Protecting Water Resources Through Vigilant Monitoring

Verum Terra Geoscience Inc. has released the results of its comprehensive Water Quality Monitoring Program for the second half of 2023, confirming that all water quality parameters at monitoring stations within and downstream of the company’s project area remain well within the limits set by the DENR Administrative Order No. 2016-08 (Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards).

Monitoring Network

The company operates an extensive water quality monitoring network consisting of 18 sampling stations strategically located across the project area:

• Six stations along the major river systems downstream of exploration activities
• Four stations at natural springs and shallow wells used by communities for drinking water
• Three stations at groundwater monitoring wells installed at varying depths
• Three stations at sediment control structures and settling ponds
• Two reference stations upstream of the project area for baseline comparison

Key Findings

The monitoring results demonstrate the effectiveness of the company’s environmental management practices:

• pH levels: Consistently within the 6.5-8.5 range, meeting Class C freshwater standards
• Total Suspended Solids (TSS): All stations recorded TSS levels below 50 mg/L, well under the 80 mg/L regulatory limit
• Heavy metals (Nickel, Chromium, Iron): Concentrations at all downstream stations were below detection limits or at naturally occurring background levels
• Dissolved Oxygen (DO): Levels above 5 mg/L at all stations, indicating healthy aquatic ecosystems
• Biological indicators: Macroinvertebrate surveys confirmed the presence of pollution-sensitive species in downstream waterways, indicating good ecological health

Transparent Reporting

All monitoring data is compiled in quarterly reports submitted to the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB). The company also shares simplified summaries with community leaders through the Multi-Partite Monitoring Team (MMT), which includes representatives from local government units, NGOs, and affected communities.

The company’s commitment to transparent environmental monitoring has earned recognition from the MGB as a model for responsible exploration practices in the Philippine mining industry.