Envitech was appointed by Minergy to carry out investigations into the sourcing of groundwater supply to the mine, all water reticulation requirements (including wastewater) and treatment plants for potable water and sewage, including the design and implementation of a pollution control system for a new greenfield open cast coal mine which included a coal processing plant, coal stockpile yards and pollution control dam. The design also included for clean and dirty water drainage systems.
Envitech was responsible for carrying out the required investigations and design of all the works. The key features of the project included:
- Development of a water balance for the mine including water sources (boreholes) and all identified water demands (potable use, processing, dust suppression, irrigation, etc.)
- Carrying out a borehole census and borehole pump tests on selected boreholes to establish availability of groundwater for the project
- Hydrogeological review and assessment to determine the underlying groundwater regime and existing groundwater quality
- Design of storage and reticulation systems for both potable water and wastewater (sewage) including sizing of package treatment plants for potable water and wastewater
- Procurement process for the package treatment plants (potable water and sewage)
- Design of pollution control dam with geosynthetic liners to store all contaminated water
- Design of stormwater runoff drainage system separating clean and dirty water systems.
- Project management and supervision of the works
Water Balance
Open Cast Mining
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Groundwater supply
Water reticulation systems
Water treatment systems
Control of contaminated stormwater runoff
Recycling of all water
Infrastructure Plan