The accessibility of obtaining underground water or dewatering underground is only compounded in difficulty when poor equipment is used. Flexibility, energy efficiency, resistance to corrosion and maintenance expenses are some metrics by which to evaluate your underground pumping system, and these are discussed in further depth in the following blog article. Farmers and mining rigs should pay special attention here.
In Australia, 37% of our fresh and marginal water supplies is from groundwater. While a lot of this groundwater is too saline to use, Australia tends to rely on surface water resources regardless. Only 3% of Australian groundwater is used, compared to 13% of its surface water. Despite some of the implications of this data, groundwater remains a primary sustaining source of water supporting towns, mines, livestock and irrigation in remote parts of the country. When drawing groundwater for use in any of these areas, there are techniques to use and certain things to avoid to sustain best practice.
During Rain
During seasons of rain, groundwater tables swell closer to the surface and rise in pressure. This can pose a risk to local towns, roads and railway lines in terms of flooding potential. Groundwater pumping is recommended in these situations as a cost-effective and practical approach to reducing swelling in the ground and removing the hazard posed by high local water table. This approach, however, is not recommended for farm areas because of the inversely high cost and problems associated with safe disposal of groundwater. Due to its salinity, the groundwater is generally unsuitable for farming use.
Caring For Crops
When pumping salty groundwater from reservoirs to the surface, it’s important to aim the direction of the release away from any crops or livestock as they are susceptible to damage from saline water. Salty water negatively impacts both the local environment and farming crops and so must be discharged into an evaporation basin or pond for safe disposal. In the same vein, using pumps to remove groundwater must be coupled with an equal distribution of force with regards to the removal of supplementary salt in the table. This salt must be leeched below root level to make sure local plant life is allowed to thrive.
Groundwater in Mining
At the commencement of any mining project, a groundwater evaluation is conducted to determine the risk of mining voids become filled with groundwater, that which poses a risk to the dryness and safety of mining crews and machinery. Designs for safe mining equipment can be made to include horizontal drains, blasted toe drains, construction of drainage tunnels and pumping from wells in or outside of the pit. This practice ensures efficient drainage of your mining site. Truflow pumps are more than capable of performing the last design function in any mining project. Contact us via our website or telephone for a consult about your situation and to discuss what solutions we have available to assist in the complete drainage of your regional or mining groundwater situation.