Water Quality

Water quality and run-off control is a critical part of the environmental management of the mining operations to ensure that local streams and rivers are not contaminated and that soil erosion is eliminated. Adaro has implemented a comprehensive system of water run-off control and treatment  to ensure that processed water meets the required environmental quality level.

Wastewater from rainfall and ground water in the open cut pit is drained into specially prepared sumps and is continuously pumped from these into a permanent and hardened drainage system which feeds into high capacity safety ponds for containment before chemical processing. From there water is fed to a series of settling ponds where it is treated with flocculants and coagulants to remove suspended solids which are separated and fed to the final mud ponds. The clear water from this processed is then released into the public waterway system.

Wasterwater which originates from coal stockpiles around the mining operations is fed into finecoal traps to release coal solids after which this water enters the main wastewater treatment system for final processing.

Water quality monitoring is carried out through all phases of treatment with specific emphasis on pH, biochemical oxygen demand, turbidity, and iron sulphates.