Mine and Camp Water and Wastewater Operations

A coal mining client required dependable water and wastewater services across its Queensland mining operation. The scope included operating the wastewater treatment plant and potable water systems, coordinating mine-wide potable water delivery, and completing routine water quality testing and sampling. These essential services needed to remain operational every day of the year, to support safe mine operations, regulatory compliance and continuity in a remote, safety-critical environment.

A global mining client required reliable operational coverage and technical support for water treatment plants at two remote North Queensland sites. The plants needed experienced personnel to manage day-to-day operations, complete water quality testing and sampling, maintain compliance documentation and work with local site teams to identify and deliver appropriate upgrades. MAK Water was engaged to provide a dependable, non-OEM operations model backed by engineering expertise.

A mining client was experiencing potable water compliance issues because chlorine residuals in storage tanks across the mine site were not being consistently monitored or maintained. There was no established routine for checking the tanks or manually dosing chlorine when corrective action was required. MAK Water was engaged to implement a practical site-wide monitoring and dosing service to improve control of potable water quality and support ongoing compliance.

A long-term service client reached out to MAK Water to investigate dewatering options for their operation. A review of monthly sludge removal costs at five small sewerage treatment plants found costs were excessive. MAK Water collaborated with the client, designed a compact mobile dewatering screw press (DSP) and polymer preparation system (ASP) that can be towed to access each site. This innovative solution reduced the waste by volume without the need for individual units at each plant. The mobile DSP and ASP significantly lower sludge trucking costs, saving money and reducing environmental footprint. It is estimated that the cost savings will provide return on investment (ROI) on this unit within 18 months.

A Western Australian nickel mining operation had previously mothballed its ore processing plant during a downturn in commodity prices. As nickel demand and commodity pricing strengthened, the mine prepared to restart production and undertook a detailed audit of critical ore processing and water management equipment. During this assessment, the drive of one of the thickeners (concentrators) was identified as requiring major repair or complete replacement. Due to the age of the existing Dorr Oliver 109S2 drive, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) spare parts for the failed worm gear were no longer available, limiting the feasibility of a straightforward repair. The client considered two options, manufacturing a replacement worm gear to refurbish the existing drive (with the lift mechanism still in working order), or replacing the drive entirely, including the lift. This uncertainty introduced risk to the plant restart schedule, with potential impacts on downtime, maintenance costs, operational reliability and the long-term performance of the mine’s thickening processes.

A remote mining project required a wastewater treatment plant capable of producing high‑quality treated effluent. The client previously relied on basic pond systems, which could not achieve the effluent quality needed for reuse. Diminishing bore reserves also meant the site had no reliable water source for its gold elutions process. This created significant operational challenges including increased costs, schedule delays, and negative sustainability impacts due to ongoing reliance on water carting. The client designated the project as essential for achieving strategic objectives.