approval of coal seam gas water for beneficial use · approval of coal seam gas water for...

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Environmental Protection (Waste Management ) Regulation 2000

Approval of coal seam gas water for beneficial useThe purpose of this guideline is to provide advice for applicants seeking approval of coal seam gas water for beneficial useunder Section 13(4) of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 and Part 6A of the Environmental Protection (WasteManagement) Regulation 2000.

Background

The object of the EP Act is to protect Queensland's environment while allowing for development that improvesthe total quality of life, both now and in the future, in a way that maintains the ecological processes on which lifedepends. The Environmental Protection (Waste Management) Policy 2000 (EPP Waste) furthers this objectiveby setting out a framework for prioritising waste management practices to achieve the best environmentaloutcome. The hierarchy of waste management practices is as follows:

• waste avoidance;• waste re-use;• waste recycling;• energy recovery from waste; and• waste disposal.

Waste is defined in the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act) as any thing, other than a resourceapproved for beneficial use, that is:

(a) left over, or an unwanted by-product, from an industrial, commercial, domestic or other activity; or(b) surplus to the industrial, commercial, domestic or other activity generating the waste.

Waste can be a gas, liquid, solid or energy, or a combination of any of them. A thing can be waste whether ornot it is of value.

The granting of beneficial use approvals has the objective of reducing the amount of waste going for finaldisposal by lawfully converting it to a resource. Beneficially reusing a waste as a resource can reduce the needfor consumption of raw materials.

This guideline provides information for applicants on the process for approval of a waste as a resource set out inpart 6A of the Environmental Protection (Waste Management) Regulation 2000 (Waste Regulation).

Approval types

A beneficial use approval for a waste changes the status of the material from a waste to a resource that is to beused for a beneficial purpose. The holder of a beneficial use approval is obliged (through approval conditions) tomanage the resource in a way that minimises the risk of unlawful environmental harm.

A general beneficial use approval is an approval for a resource, or stated type of resource, of which anyonecan have the benefit. A specific beneficial use approval is an approval of a resource, or stated type ofresource, of which only a stated person has the benefit.

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Department of Environment and Resource Management Queensland Governmentwww.derm . gld.gov . au ABN 46 640 294 485

.Department of Environmentand Resource Management

Government policy

Guideline

Approval of coal seam gas water for beneficial use

The 2009 Government policy paper `Blueprint for Queensland's LNG Industry' sets out the policy framework forthe management of CSG water produced as a consequence of the development of coal seam gas resources.This water is regulated under the EP Act as a waste. CSG water means underground water brought to thesurface of the earth or otherwise interfered with in connection with exploring for or producing coal seam gas.CSG water typically contains significant concentrations of salts, has a high sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) andmay contain other contaminants that have the potential to cause environmental harm if released to land orwaters through inappropriate management. CSG water is a waste, as defined under s13 of the EP Act.

Elements of the policy relevant to the approval of coal seam gas water for beneficial use are as follows:

• CSG producers are responsible for the treatment and disposal of the CSG water they create.• CSG producers must treat CSG water to a standard defined by the Department of Environment and

Resource Management before disposal or supply to other users.• At the approval stage, CSG producers will need to advise how they intend to manage water on their

operations through the preparation of a CSG Water Management plan.• Water which is excess to that which can be directly injected or beneficially used is to be aggregated for

disposal.

The Government wishes to see CSG water beneficially used where that is feasible, practical and sustainable.

This Guideline provides a framework for managing the various modes of beneficial use sought to be applied toCSG water. It draws from the current state of knowledge within the State and relevant information fromelsewhere. Current Commonwealth and State government investment in research about potential impacts ofCSG water on the landscape, aquatic ecological assets and groundwater resources under the Healthy Head

Waters Program Coal Seam Gas Water Feasibility Study will in the future inform this Guideline. Otherinformation from applied research and other regulators will be considered when considering opportunities forinnovation and improvements in practice.

Regulatory framework

The P&G Act (s185) permits the petroleum tenure holder to take or interfere with underground water in the areaof the tenure and to use the water for carrying out another authorised activity, that is, exploration and testing(s32); incidental activities (s33); exploration, production and storage activities (s109); petroleum pipeline andwater pipeline construction and operation (sl10); petroleum processing (sl11); or incidental activities (s112) ortake or interfere with the water for use in the carrying out of another authorised activity (as above) for the tenure.

