🧩 1. Introduction

Mining operations generate large volumes of wastewater from processes like drilling, washing, dust suppression, and dewatering. This mine water often contains suspended solids, heavy metals, oil, and chemicals, leading to serious environmental pollution if untreated.

To ensure compliance, DGMS (Directorate General of Mines Safety) and MoEFCC (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) mandate strict water discharge and monitoring standards for all mines.

⚖️ 2. Statutory Framework

Authority	Relevant Legislation / Standard
DGMS	CMR 2017 Reg. 127–131 (Mine Water Handling & Discharge)
MoEFCC	Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
CPCB	General Standards for Discharge of Environmental Pollutants
BIS	IS:10500 (Drinking Water), IS:2490 (Effluent Discharge Standards)
Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986	Schedule VI – Tolerance Limits

💧 3. Types of Mine Water

• Surface Runoff – from pits, roads, and dumps.
• Mine Drainage Water – from working faces or seepage.
• Process Water – used in beneficiation, washing, cooling.
• Domestic Effluent – from colony or mine office.

🧪 4. Parameters of Mine Effluent

Parameter	Permissible Limit	Remarks
pH	5.5–9.0	Neutral range for discharge
Total Suspended Solids (TSS)	100 mg/L	Should be minimized by settling
Oil & Grease	10 mg/L	Must be skimmed out
BOD (3 days at 27°C)	30 mg/L	Indicates organic load
COD	250 mg/L	Chemical oxygen demand
Iron (Fe)	3 mg/L	Common in mine effluent
Manganese (Mn)	2 mg/L	Especially in coal mines
Zinc	5 mg/L	Often from machinery corrosion
Lead (Pb)	0.1 mg/L	Toxic heavy metal
Cyanide (CN⁻)	0.2 mg/L	In metalliferous mines
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)	2100 mg/L	Affects irrigation
Sulphates	1000 mg/L	May form acid mine drainage
Nitrates	10 mg/L	From explosives residue

⚙️ 5. BIS / IS & CPCB Standards

🧾 (A) BIS IS:2490 (Part 1) — Effluent Standards for Industrial Discharge
Prescribes limits for pH, TSS, BOD, COD, and heavy metals. Mandatory for industrial and mining effluent discharged into inland surface waters.

🧾 (B) BIS IS:10500 — Drinking Water Standards
Specifies acceptable water quality for mine colonies and surface sources used for domestic purposes.

🧾 (C) CPCB General Standards
Included under Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, Schedule VI. Mines must obtain “Consent to Operate” under the Water Act from State Pollution Control Board (SPCB).

🧱 6. Sources of Pollution in Mines

• Overburden runoff carrying suspended solids.
• Acid Mine Drainage (from sulphide minerals oxidation).
• Washery and beneficiation discharges.
• Oil and grease from machinery leaks.
• Sewage and domestic effluent from mine colonies.

🧯 7. Control & Treatment Measures

Method	Description
Sedimentation Tanks	For removal of suspended solids.
Neutralization	Use of lime/soda ash to adjust pH.
Oil & Grease Traps	Prevent oil discharge from pumps/engines.
Constructed Wetlands	Natural polishing of effluent.
Biological Treatment	Reduces BOD and COD.
Recycling & Reuse	For dust suppression or beneficiation.
Regular Monitoring	As per DGMS Circular & MoEFCC norms.

🌿 8. DGMS & MoEFCC Compliance Requirements

• Reg. 131 (CMR 2017): Mine water shall not be discharged until settled and clarified.
• DGMS Circular (Tech. 2018/01): Mandatory sampling and laboratory testing of effluent.
• Environment Clearance (EC) Condition: Quarterly water quality reports to SPCB & MoEFCC.
• Water Cess Act, 1977: Payment applicable for water consumption.

💬 9. Real-World Example

Case Study: Jharia Coalfield (BCCL)
High iron and suspended solids in mine water. Effluent treated via settling ponds and lime dosing, meeting CPCB standards before discharge into Damodar River.

