Water treatment boost for Mount Morgan mine

Three new evaporators worth $1.2 million delivered by the Newman Government to the Mount Morgan Mine will improve water treatment capability ahead of the coming wet season.

Natural Resources and Mines Assistant Minister, Lisa France, said today the evaporators will help reduce water levels in the mine’s open cut pit and boost site water treatment capacity to nearly five million litres per day.

“These three evaporators have been installed to further minimise any likelihood of an uncontrolled discharge of pit water into the Dee River and reduce site seepage,” Ms France said.

“The new evaporators will increase the mine site’s daily water treatment and removal capacity from the current average 3.2 megalitres to approximately 4.8 megalitres per day.

Ms France said the evaporators consist of a pump, a ring of nozzles that produce a fine spray, and a high capacity air fan which pushes the water/air mix into the atmosphere. 

“By maximising contact between air and the fine water droplets, the ability of the air to absorb (evaporate) the water is maximised.

“One smaller evaporator has been working on site for months demonstrating great results in water reduction. “

Ms France said the new evaporators coincide with a $470,000 upgrade to improve the efficiency of the mine site’s Lime Dosing Water Treatment Plant.

“Before release, water from the open cut pit is treated through the water treatment plant which removes contaminants and neutralises the water pH before it is allowed to enter the Dee River,” she said.

“It is important to stress there has never been an uncontrolled discharge of water from the mine’s open cut pit during its more than 100 years lifespan.

“The Department of Natural Resources and Mines continues to monitor water quality and groundwater both on site and downstream in the Dee River, so that the impacts of discharges from the mine site are well understood and managed.

“Water quality downstream in the Dee River has been steadily improving since the rehabilitation program at Mount Morgan began a decade ago under the department’s Abandoned Mine Lands Program.”

[ENDS] 18 December 2012

Media contact: Jane Paterson 0417 281 754 or Paul Sutherland 0428 868 237