Palaeovalley aquifers are the mainstay of water supplies for mines in the Eastern Goldfields. Although mostly highly saline, they are relatively easy to locate, and consistent and dependable in terms of storage and permeability.

WESTERN GROUNDWATER specialises in palaeovalley water supplies in the Eastern Goldfields and South Coast regions and is capable of performing all stages of the project development workflow.

Fractured bedrock aquifers, formed by faulting, shearing or weathering of Pre-Cambrian bedrock, can be very high yielding and exploited for mine water supply, especially if they have a low salinity and require dewatering to enable mining.

WESTERN GROUNDWATER also specialises in fractured bedrock water supplies and is capable of performing all stages of the project development process.

Dewatering bores may be required to allow mining below the water table if the ore is associated with major bedrock structures or is itself highly porous and permeable. The bores can be drilled along-strike, from the pit margin, in the pit, or into flooded underground workings (breakthrough bores).

WESTERN GROUNDWATER has been involved in numerous pit and underground dewatering projects and is proficient at performing all stages of the project workflow.

The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is responsible for managing Western Austria’s groundwater resources to ensure they are not excessively depleted, resuling in adverse imapcts on aquifers, the environment and other users.

WESTERN GROUNDWATER is able to assist with all stages of the regulatory process, including obtaining licences for drilling and groundwater extraction, and the preparation of groundwater licence operating strategies, monitoring reports and mine closure plans.