Fourth Quarter 1997

Inside:
International
Projects
Pit Lake Studies
Technology,
Experience Solve
Problems
St. Louis Office
Services Solid and
Hazardous Waste,
Mining, and General
Environmental
Industries
Worldwide Growth
Prompts Key
Personnel
Promotions and
Appointments at
Water Management
Consultants

Water: Too Much or Too Little

Water is a precious resource. Throughout history, from hand dug wells to elaborate Roman aqueduct
systems and modern engineering marvels, such as Hoover Dam, man has sought to find, control and
manage water. On a planet whose surface is 75 percent water, there is often still too much or too little of
this precious resource.
With an ever expanding population placing increased demands on the earths water resources, the need
for effectively managing water has never been greater. Water Management Consultants has responded to
this need by developing the premier consulting firm in the world specializing in the exploration,
development, control and management of water. The firm has a worldwide staff with expertise in
groundwater, surface water, geochemistry and water engineering.
Water Management Consultants integrates a variety of specialized techniques into its projects. Water
exploration methods, including remote sensing, geophysics and drilling, are used to investigate
groundwater aquifers. Often, exploration is followed by large-scale aquifer testing and analysis. State-ofthe-art computer models are used as predictive tools to optimize wellfields and to predict impacts. Our
projects range in scope from mine dewatering systems to major groundwater supply systems.
Water Management Consultants works in the extremely arid regions of northern Chile and southern
Peru to find and develop water resources for world class mines. Over the years that Water Management
Consultants has worked in this region, we have developed an extensive database containing geologic maps,
borehole information, satellite imagery, aerial photography and water quality information. This database
allows us to target the best potential sites for water exploration and testing. With vast land areas to be looked
at, finding good water resources without such a database is like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack.
Water Management Consultants addresses a different problem in Nevada. Open pit and underground
gold mines may extend into the prolific aquifers underlying portions of the state, sometimes resulting in
the need to pump more than 20,000 gallons per minute in order to provide safe operating conditions. Water
Management Consultants designs the major dewatering systems that are needed at these mines as well as
re-infiltration systems to return this water to aquifers and preserve it for future use. Through the use of
complex numerical models, we can evaluate the best water
management systems for these mines in order to minimize
environmental impacts and keep dewatering costs
low.
Whether its finding, disposing of,
controlling or protecting water
quality, Water Management
Consultants can address the
problems and find workable
solutions. As water becomes
more precious, we will
continue to work with our
clients to find better
solutions for managing
water resources while
protecting the environment.

International Projects

Pit Lake Studies Technology,

Dewatering / Water
Supply, Sonora, Mexico
Water Management Consultants
was commissioned to design an
integrated mine dewatering/water
supply system and an environmental
monitoring network for the La
Colorada Gold Mine near Hermosillo,
Sonora, Mexico. Under the direction
of Amado Guzman, Manager of Water
Managements Tucson, Arizona office,
a comprehensive system was
designed to satisfy the requirements
of environmental permits, provide
needed water supplies, and dewater
the open pit while minimizing the
impacts on the adjacent community
of La Colorada.

Monturaqui Basin
Wellfield, Chile
This successful project entailed the
development of a wellfield for the
Escondida Copper Mine in Chile.
Located in the Monturaqui Basin, the
project was conducted on behalf of
Minera Escondida Limitada. The
investigation culminated in computer
models used to locate wellfields that
would best utilize and manage
groundwater
resources.
Water
Management continues to advise
Escondida on all water related issues.

As environmental requirements
become increasingly stringent on
operating mine facilities, so too do
the requirements for mine closure. A
major consideration during mine
closure is the final water quality of
flooded open pits and the potential
impact
to
the
surrounding
environment. To address such
sensitive issues, Water Management
Consultants has developed a
sophisticated approach to pit lake
studies that combines groundwater
flow and hydrochemical modeling
with probabilistic analysis to predict
pit lake water quality over time. This
approach is backed by extensive
practical experience in mine closure
and actual monitoring of the
formation of pit lakes.

