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The
natural environment of the study area has been significantly modified
in the past 150 years with the development of land for tea plantations.
Plantations now cover some 90% of the study area. The management of the
plantations has led to impacts on the surface water quality of the rivers
and streams within the study area; primarily from the long term usage
of fertilisers and pesticides. Increased sediment loading in surface water
runoff has also resulted in the degradation of some tea plantations and
causing a deterioration of water quality in the receiving waters.
The monitoring of surface water quality within the study area is divided
into two phases. The first phase is to undertake sampling and analysis
to develop and understanding of existing water quality in the major streams
and rivers of the project area. This will establish a record of existing
conditions before the construction of the project begins.
Once the construction of the project starts there will be additional monitoring
points introduced. The additional points will be allocated to areas where
it is thought that construction activities may have the potential to impact
on the water quality of nearby water bodies. The additional points will
then be used to monitor the success of environmental management measures
introduced to manage particular construction activities.
Monitoring Locations:-
Seven monitoring points have been chosen to undertake the baseline monitoring.
The point shave been chosen to ensure that all major rivers and streams
within the study area are monitored.
Surface Water Quality Monitoring Points
– Location
| Sampling
point |
Location |
| WQ 1 |
Puna Oya, south bank behind church |
| WQ 2 |
A7 bridge over Kotmale Oya, Lindula |
| WQ 3 |
North bank of Kotmale Oya downstream
from construction site |
| WQ 4 |
Road bridge over Kotmale Oya south
of Pundaloya |
| WQ 5 |
Road Bridge over Pundalu Oya |
| WQ 6 |
Ramboda Falls observation point |
| WQ 7 |
Pundal Oya test adit bridge |
| WQ 8 |
Upstream Dunsinane Falls |
Monitoring Parameters
The following parameters will be monitored for each sample taken:
- Total suspended solids;
- Metals – copper, zinc, lead, nickel, cadmium and
chromium;
- Temperature;
- pH;
- Dissolved Oxygen;
- Salinity/conductivity;
- Total Phosphorous;
- Total Nitrogen;
- Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons;
- BOD/COD; and,
- Faecal coliforms.
Monitoring Frequency and Reporting
Monitoring will occur monthly for the first
two years. In addition one extra monitoring event will take place immediately
after a heavy rainfall event.
Results
Results of the monitoring events will be posted
on this page once the program begins.
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