Multidisciplinary consulting firm SRK Consulting recently completed a project involving mine water, in West Africa, which started with characterising the key aquifers at the mine.
Thereafter, SRK developed a dewatering system based on site testing and numerical modelling, followed by a water balance flowsheet, for the client, says SRK principal hydrogeologist Ismail Mahomed.
“The water pumping system was engineered to be efficient: conserving power and optimising equipment requirements. The water could then be productively used, minimising clean water abstraction from streams used by local downstream communities.”
Therefore, besides economic benefits, there are operational and duty-of-care benefits to the system developed for the mine, adds Mahomed.
When taking on mine water consulting and management projects, SRK starts with desktop studies and a hydrocensus, which are the fundamental building blocks for water use options, explains SRK principal hydrogeologist Wadzanai Chimhanda.
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