📊 10. Reporting & Monitoring

• Daily visual inspection of water discharge.
• Monthly analysis of pH, TSS, BOD, COD, and heavy metals.
• Annual environmental audit submission to DGMS and MoEFCC.

🧾 DESCRIPTIVE MODEL ANSWER

🎯 25 MCQs — Mine Water Pollution & Standards

1. Q.1 pH range permissible for mine effluent is
   A. 3–7
   B. 4–8
   C. 5.5–9.0
   D. 6–10
   E. 7–12
   Show Answer & Solution

   Answer: C
   Solution: As per CPCB norms under EP Rules 1986.
2. Q.2 The permissible BOD for mine effluent discharge is
   A. 10 mg/L
   B. 20 mg/L
   C. 30 mg/L
   D. 40 mg/L
   E. 50 mg/L
   Show Answer & Solution

   Answer: C
   Solution: CPCB effluent standards limit BOD to 30 mg/L.
3. Q.3 The DGMS regulation dealing with mine water discharge is
   A. Reg. 125
   B. Reg. 127
   C. Reg. 131
   D. Reg. 142
   E. Reg. 150
   Show Answer & Solution

   Answer: C
   Solution: CMR 2017 Reg.131 relates to discharge of mine water.
4. Q.4 BIS IS:2490 relates to
   A. Drinking water
   B. Effluent discharge
   C. Mine ventilation
   D. Hazardous waste
   E. Occupational health
   Show Answer & Solution

   Answer: B
   Solution: IS:2490 specifies limits for industrial effluents.
5. Q.5 Oil and grease permissible limit is
   A. 5 mg/L
   B. 10 mg/L
   C. 15 mg/L
   D. 20 mg/L
   E. 25 mg/L
   Show Answer & Solution

   Answer: B
   Solution: CPCB standard allows max 10 mg/L.
6. Q.6 The permissible COD value for mine effluent discharge is
   A. 100 mg/L
   B. 200 mg/L
   C. 250 mg/L
   D. 300 mg/L
   E. 400 mg/L
   Show Answer & Solution

   Answer: C
   Solution: As per CPCB General Standards under Environment Protection Rules, 1986.
7. Q.7 Which Indian standard specifies the drinking water quality used in mine colonies?
   A. IS: 2490
   B. IS: 3025
   C. IS: 10500
   D. IS: 2296
   E. IS: 14362
   Show Answer & Solution

   Answer: C
   Solution: IS:10500 sets the acceptable limits for drinking water in India.
8. Q.8 Total Suspended Solids (TSS) permissible in mine effluent should not exceed
   A. 50 mg/L
   B. 100 mg/L
   C. 200 mg/L
   D. 250 mg/L
   E. 500 mg/L
   Show Answer & Solution

   Answer: B
   Solution: As per CPCB effluent discharge standards for inland surface waters.
9. Q.9 Under which regulation of CMR 2017, mine water discharge and treatment are covered?
   A. Regulation 127
   B. Regulation 130
   C. Regulation 131
   D. Regulation 133
   E. Regulation 135
   Show Answer & Solution

   Answer: C
   Solution: Regulation 131 mandates proper treatment before discharge.
10. Q.10 The pH of mine effluent below 5.5 indicates
    A. Neutral water
    B. Alkaline water
    C. Acidic water
    D. Mineralized water
    E. Hard water
    Show Answer & Solution

    Answer: C
    Solution: pH < 7 is acidic; below 5.5 is highly acidic — common in AMD.
11. Q.11 Oil and grease limit in mine effluent as per CPCB is
    A. 5 mg/L
    B. 10 mg/L
    C. 15 mg/L
    D. 20 mg/L
    E. 25 mg/L
    Show Answer & Solution

    Answer: B
    Solution: CPCB limit for oil & grease is 10 mg/L.
12. Q.12 The main heavy metals found in coal mine water are
    A. Lead and Zinc
    B. Iron and Manganese
    C. Mercury and Cadmium
    D. Nickel and Cobalt
    E. Copper and Tin
    Show Answer & Solution

