GOUNDWATER AND DEWATERING

Groundwater is a crucial resource in Western Australia that is subject to significant regulatory protection. Many projects require dewatering activities that have the potential to negatively impact water quality. Dewatering activities should be designed to minimise impacts to surrounding water bore users and sensitive surface water receptors.

If groundwater is likely to be impacted through excavations, dewatering, or disturbance of acid sulfate soils (acid sulphate soils) a site-specific dewatering management plan (DWMP) should be developed to ensure that all necessary measures are identified and implemented in order to protect the environment and comply with environmental legislation.

Typically, a dewatering management plan (DWMP) will include the following elements:

Baseline Groundwater Investigation to identify and characterise local aquifers;
An assessment of project activities to determine the potential to impact to groundwater;
Selection of appropriate management actions including dewatering method, discharge treatment, monitoring requirements, and disposal; and
Post project closure monitoring to demonstrate the effectiveness of the dewatering program and to achieve project regulatory closure.

Dinglebird Environmental provides comprehensive groundwater and dewatering management services in accordance with Department of Environment and Conservation, Swan River Trust, Department of Health, and Western Australian Planning Commission guidelines.