Zero Loss Production: NWPC Introduces Mine Water-Collection Technology

North-Western Phosphorous Company continues to promote innovative ideas that improve production performance. The Company’s mine and power engineers devised a means of storing the water that naturally enters the underground mine for use in production processes, decreasing loads on the mine pumps.

At +180 metres in the underground mine, the Company installed a waterproof barrier to collect precipitation, groundwater and melt water to be used in production processes at lower levels. Tests showed that passing through rock naturally filters impurities from the water, making it suitable for production. The pipeline tied into the mine water main supplies the water for drill rigs and concrete spraying equipment, conveyor washing and fire-fighting purposes.

Since August, the water-collection project has provided the underground mine with almost all of its technical water for production below +180 metres. This makes the underground mine independent from the main water supply of the beneficiation factory, significantly reducing drinking water consumption and decreasing loads on the mine drainage and pumping equipment.

Underground mine workers originally proposed collecting and using mine water as part of a Company efficiency initiative.