A petroleum tenure holder may allow an owner or occupier of the land a limited right (s186) to use the water fordomestic purposes which includes irrigation of land <0.25ha (basically a home garden), or for stock purposes(stocking levels under free range conditions, not for intensive livestock keeping) within the tenure or on landadjacent to the tenure, if it is owned by the same person. No approvals by the administering authority arerequired for those two purposes. These uses, however, are still subject to the general environmental duty, setout in s319 of the EP Act, requiring a person "not to carry out an activity that causes or is likely to causeenvironmental harm unless the person takes all reasonable and practicable measures to prevent or minimisethe harm".

Beyond those uses (as of right - domestic garden or stockwater purposes), the water is a waste as definedunder the EP Act. The CSG water provider then requires either a beneficial use approval or an environmentalauthority that specifically provides for the disposal of the waste under the EP Act.

of 14 • 100326 Department of Environment and Resource Management

Department of .and Resource

GuidelineApproval of coal seam gas water for beneficial use

If the CSG water provider wishes to supply the CSG water for another purpose (for example, water supply for anenvironmentally relevant activity (ERA)), it must also obtain a water licence under the Water Act 2000 (Chapter2, Part 6).

Further, if the CSG water provider owns infrastructure (such as pumps, ponds or pipelines) and intends tocharge for the supply of the CSG water to another party, it will need to be registered as a service provider(s20(c)(i)) under the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008.

Figure 1 illustrates the regulatory framework for CSG water use or disposal.

Beneficial use of CSG water

Typically, a CSG field causes significant local generation of water, which potentially contains a range ofcontaminants many of which require careful attention in respect of their use and disposal over the economic lifeof the gas field. While the rate of water production from individual wells may diminish after ten or so years,generation of CSG water from the overall gas field may run at a reasonably constant rate as wells dry out andnew ones are brought on stream. Critical to the industry's sustainable development is a requirement that it notcause environmental harm through its management of CSG water. Use of CSG water (raw, treated oramended) in accordance with this Guideline and its associated beneficial use approvals will be lawful. Thisguideline does not address the management of brine.

The concept of beneficial use is one that does not diminish with time. If CSG water is used in accordance withthe guidance in this document, there should be no unexpected issues demonstrated as adverse environmentaleffects, extending years after the beneficial use activity ends. With respect to the beneficial use of CSG water,key concerns relate to: dissolved solids and the relative ion balance and their impacts on soil structures; and apotential significant increase in the area of irrigated lands.

This Guideline does not specify treatment standards or methods; rather it indicates criteria to be met for the useof CSG water (probably treated) for a particular kind of beneficial use.

Numerical values adopted from authoritative sources such as ANZECC, ARMCANZ, NH&MRC, USEPA andother credible regulators will be considered in the development of enforceable standards in order to provideclear boundaries and protection for the environment or recipients of the resource (if there is a transfer such asfor industrial use). Fortunately, environmental interactions such as those found between CSG water anddispersal pathways are reasonably universal and evidence from around the world, following due considerationof local landscape issues, will be considered when developing these criteria.

Beneficial use of CSG water is not a method for disposal of it as a waste. Beneficial use of CSG water is only tobe carried out at such a level that benefit accrues to the user of the resource. Over-use of CSG water leading toenvironmental harm may result in compliance action (s66N, Environmental Protection (Waste Management)Regulation 2000) or could result in the cancellation of a beneficial use approval (s66J, Environmental Protection(Waste Management) Regulation 2000).

Attached to this Guideline is a Notice for general beneficial use approval that may be used by CSG waterproviders or third parties, addressing the range of uses discussed in this Guideline.

If a CSG water provider does not wish to, or cannot comply with the requirements of a general beneficial useapproval, it may apply under the Environmental Protection (Waste Management) Regulation 2000 for a specificbeneficial use approval.


