1. Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)
Rand Water Forum
Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)
Separating fact from hysteria– are we on the right track
Marius Keet
Department of Water and Sanitation
20 July 2016
PRESENTATION TITLE
Presented by:
Name Surname
Directorate
Date

4. Introduction and Background
Outcry on AMD started 2 September 2002 on the West Rand
Witwatersrand gold fields characterised by numerous abandoned gold mines, all generating Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)
AMD pollutes water resources – creates water security risks and other negative socio-economic and environmental impacts
Key risk in Gauteng is the Vaal Dam/ River System
Inter-Ministerial Committee on AMD (IMC) established in 2010
IMC sanctioned specific measures for AMD mitigation

5. Government efforts (Feb 2011)
Prevent decant
Ingress control
Treatment of AMD
Short-term: Neutralisation & metal removal
Long-term: Desalination for re-use
Improve monitoring & research
Other AMD sources (mine waste facilities)
Environmental levy to address future AMD scenarios (pro active)
Urgency of situation and Cabinet’s involvement

6. Parliament's Water Affairs Portfolio Committee Head vows to summon mines to explain what he calls their "blackmail" of Government !!!

7. Proposed solutions challenged by activists & public

8. What if Government did nothing?
Water security risk for Vaal Dam/ River System (VRS)
Compromised socio-economic development in GP
Negative impacts for GP, NW, FS
Localised pollution impacts on surface and groundwater (CoH WHS aquifers)
Ecological disruptions (Tweelopiespruit, Krugersdorp Game Reserve)
Other impacts such as localised surface seepages (impact on civilian infrastructure), ground stability risks, etc

9. Priority Areas Western Basin Central Basin Eastern Basin
AMD decanting to surface (Impacting on Cradle of Humankind).
Urgent intervention required
Western
Basin
Central Basin
Pumping stopped Oct with water level at mbs currently at 106 mbs at SWV shaft.
Eastern
Basin
Pumping stopped 31/01/2011 with water level at +-700mbs currently at 109mbs at Grootvlei 3 shaft.

10. Witwatersrand gold fields Short-term AMD mitigation interventions
Implementing Agent: Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA)
PRESENTATION TITLE
Presented by:
Name Surname
Directorate
Date

11. Technical Solution: Western Basin
Commenced December 2011
Upgraded existing AMD plant (36 ML per day)
Neutralised AMD released to Tweelopiespruit
Project has eradicated surface decant (August 2012)
Significant improvement in river water quality and aquatic life status
Project further augmented by new clarifiers and new pump station (70 ML/d)

12. Western Basin AMD plant

13. Technical Solution: Central Basin
Commenced January 2013
Constructed new AMD treatment plant next to South West Vertical Shaft (capacity 84 ML/day)
Operational since May 2014; currently treating 72ML AMD daily
Treated water according to Department’s specifications
Treated water released into Elsburgspruit

14. Pre-site preparation

15. Central Basin
pump-station

16. Central Basin reactors and clarifiers

17. Technical Solution: Eastern Basin
Commenced July 2014
Constructed new AMD treatment plant next to Grootvlei No 3 shaft (capacity 110 ML/day)
Commissioning commenced in March 2016
Full operation projected for July 2016
Treated water to be released into Blesbokspruit

18. Eastern Basin

19. Witwatersrand gold fields Long-term AMD mitigation intervention
Implementing Agent: Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA)
PRESENTATION TITLE
Presented by:
Name Surname
Directorate
Date

20. Long-term AMD solutions in the Witwatersrand
All options considered to ensure best and most cost-effective approach is implemented
TCTA appointed as Implementing Agent in May 2016
Long-term solution will integrate with short-term solution
Desalinated AMD will be directed to beneficial socio-economic uses
Has positive impact on reducing supply demand from the Vaal River
Operations projected to commence in February 2020

22. Conclusion and way forward
Rigorous monitoring and reporting on AMD matters
DWS to verify water and salt balances.
Support and strengthen partnerships (Mines, Rand Water, SASOL, ESKOM etc)
Explore promising technologies and strategies for AMD management (Technology Development Task Team established)
Treatment of AMD per Basin vs centralised (“massified”) treatment plant
Best use of treated water (What? Where? How?)
Conclusion of any studies in progress
Considerations of funding mechanisms for State liabilities
TCTA to commence with EIA asap and also do a due diligence.
Ingress control to be prioritised and quantified. (DMR taking the lead with support from DWS)

23. Conclusion and way forward
Project costs to be recovered through water tariffs, proposed levy in the mining sector, the Waste-discharge Charge System and fiscal allocations
Stringent regulation needed to ensure Witwatersrand challenge is not replicated in other mining areas
Mine Water Policy to be rolled out and strategies for its implementation to be developed
Cabinet to consider re-establishing IMC on AMD for the provision of high-level guidance on AMD and mine water management across South Africa

24. Pro-active measures for AMD management nationally
Assessment of other mining catchments to ensure timeous interventions with specific emphasis on AMD/ mine water policy, strategies, control, prevention and re-use of mining-impacted water
National AMD/ Mine Water Management Policy developed with 9 key policy principles
Partnership with business (Strategic Water Partnerships Network)
Inter-departmental engagements to optimise and ensure parallel measures for AMD and mine water management

25. Think Outside the Box
© CEM

26. THANK YOU