EnviroTech Journal

The ongoing drought in the west is causing more problems than just a lack of rain for farmers. California set a new “low water” mark measurement (California Department of Water Resources). The statewide electronic reading of the snowpack’s water content stands at 5 percent of average, or 5 percent of the 28-inch average. The lowest previous reading since 1950 was 25 percent of average, so Water Year 2015 is the driest winter in California’s written record.

Whether your mine is open pit or underground, one of the keys to keeping it operating at peak capacity is maintaining the roads that transport your products, employees, and equipment to and from the mine site.

Water is so important that when scientists search for life on other planets, the first thing they look for is evidence of water. Water is one of the world’s most precious natural resources and, therefore, should be treated like one. This means water protection and conservation is a priority.

Almost no one wants to have a landfill near their property for fear that the smell, the rodents, and the dust will diminish local property values. But modern, well-run landfill operations do everything they can do to help prevent all of those problems.

Forecasters predict a record-breaking dry, dusty summer in the West – a prime growing region for tree fruit, nuts and grapes. The news has growers worried about drought and dust control.

With water costs continually on the rise, along with the expense of trucking, utilizing water as your sole dust control solution is becoming less and less feasible. Like any part of your business, you want your water application process to be done in the most efficient and cost effective manner possible. In order to ensure your business is getting the most out of its water application, consider instituting a water conservation program.

Using water to mitigate dust on mining haul roads has long been considered the primary means of dust control; but with the growing lack of availability of water for this purpose, it is time to consider a new approach. 

Traditional dust reduction can take a toll on vehicles and nearby land surfaces. Dust contamination of crops and personal injury are a couple of reasons why controlled watering of roads with high dust levels take place a couple times a day, an exhausting task for miners and road safety personnel.

There is a much more effective, cost (and time) effiicient approach to insuring a safe environment, controlling dust at your operation for regulatory requirements – and for our neighbors.

The domestic Oil and Gas boom has had the number of active drilling pads soar to near record levels and, prior to the softening market, had the US projected to be the largest crude producer in the world in 2015 (courtesy: dailyreckoner.com). One of the effects of the boom has been a proliferation of wastewater, and an understandable urge to put this material to use. On the surface, O&G wastewater has appeared to be a viable agent for application on roads and pads for the purposes of dust control, as it contains a significant level of sodium chloride.

EnviroTech Services, Inc. will be exhibiting at the SME Annual Conference and Expo 2015, at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO. The conference occurs on February 15^th through 18^th. http://www.smeannualconference.com/