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Figure 1:Regulatory framework for the beneficial use

or disposal of CSG water

Interfere

Inject togroundwaters

N Take

Waste

Ir

Beneficial useOff tenure

based industry4 Treat

UseStock water or

domestic garden

Beneficial useOn-tenure

based industry

Water licence

Free use

Water licence

Registered WaterServ ice Providerto third party

1

Sell

1

Disposal to:.groundwater•surface water.tidal water or.land

Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act

Environmental Protection Act 1994

Water Act 2000

Environmental Protection (Waste Management)Regulation 2000

Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008

Free use


Department 6FEnvir'OWrtienfand Resource Management.


Beneficial uses of CSG water can include:

• aquaculture and human consumption of aquatic foods• coal washing• dust suppression• industrial use• irrigation• livestock watering

Treatment technologies

CSG water varies widely in its water quality characteristics and beneficial use of the resource is unlikely withoutsome form of treatment (an active process) or amendment (simple chemical addition, for example the additionof sulphuric acid or gypsum). The following table' provides an indication of treatment technologies and theireffect on water quality parameters.

Table 1 : Treatment technologies and their effectiveness on reducing certain water quality constituentsin CSG water

Treatment technology Heavy metals SAR TDS Ba Fe EC Organics Na HCO3_ Bio

Freeze-thaw/evaporation 3 3 3 3 3 3

Reverse osmosis 3 3 1 3 3 3 3 3 3

Ultraviolet light 32 33

Chemical treatment 33

Ion exchange 3 31 3 3 3 3 3

Capacitive desalination 3 3 1 3 3 3 3 3

Electrodialysis 3 3 I 3 3 3 3 3

Distillation 3 3 3 3 32 3 33

Artificial wetlands 3 3 3 3 33

Source: ALL Consulting, 20031: water adjustment by addition of calcium or magnesium would be required2: limited to certain organics based on volatility, boiling point, chemical composition, etc3: pH adjustment would be required prior to treatmentSAR: sodium adsorption ratio; TDS: total dissolved solids; Ba: barium; Fe: iron; EC: electrical conductivity; Na:sodium; Bio: biological growth.

1 Table 5-4, All Consulting, 2003, Handbook on Coal Bed Methane Produced Water: Management and Beneficial Use Alternatives(http://www.all-lic.com/publicdownloads/CBM BU Screen.pdf)


Department of Environment,and Resource Management


Application of these technological solutions to CSG water, to provide a product of higher quality and value, willbe likely to also generate a more concentrated waste stream that will require further specific management fortreatment and disposal as a waste.

Beneficial Use - Minimum standards for all uses

CSG water must not be beneficially used if:

• it contains any slick or other visible or odorous evidence of oil, grease, petrochemicals, scum, litter orother objectionable matter;

• it possesses any other properties or contains any organisms or other contaminants in concentrationsthat are capable of causing material or serious environmental harm;

• pipelines in which it is transported are not constructed and operated in a way that allows for theautomatic cessation of flow in a pipeline on loss of containment;

• there is an unauthorised discharge of contaminants to the environment or the accumulation of salt thatmay, at some stage, be released to the environment;

• the use of CSG water will cause a breach of any currently specified condition (including concentration ormass flow limits) under an environmental authority or development approval;

• monitoring of water quality is not undertaken at sufficient frequency to adequately demonstrateacceptance criteria for the specified use are not exceeded;

• monitoring of non-water quality performance criteria, or conditions of compliance are not met; and• compliance information, including monitoring data are not provided to an authorised officer or the

administering authority, upon request.

Beneficial Use - Aquaculture and human consumption of aquatic foods

The beneficial use of CSG waters for aquaculture will be particularly constrained by the quality characteristics ofthe water. CSG water's ratio of ions is distinct from that found in seawater, tending for example to be dominatedby bicarbonate anions rather than chloride whilst deficient in potassium and calcium, both of which areparticularly important in osmo-regulatory processes. Studies2 have shown that both barramundi and mullowaycan achieve commercial growth and survival rates with simple and inexpensive water amelioration but speciessuch as Murray Cod cannot. Adaptation of particular species to the resource may or may not be able to beachieved; hence the values given here represent the limit values for toxicants. Survival and growth of chosenspecies will require significant husbandry and attention to many other factors aside from water quality. Theindirect exposure of the human population to toxicants and pathogens must also be considered in assessingwater contaminants.

