BHP Billiton Olympic Dam produces copper cathode, uranium oxide concentrate and refined gold and silver. The operation is comprised of an underground Mine and Processing Plant and is located 560 km north of Adelaide._x000D_
Water for the operation is sourced from two wellfields located 120 and 200 km from the operation in the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) at a rate of approximately 36 ML/d. Regulatory drawdown limits were established to protect regional GAB springs and are monitored at compliance bores. Drawdown was predicted in the Olympic Dam Environmental Impact Study' (Kinhill, 1997); however, pumping at higher volumes may have the potential for increased drawdown resulting in a trend towards the compliance limits._x000D_
In recent years increased usage of water in the Concentrator and Hydromet sections of the Processing Plant has caused excess process water reporting to the Tailings Retention System (TRS). This has resulted in excessive amounts of liquor ponding on the tailings cells with a potential impact being contamination due to seepage of liquor to groundwater._x000D_
Effective management of water by the operation is necessary to both reduce GAB drawdown and reduce the amount of liquor on the tailings cells. A site working-group has been established to investigate and pursue opportunities to improve the water use efficiency of the operation. This paper will highlight the issue of water management at Olympic Dam and discuss the various options currently being investigated to improve management of this important resource._x000D_
FORMAL CITATION:Hocking, A, 2006. Water management at BHP Billiton Olympic Dam, in Proceedings New Leaders' 2006, pp 89-94 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).