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1.9 Use of Clear Minewater

Technical Description

The process of dewatering is an important element of mine safety in order to reduce the possibility of inundating mining operations. In Latvia, this process has been linked to the provision of freshwater, after appropriate treatment, for various purposes including irrigation of agricultural lands, creation of recreational lands, manufacture of building materials, and aquaculture. Beginning in 1980, projects to reuse minewater, to treat minewater prior to its discharge to surface waters, and to reclaim inactive mine sites have been implemented by the state corporation, Meliorprojekts. There are over 100 disused quarries in Latvia, or which only small number have been reclaimed and recultivated for use as water reservoirs for regional (landschaft) development, recreation, fishing, and irrigation. In Hungary, the Danube River Regional Water Works Company supplies drinking water to the medium sized Town of Szekesfehervar and its surrounding villages and three large industrial consumers from bauxite mine. To support development of the mine, an high capacity production well was built to de-water a 1 km long gallery constructed at a depth of between 280 m and 300 m below the land surface. The karstic water abstracted by this system is of high quality and satisfies Hungarian standards, after chlorination, for drinking water supply.

Extent of Use

In Latvia, minewater comes from open clay, sand and gravel pits, and from dolomite, sandstone, and other building material quarries. The volume of minewater abstracted from these mines has reportedly diminished from 21 million m³/year in 1990 to 12 million m³/year in 1994, although this diminution can be interpreted as reflecting not only lower rates of production in older mines but also lack of reporting by small and private mines. Further, water abstracted from peateries is not designated as minewater and not accounted for in the above volume. A majority of this water is discharged to natural waterbodies without reuse or treatment. Notwithstanding, this water does contribute to the replenishment of natural discharges in rivers and attenuation of their discharge curves. However, this water also contributes to the thermal and chemical pollution of these rivers as the temperature of minewater is relatively constant throughout the year (i.e., it is low in summer and high in winter relative to ambient stream temperatures), and the minewater generally has high concentrations of iron and calcium.

Operation and Maintenance

This technology involves standardized operations similar to those already employed by water supply utilities and in existing mine dewatering systems

Level of Involvement

This technology is generally implemented at the industrial and local municipal levels.

Costs

In Hungary, the annual maintenance and operation costs are about $8 000.

Effectiveness of the Technology

Where this technology can be used, it provides an effective supplementary source of freshwater which can be used for a variety of purposes, including drinking water supply. Water of lesser quality is often used as industrial process water.

Suitability

The suitability of this technology is limited by the groundwater quality in a particular mine and the relative degree of impairment.

Advantages

Freshwater can be abstracted at low cost to the consumer as an additional benefit of mining activities. Such abstractions can augment water supplies, reduce surface water pollution, and increase mine safety.

Disadvantages

Variations in minewater yield can interfere with the ability of a utility to supply water at a constant rate each day and throughout the year. In addition, in certain instances, minewater may be highly contaminated by heavy metals and other contaminants which make it costly to treat to potable standard. Extreme pH values may also interfere with reuse potential.

Cultural Acceptability

This technology is accepted as a good practice.

Further Development of the Technology

This is a fully developed technology.

Information Sources

Rolands Bebris, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, 25 Peldu Str., 1494 Riga, Latvia, Tel. (371-7) 227145, fax: (371-7) 820442, e-mail: BEBRI@VARAM.GOV.LV.

Anna Egle, V/U "Meliorprojects", 11 Novembra Bulvaris 31, LV-1494 Riga, Latvia, Tel. (371-7) 228734

Petèr Kovac and Dr Kornèlia H. Kocsis, Felsö - Tisza - Vidèki Környezetvèdelmi Felügyelösèg, 4400 Nyiregyhàza, Szèchenyi u.19, Hungary, Tel. (36-42) 310 155, fax: (36-42) 310 713.

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