Beneficial use of CSG water for aquaculture does not authorise any discharge from an aquaculture activity.Subject to a facility exceeding a minimum size, a development approval and registration certificate will berequired for the environmentally relevant activity ERA 1 - Aquaculture. Supply of CSG water to aquacultureusers will require a water licence under the Water Act 2000 and if the water is sold the CSG water provider mustbe a registered water service provider.

Management philosophyStressor limits have been adopted from the Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine WaterQuality, ANZECC/ARMCANZ 2000. Use of CSG water within these limits does not ensure survival and growthfor species as listed, as the ionic makeup of the water is likely to influence each species differently. Establishing

2 Dutney, L, Burke, M.J., Chilton, B. and Collins, A. Growth and survival of Mulloway (Argyrosomusjaponicus) in Coal Seam Gas Water. Inpreparation.Dutney, L., Burke, M.J., Chilton, B., Nicholson, S. and Collins, A. Growth and survival of Barramundi (Later calcarifer) in Coal Seam GasWater. In preparation.


Department of Environmentand Resource Management

1

water quality criteria will follow a risk based approach due to the specific tolerance of species to constituentconcentrations.

Minimum standardsThe following criteria apply to the general approval for beneficial use of CSG water for aquaculture and humanconsumption of aquatic foods:

• The decision tree proposed by ANZECC/ARMCANZ (Figure 4.4.1, Australian and New ZealandGuidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality 2000) given below, is adopted as the minimumrequirement for application to species listed in Table 4.4.1 (ANZECC/ARMCANZ).

FIGURE 2: DECISION TREE FOR DETERMINING IF WATER QUALITY IS ACCEPTABLE FOR THESURVIVAL OF AQUACULTURE SPECIES

Water quality parameter characterisation

4Test against general guideline values

(see tables 4 .4.2 and 4.4.3)

within range outside range

Low risk(water quality acceptable)

iLow

within range

risk(water quality acceptable)

within range

Test against guideline values(bioavailable concentration )

iLow

(water qualityriskacceptable)


Test against specific guidelinevalues for species group

(see tables in section 9.4.2)

outsiderange

Examine factors influencingtoxicity (see section 8.3.5)

outside range

Conduct acute toxicity testing

Not toxic Toxic

Conduct chronic toxicity testing

Not toxic Toxic

Low risk(water quality acceptable)

Culture notrecommended

(water quality unacceptable)

Culture notrecommended

(water quality unacceptabl


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Table 2 : Physico -chemical stressor limits for the protection of aquaculture species3

Measured parameter Limits (mg/L)

Freshwater production Saltwater productionAlkalinity ?20 >20Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) <15Chemical oxygen demand (COD) <40Carbon dioxide <10 <15Colour and appearance of water 30-40 (Pt-Co units) 30-40 (Pt-Co units)Dissolved oxygen >5 >5Gas supersaturation <100% <100%Hardness CaCO3 20-100pH 5.0-9.0 6.0-9.0Salinity (total dissolved solids) <3,000 33,000-37,000

(3,000-35,000 BrackishSuspended solids <40 <10

(<75 BrackishTemperature <2.0°C change over 1 hour <2.0°C change over 1 hour

Beneficial Use - Coal washing

CSG water may be beneficially used at coal mines for coal washing only where drainage from coal washing andpreparation operations is captured within the mine site water management system. This use of CSG water isconsidered to have limited environmental risk due to the similarities of CSG water with water already beingmanaged. However, the rate of consumption of CSG water must not exceed the requirements of the mine forcoal washing and preparation. Over-application of water that could be seen as disposal of CSG water from CSGgas field will not comply with a beneficial use approval.

Coal washing and preparation using CSG water can only be undertaken where the CSG water provider has alicence under the Water Act 2000 and if the water is sold the CSG water provider must be a registered waterservice provider.

Management philosophyCSG water can be used on a coal mine tenure for coal washing and preparation purposes only where no run-offoccurs to land beyond the mine site.

Minimum standardsThe following criteria apply to the general approval for beneficial use of CSG water for coal washing andpreparation purposes:

• the pH of the CSG water shall be in the range 6.0 - 9.5; and• if stored CSG water is exposed to the air, dissolved oxygen shall be greater than 2 mg/L measured in

the impounded water.

Beneficial Use - Dust suppression

Dust suppression for construction activities associated with the exploration and development of a coal seam gastenure is an acceptable use of CSG water. The risk of damage to soils or the ecology of flow paths leading awayfrom roads on CSG tenures is likely to preclude application of CSG water without some form of treatment.