An important part of the pit lake

modeling is a water balance for the
site that quantifies the contribution
of each of the potential inflows and
outflows to the pit. Inflows may

INTERIM PIT LAKE

AS A HYDRAULIC SINK
Precipitation
On Pit Walls

Mine Closure Options,

New Zealand
Water Management completed a
comprehensive evaluation of closure
options for the Golden Cross Gold &
Silver Mine in the Waihi area of New
Zealand. Commissioned by Coeur
dAlene Mines Corporation, Water
Management developed suitable
closure options for the open pit and
underground workings based on an
assessment of costs, impacts on the
local river system, and the
requirements for long-term treatment
of discharge from the closed mine.

First, the groundwater system

must be conceptualized during
interim conditions, as the pit fills,
and during long-term steady state
conditions to identify hydrogeologic
units, structures, boundary
conditions, and recharge/discharge
mechanisms. Typical conceptual
models are shown in Figures 1 and
2. Often, a numerical groundwater
model is used to predict the
response of the groundwater system
to the conditions that will exist after
the mine is closed.

Direct
Precipitation

Precipitation
On Pit Walls

Evaporation
Alluvium

Alluvium

Rock Unit A

Rock Unit B

Groundwater Inflow

Rock Unit A

Precipitation / Sorption

Groundwater
Inflow

Rock Unit B

Rock Unit B
Figure 1

Experience Solve Problems

St. Louis Office Services

Solid and Hazardous
Waste, Mining, and General
Environmental Industries

STEADY STATE PIT LAKE

WITH NET OUTFLOW

Precipitation
On Pit Walls

Direct
Precipitation
Evaporation

Alluvium

Precipitation
On Pit Walls

Alluvium

Precipitation / Sorption

Rock Unit A
Groundwater Inflow

Rock Unit A

Groundwater Inflow
Turnover

Rock Unit B

Rock Unit B
Rock Unit B

Figure 2

include direct precipitation, surface

water runoff and groundwater
inflow. Outflows may include
evaporation, groundwater seepage
and surface water flow.
Rock units within the pit walls,
mine backfill and other potential
sources of dissolved constituents to
the pit lake must be identified and
characterized. The potential to
contribute to acid rock drainage is
determined through laboratory and
field testing programs.
The chemical processes that
contribute to pit lake formation and
water quality are simulated using
hydrochemical models such as
PHREEQC. For given physical
mixing and chemical processes in

the pit lake, the model is used to

predict water quality over time.
Often, since many of the physical
and chemical parameters that
determine pit lake water quality are
uncertain, probabilistic techniques
are used to evaluate the range of
uncertainty in the predicted pit lake
water quality.
Finally, the pit lake model can
be used to evaluate the impacts of
different closure scenarios. For
instance, the effects of pit
backfilling, diversion of surface
water into the pit, revegetation and
grading, and other closure measures
can be evaluated for their
effectiveness in controlling pit lake
formation and the resulting water
quality.

