Best Practice AMD Monitoring, Technologies and Applications

Course Description

The objectives of this short course are to explore best practices and innovations in sampling, spot field measurements and real-time continuous monitoring for AMD sites.

Participants will learn:
The importance of sampling, spot field measurements with portable meters and real-time continuous monitoring at AMD sites in relation to:

Groundwater – water quality parameters (such as pH, electrical conductivity, oxidation-reduction potential, total acidity and alkalinity, sulfate and heavy metal concentrations) and groundwater levels to understand potential seepage issues.
Surface water – water quality parameters as well as runoff and first flush/peak flow (post-rainfall events).
Waste rock and tailings dam seepage points – water quality parameters, flow rates, metal loads and flow directions.

There are many challenges with monitoring AMD sites. This course focuses on recommended methods of measurement, and how they are applied to AMD sites. A key outcome of this component of the course is to discuss what to consider when choosing a particular method to measure a particular parameter.

A component of measurement is the technology type. Every technology can have its pitfalls. Keeping the technology operating as intended requires correct deployment, operation, scheduled calibration and maintenance and ongoing oversight. This component of the course describes how various technologies work, what can go wrong and what calibration, maintenance and QA/QC can be undertaken to optimise their operation. This component will cover samplers, portable meters, sensors and integrated monitoring systems.

For each technology type discussed, we will cover the challenges that can arise with the sampling and sensor-based measurement approaches and best practices to employ to ensure the data collected are meaningful and accurate.

Finally, we will discuss how the monitoring data can provide critical insights for site management and compliance assessment.
Further details are provided in the course outline below.

This short course is facilitated by HydroTerra (Richard Campbell and Dr Annette Nolan) and the University of Queensland Sustainable Minerals Institute (Dr Robynne Chrystal).

This short course is facilitated by HydroTerra (Richard Campbell and Dr Annette Nolan) and UQ's Sustainable Minerals Institute (Dr Robynne Chrystal).

Facilitator bios

Dr Annette Nolan

Dr Annette Nolan is Technical Director and Monitoring Services Manager at HydroTerra.

Annette has over 25 years of experience that intersects across environmental consulting, remediation contracting, analytical chemistry and research sectors. Annette is passionate about knowledge sharing and thought leadership on best practices within the environmental consulting and monitoring industry.

Annette has been involved in a wide range of contaminated land investigations, monitoring and remediation projects at complex industrial and mine sites across Australia, including an alumina refinery and red mud tailings dam facility, a former waste oil refinery facility, current and former fire stations and within the resource recovery sector, with a focus on metals, hydrocarbons, gasworks residues and emerging contaminants such as PFAS.

Richard Campbell

Richard Campbell is Managing Director at HydroTerra.

Richard has been a geologist, hydrogeologist and environmental scientist for more than 25 years. In recent times Richard has focused on monitoring technologies and how these can be applied to improving operational and compliance efficiencies. Richard has significant experience in environmental and regulatory compliance requirements having worked in the areas of EPA auditing, landfill, mining, coal seam gas, catchment management, contaminated sites, effluent irrigation, agriculture, aquatic environments and more. Richard has significant experience in monitoring system design and implementation.

Dr Robynne Chrystal

Robynne is a water resources engineer with 15 years of experience in research and consulting.

She currently works as a Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Environmental Responsibility at SMI, UQ where her focus is on mine water management and the impacts of mine affected water for all stages of the mine life cycle. She has worked with mining companies in Australia, Asia and Africa to address various aspects of mine water and environmental management and has extensive experience in hydrological, hydraulic and water quality assessments and management. Robynne has a thorough understanding of the biophysical interactions of water systems at various temporal and spatial scales.

Course outline

Total Course Duration: 4.5 hours

Best practice monitoring and technologies for the following AMD applications will be discussed:

Groundwater
Surface water
Waste rock and tailings dam seepage

For each of these applications, the following course modules will provide relevant context.

1. Introduction (1 hour) - The University of Queensland (Dr Robynne Chrystal):

Monitoring and data collection for AMD sites
Compliance vs strategic monitoring
Source, pathways and receptors of mine affected water
Temporal and spatial resolution
Geochemical modelling - data requirements

2. Hypothetical AMD case study (30 mins) - The University of Queensland (Dr Robynne Chrystal):

Example from a deidentified real case study site:

Current monitoring on site and its limitations – lessons learnt in hindsight
What needs to be or could be done to address gaps in data

3. Best practice AMD monitoring, technologies and applications (3 hours) - HydroTerra (Richard Cambell and Dr Annette Nolan):

3.1 Key measurement parameters

Which parameters should be monitored and at what frequency.

3.2 Methods of measurement

Which measurement methods, guidelines and standards.

3.3 Monitoring technology types

Which technology types are applicable for each application, how to select them and what to be careful of:
Water samplers (manual and automated)
Portable water quality meters
Water level and quality sensors
Integrated monitoring systems and telemetry
Mapping of seepage pathways (geophysical techniques)

3.4 Planning and undertaking AMD monitoring programs

System design
Technology supply, how to choose
Equipment configuration and testing
Installation
Oversight
Calibration, maintenance, trouble-shooting issues/how to avoid the pitfalls
Monitoring system performance reporting