3 Table 4.4.3 Toxicant guidelines for the protection of aquaculture species (ANZECC/ARMCANZ) are adopted as limit values for toxicants.In Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality 2000, ANZECC/ARMCANZ


Department of Envirg(fimflfand Resource Management


Over-application of water that could be seen as disposal of CSG water from CSG gas field will not comply with abeneficial use approval.

Dust suppression off-tenure using CSG water can only be undertaken where the CSG water provider has alicence under the Water Act 2000 and if the water is sold the CSG water provider must be a registered waterservice provider.

Management philosophyThe use of CSG water for dust suppression is considered to be small scale irrigation. Dust suppression isrecognised as an activity closely linked to the development of gas wells and infrastructure. Ongoing dustsuppression using CSG water will only be acceptable where there has been a formal assessment of the impactof the water on the structure of the road and its surrounding soils. If roads are subject to significant traffic levelsthen a permanent seal should be considered rather than long-term watering of the roads.

Minimum standardsThe following criteria apply to the general approval for beneficial use of CSG water for dust suppression:

• the maximum concentration of total dissolved solids shall not exceed 3,000 p.S/cm; and• the maximum sodium adsorption ratio4 (SAR) shall not exceed 15; and• the maximum bicarbonate ion concentration f shall not exceed 100 mg/L; and• dust suppression can only be carried out in a particular location for a period not exceeding three

months, whereupon more permanent solutions for dust suppression shall be developed, if required.

Beneficial Use - Industrial and manufacturing operations

Industrial and manufacturing uses of CSG water may be very varied. Purposes such as salt recovery, coolingwater or slurry pumping are within the range of possible uses, as are closed-cycle manufacturing operations thatare tolerant of the salinity levels in CSG water. It is likely that further treatment of CSG water to enable it tomeet the specifications for specific industrial operations will be required.

Management philosophyCSG water used for industrial and manufacturing purposes shall meet the minimum requirements for a range ofpotential industrial uses, with no release to the environment, except by approval and only then after treatment toensure that contaminants do not pose a risk of environmental harm.

Minimum standardsThe following criteria apply to the general approval for beneficial use for industrial purposes

• the pH of the CSG water shall be in the range 6.0 - 9.0; and• if stored CSG water is exposed to the air, dissolved oxygen shall be greater than 2 mg/L measured in

the impounded water.

4 Sodium adsorption ratio: SAR = Na'/'((Ca2++Mg2')/2), US Department of Agriculture, 1954



Beneficial Use - Irrigation


The use of CSG water for irrigation purposes (CSG irrigation water) presents many complex challenges relatedto the management of soils, waters and landscapes, and may invoke State obligations. Queensland is party tothe Water Act 2007 (Commonwealth) that seeks to limit cross border salt transport into the Murray-DarlingBasin. Applying irrigation water with any salt content to land within the Queensland Murray-Darling Basin mayresult in migration of salts into the rivers and streams, impacting on cross-border salt loads.

Any irrigation scheme will require close management. The criteria proposed for irrigation are, of necessity, setat a conservative level. A specific approval may provide for application of water of a poorer quality under moreclosely monitored conditions.

Significant damage to soil structure and function can occur as a result of incompatible water-soil interactions ina similar way to the application of other saline and sodic waters to irrigations. Repair of the soils may takedecades, or may not be possible at all.

Parties proposing to use CSG irrigation water should engage professional advice and assistance in order tounderstand and manage site specific soil-water interaction, agronomic , monitoring , and irrigation managementissues . Further information on the use of CSG irrigation water and its limitations will be developed under theHealthy Head Waters: Coal Seam Gas Water Feasibility Study - Activity 3, Landscape Salinity Study.

