Classification of point of water discharge

1 - Public and municipal water utilities (point of discharge)

'Public and municipal water utilities (point of discharge)' refers to the amount of water released by the industry to municipally-owned wastewater treatment systems.

2 - Surface water bodies (point of discharge)

'Surface water bodies (point of discharge)' refers to the amount of water released to streams, creeks, rivers, ponds and lakes.

3 - Groundwater (point of discharge)

'Groundwater (point of discharge)' refers to the amount of water released by the industry to underground water, in the saturated zone below the water table.

4 - Tidewater (point of discharge)

'Tidewater (point of discharge)' refers to the amount of water released by the industry to salt-water bodies such as oceans or seas.

5 - Tailing ponds (point of discharge)

'Tailing ponds (point of discharge) refers to the amount of water released by the industry to excavated pits that form open lagoons where liquid effluent or wastewater from the processing of ore is held.

6 - Producing formations (point of discharge)

'Producing formations (point of discharge) refers to the amount of water released by the industry to the part of a mine where mineral extraction occurs.

7 - Other points of water discharge

'Other points of water discharge' refers to the amount of water released by the industry to any point of water discharge not encompassed by public and municipal water utilities, surface water bodies, tidewater, groundwater, tailing ponds or producing formations.