Water Management Consultants

continues to expand its worldwide
network of offices with the opening of a
new branch in St. Louis, Missouri. Headed
by Operations Manager Ward Herst, a
Certified Professional Hydrogeologist and
Registered Professional Engineer, this
strategically located office is currently
serving industries in Missouri and
surrounding states.
New staff appointments include the
addition of Charles Ketring as Project
Manager and John Regan as Staff
Hydrogeologist. Ketring was most recently
the Regional Environmental Coordinator
for Laidlaw/Allied and offers a unique
combination of solid waste industry and
hydrogeological expertise. Regan brings
considerable experience in remedial
investigation and feasibility studies, well
installation, borehole logging, well
development, and computer modeling.
Herst, Ketring and Regan can
be reached at: Water Management
Consultants, 5988 Mid Rivers Mall Drive,
Suite 213, St. Charles, Missouri 63304,
Phone 314/939-4926, Fax 314/939-9631,
Email 102152.550@compuserve.com.
Shrewsbury
2/3 Wyle Cop
Shrewsbury, SY1 1UT
England
Tel:
44-1743-231793
Fax:
44-1743-232894
Email: 100140.2701@
compuserve.com
Denver
1401 Seventeenth Street
Suite 310
Denver, Colorado 80202
USA
Tel:
303-297-9005
Fax:
303-297-9007
Email: 72262.2665@
compuserve.com
Tucson
333 North Wilmot Road
Suite 310
Tucson, Arizona 85711
USA
Tel:
520-745-5424
Fax:
520-745-5414
Email: 104153.1407@
compuserve.com
St. Louis
5988 Mid Rivers Mall Drive
Suite 213
St. Charles, Missouri 63304
USA
Tel:
314-939-4926
Fax:
314-939-9631
Email: 102152.550@
compuserve.com

Santiago
Enrique Foster, Sur 76
Las Condes, Santiago
Chile
Tel:
56-2-231-5623
Fax:
56-2-246-3518
Email: 70501.1616@
compuserve.com

Lima
Avda. Ricardo Rivera
Navarrette 451
Edificio Delia 601-602
San Isidro, Lima
Peru
Tel:
51-14-42-0204
Fax:
51-14-41-1902
Email: 105114.3345@
compuserve.com

Perth
Subiaco Business Centre
531 Hay Street
Subiaco, WA 6008
Australia
Tel:
61-8-9380-8346
Fax:
61-8-9380-8347
Email: 100401.3066@
compuserve.com

Worldwide Growth Prompts Key Personnel Promotions and Appointments at

Water Management Consultants
Water Management Consultants
continues to solidify its position as the
worlds leading international hydrological
and environmental consultancy. Expansion
throughout the globe has prompted vital
new staff appointments and promotions
that have significantly enhanced Water
Managements scope of services while
assuring clients unparalleled service and
timely completion of projects on every
continent. Recent staff appointments and
promotions include:
Jerry W. Rowe was promoted to Chief
Executive Officer of Water Managements
worldwide operations while retaining his
position as President of U.S. Operations
for the Company. Rowe, a Civil
Engineer and Hydrogeologist, brings
more than 20 years of worldwide
experience to his position as CEO,
including particular expertise in
environmental hydrogeology, mine

dewatering, and hydrologic engineering.

Prior to joining Water Management, he
managed the Rocky Mountain Region for
Golder Associates.
John McCartney was named Operations
Manager for Peru in the Companys
Lima office. An experienced Geologist
and Hydrogeologist, McCartney
specializes in mining hydrology, water
supply and dewatering. Previously
employed as Senior Hydrogeologist in
Water Managements Chile office, he has
developed a good working knowledge of
the South American zone through
project work extending to Ecuador and
Bolivia.
Xavier P. Sibenaler was appointed
Operations Manager for Chile,
operating from Water Managements
Santiago office. A noted Hydrogeologist,
Sibenaler brings more than 21 years of
experience to Water Management

Consultants, with particular expertise

in hydrogeology and artificial aquifer
recharge. He is an honors graduate in
Geology from the University of Adelaide
in South Australia.
Ward E. Herst is the Operations
Manager at the Companys newest office
in St. Louis, Missouri. He is a Certified
Professional Hydrogeologist, Registered
Professional
Engineer,
Certified
Environmental Manager, and Registered
Professional Geologist. Herst was most
recently the U.S. Solid Waste
Coordinator for one of the worlds
largest engineering/environmental
consulting firms. He is President of the
American Institute of Mining and
Technology, Missouri Chapter, and is an
adjunct professor at the St. Charles
County Community College in
Missouri, teaching environmental laws
and regulations.

1401 Seventeenth Street, Suite 310

Denver, Colorado 80202 USA

water resources mining hydrology brines environment hydrology geophysics hydrochemistry modeling water engineering