The following documents are suggested as a source of initial information about the opportunities, risks, andmanagement strategies associated with the use of CSG water for irrigation:

• ALL Consulting, 2002, Handbook on Best Management Practices and Mitigation Strategies for Coal BedMethane in the Montana Portion of the Powder River Basin

http://fossil.energy.gov/programs/oilgas/environment/publications/BMPHandbookFinal.pdf• ALL Consulting, 2003, Handbook on Coal Bed Methane Produced Water: Management and Beneficial

Use Alternativeshttp://www. qwpc. org/e-librarv/documents/general/Coalbed %20Methane%2OProduced%2OWater%2OManagement%20and%2OBeneficial %2OUse%20Alternatives. pdf

• Ayers RS & Westcot DW, 1985, Water Quality for Agriculture, FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 29Rev 1, http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/t0234e/tO234E00.htm

• DNR, 1997, Salinity Management Handbook, State of Queensland• Harvey KC & Brown DE, 2005, Managed irrigation for the beneficial use of coalbed natural gas

produced water: the Fidelity Experience.http://www.cbnga.com/docs/FEPCo%20Managed%201rrigation%20Booklet.pdf

• Keith K, Sessoms, H, Neibauer M, Skinner Q, Bauder J, Waskom R & Mesner N, Land and WaterInventory Guide for Land Owners in Areas of Coal Bed Methane Development, 1st Ed, Montana StateUniversity,

http://region8water.colostate.edu/PDFs/Land%20and%20Water%20Inventory%2OGuide%20for%2OLandowne rs%20in%2OAreas%20of%2OCoa 1 %20 Bed %20Methan e%20 Development. pdf

• Western Governors Association, 2006, Coal Bed Methane Best Management Practices,http://www.westgov.org/wqa/initiatives/coalbed/CoaIBedMethane.pdf

Management philosophyCSG water may be applied for irrigation purposes on its own or as an adjunct to other water sources, bothnatural and managed. As this water is a "new entrant" to the landscape that would have otherwise remainedconfined to the source aquifer, application of the salt load is regarded as an additional source that may require

5 Ayers RS & Westcot DW, 1985, Water Quality forAgriculture, FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 29 Rev 1




compensatory action to balance the extra load contributing to the Murray-Darling Basin. Water is to be appliedto the soil so as to:

• limit salt accumulation in the root zone;• maintain soil structure stability;• minimise excess drainage of water below the root zone;• maintain crop/plant productivity; and• minimise off-tenure effects.

Plant species are not specified but close attention should be given to the salinity tolerances of species selected.It must be recognised by the irrigator that the sustainable use of the soil, rather than the salt tolerance of aselected plant species, is the principal concern in assessing an integrated crop/soil irrigation solution. TheSalinity Management Handbook provides information on scientific and engineering aspects of irrigationmanagement of saline waters in the Queensland landscape.

Plant salinity tolerance information is provided in ANZECC/ARMCANZ, Australian and New Zealand Guidelinesfor Fresh and Marine Water Quality 2000, Table 4.2.5 and in Volume 3, Section 9.2.3, table 9.2.10. Softwarepackages such as SALF6 can be used to predict the effects of irrigation on root zone salinity, leaching fractionand plant salinity response.

Minimum standardsThe following criteria apply to the general approval for beneficial use of CSG water for irrigation purposes:

• irrigation shall not be applied to Good Quality Agricultural Land7;• irrigation shall not be applied to land where the standing water table of an aquifer that is in productive

use is less than 30 m from the ground surface anywhere within the planned irrigation area;• the maximum electrical conductivity (EC) shall not exceed 3,000 µS/cm;• the maximum sodium adsorption ratio8 (SAR) shall not exceed 8;• the maximum bicarbonate ion concentration shall not exceed 100 mg/L;• the maximum fluoride concentration shall not exceed 1 mg/L;• irrigation techniques shall only include drip, centre pivot or lateral move irrigation machines fitted with

low energy precision application systems;• flood or related surface irrigation is specifically excluded;• the annual water application rate shall not exceed the water deficit (calculated on a daily basis)9;• deep drainage, due to irrigation, shall not exceed 15% of the rate of irrigation water applied to the

surface;• irrigation shall not be undertaken in circumstances where soil erosion is likely to occur; and• irrigation shall not be undertaken at a rate that results in water run-off to permanent water courses.

6 Carlin, G. and Truong, N. (1999). Program to predict Salinity and Leaching Fraction (SALF),.Department of Natural Resources, ResourceSciences Centre.

http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/docs/ipa/sppl_92.pdf6 Sodium adsorption ratio: SAR = Na+h4((Ca2++Mg2+)/2), US Department of Agriculture, 19549 The daily water deficit is calculated from site climate data, taking into account vegetation type, cover and other necessary attributes via thePenman-Monteith equation. Water application should be scheduled to achieve operational efficiency, and should not exceed the cumulativewater deficit since the previous irrigation event and any calculated irrigation requirement.


