{"id":1087,"date":"2017-12-21T21:11:00","date_gmt":"2017-12-21T21:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amq-inc.com\/?p=1087"},"modified":"2022-11-15T21:13:45","modified_gmt":"2022-11-15T21:13:45","slug":"stornoway-diamond-a-model-approach-to-water-management-and-water-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amq-inc.com\/en\/stornoway-diamond-a-model-approach-to-water-management-and-water-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"Stornoway Diamond, a model approach to water management and water treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Yes, that’s right!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the start of the Renard project, Stornoway decided that the mine would have as little impact as possible on water quality. How did the Stornoway team achieve its goal? Read on.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Water is needed to supply an ore treatment plant, and generally it is drawn from nearby lakes and watercourses. In other words, fresh water is used. Remarkably, Stornoway does not use any fresh water at all, but only runoff from the mine site and the product of dewatering operations in the underground mine. All of this water is recycled, and is available in sufficient quantities to supply the ore treatment plant. Lac Lagop\u00e8de, and six other lakes and streams close to the mine infrastructures, are not affected by large-scale water withdrawals. Only drinking water for the mining camp is taken from Lac Lagop\u00e8de.\"\"The picture shows environment technician Charles Dubois on Lac Lagop\u00e8de and, in the background, the ore treatment plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When, at the end of the process, the water is returned to the environment after its journey through the wastewater treatment plant, it is of the highest quality. Regular analyses show that the treated water easily meets industry standards and the environmental emission objectives established by the Minist\u00e8re du D\u00e9veloppement durable, de l\u2019Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (MDDELCC).<\/p>\n\n\n

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This outcome results from a comprehensive approach launched as soon as work began to construct and commission the Renard Mine in 2014. When construction activities commenced on the site, Stornoway built a temporary water treatment plant. All runoff, and all water that had come into contact with the mine site, was treated there until April 2016, when the brand-new permanent water treatment plant came into action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to treating meltwater that has been in contact with the mine site, the plant treats runoff and surface drainage water, and water from dewatering operations in the open-pit and underground mine. Stornoway has even dug ditches around the whole of the site to contain all the water that comes into contact with the mine. The ditches also ensure that runoff that has not come into contact with the mine site can be diverted, reducing the volume of water requiring treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stornoway set itself the challenge of ensuring that its activities<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

would have the lowest possible environmental impact.<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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The same exemplary approach used for drinking water and domestic wastewater<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is easy to understand that with almost 400 workers living on-site, a considerable quantity of wastewater is produced. Before being discharged into the environment, this domestic wastewater is treated in a plant equipped with cutting-edge technology. “We built an ultra-modern, highly automated facility” explains Martin Boucher, Stornoway’s Vice President for Sustainable Development. The equipment is so modern that operations can even be monitored from a distance. “It’s as if the various plant components could talk to the technicians,” he adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plant exceeds MDDELCC requirements for domestic wastewater treatment. It is one of the most modern facilities in Qu\u00e9bec, even though Stornoway is not a municipality but a mining company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For drinking water, Stornoway’s unrelenting focus has produced outstanding results. To date, no notices have been issued to boil or avoid drinking the water. In addition, no analysis results have shown the presence of micro-organisms indicating fecal contamination or coliform bacteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Voluntarily and to ensure transparency, Stornoway has introduced a program to monitor drinking water quality that meets the requirements of the Regulation respecting the quality of drinking water<\/em>, the Regulation respecting occupational health and safety<\/em>, and the certificate of authorization issued by the MDDELCC. It is important to note that the Regulation respecting the quality of drinking water<\/em> does not impose a specific monitoring program on companies\u2014in other words, Stornoway has gone beyond the regulatory requirements in order to preserve its workers’ health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other environmental initiatives<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Wherever there is machinery, there is oil, which can escape to the environment in many different ways. Stornoway has taken steps to prevent any kind of spill, and has installed equipment to separate oil from water. These oil separators receive wastewater from the mechanical repair workshop and the airport hangar. Oil floats to the surface, where it is recovered and stored in special containers before being taken off-site to be recycled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Groundwater<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Stornoway has also implemented a program to monitor groundwater quality, as required by the MDDELCC around high-risk sites and trench landfills. At Renard Mine, 42 observation wells have been dug to monitor groundwater closely. They cover the entire mine site and the area around the landing strip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Respect for the host environment: a shared concern<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The environmental and social management system (Syst\u00e8me de gestion environnementale et sociale, or SGENVS) established by Stornoway also deserves attention. It was created when work began with one key objective: to allow Stornoway to respect its commitments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The SGENVS includes<\/p>\n\n\n\n