discharge monitoring
nounPronunciation: /ˈdɪsʧɑrʤ ˈmɑnɪtərɪŋ/
Also written as: DM
Systematic measurement and documentation of water quality parameters from mine discharge points. Essential for tracking remediation effectiveness and regulatory compliance.
Full Definition
Discharge monitoring involves the continuous or periodic collection, analysis, and documentation of water samples from mine outfalls, seeps, and treatment systems. This process tracks parameters such as pH, heavy metals, dissolved solids, and flow rates to assess environmental impact and treatment effectiveness. The data collected forms the basis for regulatory reporting, adaptive management decisions, and long-term environmental assessment. Monitoring protocols must comply with federal and state regulations while providing actionable data for site managers.
Plain English
Regular testing of water flowing out of old mines to check if it's clean enough and safe for the environment.
In Editorial Context
A key data source for abandoned mine reclamation articles, providing quantifiable evidence of environmental conditions, treatment success rates, and regulatory compliance status that forms the foundation for technical reporting and case study documentation.
Etymology & History
Emerged with environmental legislation like the Clean Water Act requiring systematic tracking of industrial discharge quality
Originally focused on basic parameters but has expanded to include trace metals, emerging contaminants, and biological indicators
Usage
"The quarterly discharge monitoring results showed significant improvement in water quality following installation of the passive treatment system."
Usage note: Often requires specification of monitoring frequency, parameters, and analytical methods
Context: regulatory reporting, environmental assessment, technical documentation
Region: international
Also known as
Don't confuse with
Discharge assessment is broader and may include non-quantitative evaluation, while discharge monitoring specifically refers to systematic measurement protocols