Mines should use GRP piping to preserve water

To guarantee mine wastewater never contaminates South Africa's water systems, mine operators should be using corrosive-resistant glass-fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) piping when transferring this toxic water to a water treatment facility.

Mine wastewater, a highly toxic cocktail of organic compounds with high concentrations of SO4, silica, iron, and other toxic metals, and Acid Mine Drainage (AMD), are two major sources of water contamination in South Africa. AMD is characterised by low pH (high acidity), high salinity levels, elevated concentrations of sulphate, iron, aluminium and manganese, high levels of toxic heavy metals such as cadmium, cobalt, copper, molybdenum and zinc, and sometimes deadly radionuclides.

The only real piping solution

Roger Rusch, CEO of Industrial Water Cooling (IWC), said: "GRP pipes are inherently resistant to galvanic and electrolytic corrosion making them the only real piping solution for mine wastewater transportation as well as effective AMD management. With very low potential for leaks caused by corrosion, GRP pipes significantly reduce the risk of contaminants entering South Africa's water system.

"The resins used to manufacture GRP pipes provide a natural resistance of pH 1 to 10 making them suitable to use in the desalination and reverse osmosis processes of wastewater treatment. And since the hydraulic characteristics of these durable pipes remain constant over time, there is no need for additional linings, coatings or cathode protection."