Developing Environmental Components for a Water Balance

David is a civil engineer with over 28 years of experience in mining, environmental, solid waste, and geotechnical projects. He specializes in mine water management, including designing surface water conveyance and stormwater structures as well as capture and storage facilities for surface water and solution flows.

David’s experience includes conducting a third-party review of an OPSIM water balance model, evaluating the development of Australian Water Balance Method input parameters, and performing a completeness review of an existing site-wide water balance model.  He has also developed a site-wide process and environmental water balance model for the feasibility study of a large gold mine. This model incorporated an open pit, heap leach pad, waste dumps, and water supply and control reservoirs. The model predicted the water demands for the process as well as the quantity and quality of off-site discharge along regional drainage routes using daily, probabilistic climate forecasts.