Environmental Assessment
Volume C-3.7
Slurry Pipeline
Water Quality
Ambatovy Project
62
January 2006
Madagascar does not have water quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic
life. In the absence of national guidelines, international guidelines from other
jurisdictions including Canada (Canadian Council of Ministers of the
Environment [CCME] 2003) and the United States (US) (US Environmental
Protection Agency [EPA] 2004) were used to screen baseline water quality.
When CCME and EPA guidelines for aquatic life differed, the most stringent
guideline from both jurisdictions was compared to observed water quality data.
All results were within EPA and CCME aquatic life guidelines for pH and
dissolved oxygen. South African Aquatic Ecosystem Guidelines (Department of
Forest and Water Affairs, 1996) were used to compare assessment results
because they are the closest regionally approved set of water quality guidelines.
Additional details concerning baseline conditions are provided in Volume I,
Appendix 9.1.
3.7.4
Issue Scoping
Water quality issues related to the project were identified through consultation
with stakeholders. As described in Volume A, the issues were identified, tracked
and summarized at a high level for consideration in the impact assessment.
The following aspects of the slurry pipeline could potentially affect the quality of
surface watercourses along the proposed pipeline route:
•
site preparation and clearing along the right-of-way of the pipeline;
•
watercourse crossings by heavy equipment;
•
trenching of watercourse crossings;
•
hydrostatic testing of pipeline;
•
accidental releases and spills; and
•
pipeline decommissioning.
The linkages between project activities and effects on water and sediment quality
are shown in Figure 9-11, Volume H, Appendix 9. Potential water and sediment
quality effects can occur during all phases of the project, including construction,
operations and post-closure.
The key question for water and sediment quality is:
Key Question SWQ-2 What Effect Will the Slurry Pipeline Have on
Water and Sediment Quality?