Depa i iient of Environmentand ource Management

Guideline


Beneficial Use - Livestock watering

Livestock can tolerate, without side effects, higher levels of dissolved salts than the human population. Underthe conditions that prevail in an arid environment, water resources naturally tend to become brackish as the rateof evaporation increase in the hotter, drier months. Pregnant, lactating, young, weakened and aged stock,however, are less tolerant of poorer quality water.

Queensland has a well-deserved reputation for high-quality, clean and healthy food production. To safeguardthis reputation, DEEDI regulates the use of pesticides and veterinary medicines, and monitors plant and animalproduce for chemical residues and contaminants. Monitoring of chemical contaminants in food has importantimplications to both domestic consumers and in protecting export market access for Queensland primaryproducers. Animals grown for food production must meet contaminant levels as specified in the Australia NewZealand Food Standards Code. Different species may tolerate or exhibit different growth and or healthattributes when consuming various constituents or contaminants10.

Management philosophyCSG water may be supplied to normal livestock drinking vessels or tanks, being managed within the land of thetenure or adjacent land if it is owned by the same person. Large scale stock watering ponds that may causeharm to groundwaters or the landscape will not be permitted.

A person operating an intensive animal feedlot will require a DA and registration certificate for intensive animalfeedlotting, which may also require amendment and additional conditions to deal with the storage and use of theCSG water.

The range of animals to be watered is restricted to those listed below.

Minimum standardsThe following criteria apply to the general approval for beneficial use of CSG water for livestock watering:

• criteria from the Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality,ANZECC/ARMCANZ 2000, Volume 1, Chapter 4.3; Water Quality for Livestock Drinking, Pfost DL,Fulhage CD and Casteel S, 2001, University of Missouri; and Agricultural Protection Policy (Chapter 1,Section 20), Water Quality Rules and Regulations, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, April2007, are adopted.

Table 3 : Limit values for total dissolved solids in livestock drinking water

Livestock Total dissolved solids (mglL)

All livestockPregnant and lactating

<5,000

Beef cattle <5,000Dairy cattle <4,000

Sheep/goats <6,000Horses <6,000

Pigs <6,000Poultry <3,000

10 Wells, I and Hamilton, D., 2009. Livestock Chemical Tolerance Limits


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Table 4: Limit values for inorganic constituents in livestock drinking water

Constituent limit valueTotal metals (mg/L)

Aluminium 5Arsenic" 0.02Beryllium 300ppm (in the diet)Boron 5Cadmium 0.01Calcium 1,000Chloride 2,000Chromium 1Cobalt 1Copper 0.4Fluoride 2Lead 12 0.05Mercury 0.002Molybdenum 0.15Nickel 1Nitrate 100Nitrite 10Oxygen (minimum concentration) >3Radionuclide13

Combined radium-226/-228(Adjusted) Gross AlphaBeta Particle and Photon Radioactivity

Uranium

5 pCi/L15pCi/L (not incl. radon or uranium)

4 mrem/year30pg/L

Selenium 0.02Sulphate 1,000Uranium 0.2Vanadium 0.1Zinc11 2.5

" Agricultural Protection Policy (Chapter 1, Section 20), Water Quality Rules and Regulations , Wyoming Department of EnvironmentalQuality, April 200712 http://extension. missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=EQ38113 http ://www.epa .gov/safewater/ radionuclides /index.html


Dep 'of Environmentand ce Management

Guideline


Disclaimer:While this document has been prepared with care, it contains general information and does not profess to offerlegal, professional or commercial advice. The Queensland Government accepts no liability for any externaldecisions or actions taken on the basis of this document. Persons external to the Department of Environmentand Resource Management should satisfy themselves independently and by consulting their own professionaladvisors before embarking on any proposed course of action.

Approved by

Jon Womersley EnquiriesDirector, Regulatory Support and Practice Director, Regulatory Support and PracticeEnvironment and Natural Resource Regulation Ph. (07) 3330 5719Department of Environment and Resource Management

Date

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