Selecting the right pump for the right application is critical for effective water management in quarries and open pit mines. Dredging and pump specialist, IPR (Integrated Pump Rental), advises that the selection process should consider a number of key factors, and chief among them are brand reputation, supplier’s expertise, site parameters and the customer’s financial situation.
While it is true that the selection of a dewatering pump for a mine or quarry largely hinges on specific site or application requirements, Steve du Toit, Sales Manager at IPR, believes that the supplier’s expertise should be a principal factor.
“Each of our installations starts with a detailed assessment of site-specific dewatering requirements. Through that process, IPR’s technical experts get a clear understanding of the unique conditions of the mine, such as water volume, pit dimensions and site-specific challenges. After this, the IPR team is able to recommend the most appropriate equipment and strategies for dewatering, ensuring optimal performance and cost efficiency for the customer,” says Du Toit.
Choosing the right pumps
According to Lee Vine MD of IPR, site-specific conditions, such as volume of water to be pumped and the rate at which it accumulates, will inform parameters such as head (the height at which a pump can raise the fluid up) and flow (the amount of water the pump can move at a given time) which, in turn, determine the size and type of pump or pumps required.