    Answer: B
    Solution: Iron and manganese are naturally present in coal seams.
13. Q.13 Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act was enacted in
    A. 1969
    B. 1972
    C. 1974
    D. 1981
    E. 1986
    Show Answer & Solution

    Answer: C
    Solution: Enacted in 1974 to control water pollution in India.
14. Q.14 The regulatory authority for granting ‘Consent to Operate’ under Water Act is
    A. DGMS
    B. CPCB
    C. MoEFCC
    D. State Pollution Control Board (SPCB)
    E. NGT
    Show Answer & Solution

    Answer: D
    Solution: SPCB issues consent to establish/operate under Water Act.
15. Q.15 BOD represents
    A. Bacterial Oxidation Demand
    B. Biological Oxygen Demand
    C. Biochemical Oxygen Derivative
    D. Basic Oxidation Data
    E. Biotic Oxygen Demand
    Show Answer & Solution

    Answer: B
    Solution: BOD measures oxygen consumed by microorganisms to decompose organic matter.
16. Q.16 Iron limit in effluent discharge according to CPCB is
    A. 1 mg/L
    B. 2 mg/L
    C. 3 mg/L
    D. 5 mg/L
    E. 10 mg/L
    Show Answer & Solution

    Answer: C
    Solution: The tolerance limit for iron in mine water is 3 mg/L.
17. Q.17 Which Act empowers the central government to prescribe environmental standards?
    A. Mines Act, 1952
    B. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
    C. Water Act, 1974
    D. Air Act, 1981
    E. Factory Act, 1948
    Show Answer & Solution

    Answer: B
    Solution: EPA 1986 gives MoEFCC authority to set pollution control standards.
18. Q.18 CPCB stands for
    A. Central Pollution Control Bureau
    B. Central Pollution Control Board
    C. Central Pollution Check Bureau
    D. Central Public Control Board
    E. Central Pollution Cell Board
    Show Answer & Solution

    Answer: B
    Solution: CPCB is the apex body for pollution control under MoEFCC.
19. Q.19 Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in mine discharge should not exceed
    A. 1500 mg/L
    B. 1800 mg/L
    C. 2100 mg/L
    D. 2500 mg/L
    E. 3000 mg/L
    Show Answer & Solution

    Answer: C
    Solution: CPCB prescribes 2100 mg/L as the limit for TDS in industrial effluents.
20. Q.20 The permissible sulphate concentration in mine effluent is
    A. 500 mg/L
    B. 800 mg/L
    C. 1000 mg/L
    D. 1200 mg/L
    E. 1500 mg/L
    Show Answer & Solution

    Answer: C
    Solution: CPCB tolerance limit for sulphate is 1000 mg/L.
21. Q.21 The Water Cess Act was passed in
    A. 1974
    B. 1977
    C. 1981
    D. 1986
    E. 1991
    Show Answer & Solution

    Answer: B
    Solution: Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977.
22. Q.22 Which form of pollution is typical of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)?
    A. Alkaline pollution
    B. Radioactive pollution
    C. Acidic pollution
    D. Thermal pollution
    E. Plastic pollution
    Show Answer & Solution

    Answer: C
    Solution: AMD causes acidic pollution due to pyrite oxidation.
23. Q.23 BIS IS:2490 (Part 1) is primarily concerned with
    A. Effluent discharge standards
    B. Drinking water
    C. Mine safety
    D. Air pollution
    E. Occupational health
    Show Answer & Solution

    Answer: A
    Solution: IS:2490 specifies limits for effluent discharged into inland waters.
24. Q.24 The minimum monitoring frequency for mine water quality under DGMS Circular (Tech. 2018/01) is
    A. Daily
    B. Weekly
    C. Monthly
    D. Quarterly
    E. Yearly
    Show Answer & Solution

    Answer: C
    Solution: Monthly testing is recommended for mine effluent quality.
25. Q.25 Neutralization of acidic mine water is commonly done by
    A. Lime or Soda Ash
    B. Ferric Chloride
    C. Alum
    D. Caustic Potash
    E. Sodium Sulphate
    Show Answer & Solution

    Answer: A
    Solution: Lime or soda ash is used to increase pH and neutralize acidity.

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