With mine dewatering being a complex challenge that is often overlooked during the design phase of a mining operation, original-equipment manufacturer Weir helps miners conduct comprehensive planning for dewatering scenarios. This approach ensures that site conditions are carefully considered and future requirements are accommodated, leading to optimal performance and adaptability.

While there is generally a focus on water reticulation during a mine’s design phase, excess water generation and seepage are not always considered, states Weir original equipment GM Marnus Koorts.

He warns that inadequate dewatering strategies result in ineffective water management, which, in turn, leads to costly disruptions to mining operations and even potential safety risks.

“Successful dewatering requires a deep understanding of site-specific environmental and geological conditions, as well as operational needs, to ensure the right approach is implemented,” Koorts explains, adding that no two mines are the same and that, as such, every site’s dewatering requirements will vary.

Effective water management at mine sites also depends on expertise in interfacing systems, peripheral equipment and supporting infrastructure, he adds.

The successful and safe implementation of dewatering often gets complicated by electrical interfacing and other region-specific conditions that require innovative mechanical and, in some cases, buoyancy knowledge.

In terms of catering towards the unique conditions of mines in Africa, Koorts says the company’s specialised services have included crocodile-proofing pontoons, heated pontoons and floating pontoons.

When undertaking new installations, Weir considers the regional and seasonal impacts on water formation to adapt dewatering solutions on site. The company also considers the permeability and porosity of the soil, as well as other geological features.

In particular, weather variations can have a significant effect on openpit mines, and even mines operating above a water table can be subject to influxes of water caused by heavy rainfall or melting snow.

Koorts illustrates that countries with high rainfall often have more complex dewatering needs, which, if not addressed properly and flexibly, render sites unable to operate while these water issues persist.

“It is essential that dewatering systems can handle the maximum potential volume of water inflow to avoid downtime and prevent risks to safe operation.”

This also rings true in South Africa, where particularly high levels of late summer rainfall over the past few years have been recorded.

Weir offers precisely designed and strongly engineered solutions for any application, with the company focusing on delivering sustainable dewatering solutions for optimal efficiency and performance during any season and in any conditions.

The company’s mine dewatering pumps and equipment brands include MULTIFLO, FLOWAY, WARMAN, ENVIROTECH, GEHO and HERO.