Cradle to grave
Control water management
Mining companies need an effective
water management strategy.
It is imperative that mining
companies implement an effective
water management strategy that
will minimise carbon footprint,
save time, and improve workers’
productivity.
According to Philip Wood,
international business development
manager at Polypipe, there are five
important actions that will enable
a mining company to manage its
water use effectively. “It is important
to spend time researching the
right piping system rather than the
cheapest option, which may not
always deliver the required results,
for example pressured pipes versus
gravity-fed applications such as
HDPE. Taking the time out to do
thorough research will save time and
provide a cost-effective solution in the
long run,” he says.
Understanding where the water
source is coming from and how it is
being used is crucial to control water
management. “Start by drawing a
schematic diagram that shows inflows,
sources of fresh and process water, and
how it’s recycled. This will allow you
to understand the situation and adopt
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the changes necessary,” Wood advises.
Another key step is to understand
the cost of water on both a financial
and risk basis for current and future
conditions. Consider how your
operation impacts the environment
and whether you could implement
alternative methods to optimise
water use and save time and money.
According to Wood, one way
to achieve a more streamlined
production is to ensure your
employees are on the same
page. Make sure employees can
identify any practices that need
to be rectified during your water
management solution process,
which in turn will also improve
productivity.
“It’s important that employees
are taught about the importance of
controlling your water management
and any processes being
implemented that will allow you to
do this more effectively,” he says.
“For many mining applications,
pumped water management systems
are a necessity and the associated
pipework must be capable of
withstanding a specified internal
pressure. However, towards the end
of a mine’s water cycle, pressured
systems are still being specified
when gravity pipes could provide
a more economical solution.
Understand which piping system is
going to provide the best solution
and why. Once this is clear, you
can be sure the investment will be
worthwhile for your business now
and in the future.”
Wood says that pumps are one of
the most expensive components on a
mine site and even more costly if they
are specified when they are not truly
required.
“Saving money and time are two
important factors to consider when it
comes to investing in pipes; therefore,
you should investigate whether your
intended piping installation could
operate successfully without the
need for pumps just by investing
in gravity-fed pipework systems.
High-quality and high-density
polyethylene (HDPE) twin-wall pipes,
designed for gravity application, offer
a cost-effective solution, reducing
transport and labour costs, along with
installation time,” Wood concludes.