

the process of returning a site to its natural state, or a state that prevents environmental impacts or threats to human health and safety

Restoration

the renewing or repairing of a natural system so that its functions and qualities are comparable to those of its original, unaltered state

Runoff

water that is not absorbed by soil, and drains off the land into bodies of water. Can be caused by either rain or melt water

Sediment

the solid material that settles from a liquid; for example mud will sink and settle at the bottom of a river or stream because it is heavier than water

Settling Pond

a natural or artificial water body used to contain wastewater in order to enable solids to be removed from it before it is released to the natural environment

Sewage

toilet wastes and greywater

Sewage Disposal

the area and structure(s) designed to contain and treat sewage

Silt

individual mineral particles of sand and clay that can be picked up by the air or water and deposited as sediment

Siltation

the deposition, in a water body, of sediments (e.g. sand and clay) that appear as tiny suspended particles

Solid Waste Disposal Facilities

the area and associated structures designed to contain solid wastes

Solubility

the quantity of material that dissolves in a given volume of liquid

Sump

a structure or depression that collects, controls, and filters liquid waste before it is released to the environment. This structure should be designed to prevent erosion while allowing percolation of liquid waste

Suspended Solids

organic and inorganic particles, such as solids from wastewater, sand, and clay, that are suspended and carried in water

Tailings

portions of washed or milled ore that are regarded as too poor to be treated further, as distinguished from concentrates, or material of value

Toxic

poisonous, or otherwise directly harmful to life

Turbidity

particles, suspended in water or wastewater, that interfere with the passage of light; high turbidity makes water appear unclear or cloudy and is harmful to organisms such as fish

Undertaking

an undertaking, in respect of which water is to be used or waste is to be deposited, of a type set out in Schedule I of the regulations

Use

in relation to waters, means use as defined in section 4 of the act

Waste

means waste as defined in section 4 of the act

Waste Disposal Facilities

all site infrastructure designed for the disposal of waste including the landfill, incinerator, landfarm, sewage treatment plant, tailings storage facility and waste rock storage facilities

Waste Rock

all rock materials, except ore and tailings, that are produced as a result of mining operations and have no current economic value

Wastewater

the Water generated by site activities or originated on-site that requires treatment or any other water management activity

Water or Waters

water as defined in S.4 of the act

Water Supply Facilities

the facilities designated for the supply of water including the fresh water Intake, the reclaim water system and all associated infrastructure

Water Quality

the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of water

Water Quality Standards

fixed limits of certain chemical, physical, and biological parameters in a water body; water quality standards are established for various uses of water (e.g. drinking)

Water Table

the level below where the ground is saturated with water

Water Use

whenever water is used by an activity or organism, either in the place it is found or by withdrawing it

Watershed

the area of land from which rainfall (and/or snow melt) drains to a single point. Ridges of higher ground generally form the boundaries between watersheds, and at these boundaries, rain falling on one side flows toward the low point of one watershed, while rain falling on the other side flows toward the low point of a different watershed

Weathering

the process by which particles, such as rocks and minerals, are altered upon exposure to surface temperatures and pressure, air, water, wind and biological activity

Wetland

land that is saturated with water or submerged, at least during most of the growing season; wetlands generally include swamps, marshes and bogs