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Stormwater Management Plan for Moabsvelden Mine

This document provides a conceptual stormwater management plan for the Moabsvelden Portion 8 coal mine. It includes an introduction that describes the background, scope, and regional setting. It then presents baseline hydrological and climate information. The conceptual stormwater management plan separates the site into clean and dirty water catchments. It proposes stormwater infrastructure such as berms, channels, and containment facilities to divert clean and dirty water runoff from the 1:50 year flood event in accordance with Government Notice 704.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
63 views22 pages

Stormwater Management Plan for Moabsvelden Mine

This document provides a conceptual stormwater management plan for the Moabsvelden Portion 8 coal mine. It includes an introduction that describes the background, scope, and regional setting. It then presents baseline hydrological and climate information. The conceptual stormwater management plan separates the site into clean and dirty water catchments. It proposes stormwater infrastructure such as berms, channels, and containment facilities to divert clean and dirty water runoff from the 1:50 year flood event in accordance with Government Notice 704.

Uploaded by

Alan Hughes
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

CONCEPTUAL STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR

THE MOABSVELDEN PORTION 8 COAL MINE

Prepared For: Neosho Trading 86 (Pty) Ltd


Prepared By: Highlands Hydrology (Pty) Ltd
Date: August 2016
Report Status: Version 2
Highlands Hydrology (Pty) Ltd i|P a g e

CONCEPTUAL STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE MOABSVELDEN


PORTION 8 COAL MINE

CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 SCOPE OF WORK ............................................................................................................................... 1
1.3 REGIONAL SETTING........................................................................................................................... 1
2 BASELINE INFORMATION .................................................................................................................. 3
2.1 CLIMATE ........................................................................................................................................... 3
2.1.1 RAINFALL .................................................................................................................................................... 3
2.1.2 EVAPORATION ............................................................................................................................................. 6
2.2 DESIGN RAINFALL DEPTHS ................................................................................................................ 6
2.3 HYDROLOGICAL SETTING................................................................................................................... 8
2.3.1 TOPOGRAPHY.............................................................................................................................................. 8
2.3.2 RIVERS AND CATCHMENTS ........................................................................................................................... 8
2.3.3 WETLANDS ................................................................................................................................................. 8
3 CONCEPTUAL STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN .................................................................. 10
3.1 DWAF GOVERNMENT NOTICE 704 .................................................................................................. 10
3.1.1 IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS IN GN 704 ............................................................................................................ 10
3.1.2 APPLICABLE CONDITIONS IN GN 704 ............................................................................................................ 10

3.2 CLEAN AND DIRTY WATER CATCHMENTS ........................................................................................... 11


3.2.1 CLEAN CATCHMENTS ................................................................................................................................. 13
3.2.2 DIRTY CATCHMENTS .................................................................................................................................. 13
3.3 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE ............................................................................... 13
3.3.1 CLEAN W ATER BERMS/CHANNELS .............................................................................................................. 15
3.3.2 DIRTY W ATER BERMS/CHANNELS ............................................................................................................... 15
3.3.3 DIRTY WATER CONTAINMENT – CAPACITY REQUIREMENTS .............................................................................. 16
4 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................. 18
5 REFERENCES .................................................................................................................................... 19

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LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE 1-1: REGIONAL SETTING.............................................................................................................................. 2
FIGURE 2-1: WEATHER STATIONS AND MAP........................................................................................................... 4
FIGURE 2-2: SITE TOPOGRAPHY AND HYDROLOGY .............................................................................................. 9
FIGURE 3-1: CLEAN AND DIRTY WATER GENERATING CATCHMENTS .............................................................. 12
FIGURE 3-2: CONCEPTUAL STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN ...................................................................... 14
FIGURE 3-3: EXAMPLE OF TYPICAL CROSS-SECTION THROUGH CLEAN STORMWATER DIVERSION .......... 15
FIGURE 3-4: EXAMPLE OF TYPICAL CROSS-SECTION THROUGH DIRTY STORMWATER DIVERSION ........... 16

LIST OF TABLES
TABLE 2-1: DETAILS OF SOUTH AFRICAN WEATHER SERVICES STATIONS NEAR THE SITE ........................... 5
TABLE 2-2: RAINFALL DATA FROM THE STREHLA STATION ................................................................................. 5
TABLE 2-3: MONTHLY EVAPORATIVE ESTIMATES .................................................................................................. 6
TABLE 2-4: 24-HOUR STORM DEPTH FOR THE MOABSVELDEN PORTION 8 SITE .............................................. 7
TABLE 3-1: CLEAN CATCHMENT CHARACTERISTICS AND PEAK FLOW RATES FOR THE 1:50 YEAR FLOOD
EVENT ................................................................................................................................................................ 13
TABLE 3-2: DIRTY CATCHMENT CHARACTERISTICS AND PEAK FLOW RATES FOR 1:50 YEAR FLOOD EVENT
............................................................................................................................................................................ 13
TABLE 3-3: BERM AND CHANNEL DIMENSIONS FOR CLEAN DIVERSIONS ........................................................ 15
TABLE 3-4: BERM AND CHANNEL DIMENSIONS FOR DIRTY DIVERSIONS ......................................................... 16
TABLE 3-5: DIRTY WATER CONTAINMENT FACILITY VOLUME REQUIREMENTS FOR 1:50 YEAR (DIRTY A)
AND 1:10 YEAR (DIRTY B) FLOOD EVENT ...................................................................................................... 17

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Highlands Hydrology (Pty) Ltd 1|P a g e

CONCEPTUAL STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE


MOABSVELDEN PORTION 8 COAL MINE

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND

Highlands Hydrology (Pty) Ltd has been appointed by Keaton Energy Holdings Limited (Keaton
Energy) to develop a conceptual Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) for their recently acquired
mining right at Moabsvelden Portion 8 located in close proximity to their Vanggatfontein operation in
the Delmas Magisterial District of the Nkangala Municipality in the Mpumalanga Province. It is
understood that this SWMP will form an important component of supporting documentation to both
environmental and water related authorisation processes.

1.2 SCOPE OF WORK

The objective of the study was to develop a conceptual stormwater management plan for the various
sections of the proposed operation for the purposes of meeting the requirements of Government
Notice 704 (Government Gazette 20118 of June 1999) as well as the DWA Best Practice Guideline as
presented in report G1 for Stormwater. This scope of work was achieved by:

• A site visit on 9 September 2014 to enable a better understanding of the dominant


hydrological flow regimes.

• A detailed hydrological assessment of the area to determine the nature and size of the flows
which require containment or diversion.

• A technical report and associated conceptual designs for appropriate stormwater


infrastructure.

1.3 REGIONAL SETTING

Figure 1-1 illustrates the regional and local setting of the proposed operation.

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Conceptual Stormwater Management Plan for the Moabsvelden Portion 8 Coal Mine
August 2016
±

.! Portion 8

SWAZILAND

0 25 50 100
Kilometers
Figure 1-1 Regional Setting
Highlands Hydrology (Pty) Ltd 3|Pag e

2 BASELINE INFORMATION
The baseline information discussed in this section includes climate, extreme rainfall data and
catchment hydrology. The majority of the information presented in this chapter was sourced from the
previous conceptual stormwater management assessment for the Vanggatfontein operation
undertaken by SLR in 2012 (SLR, 2012).

2.1 CLIMATE

The project area falls within the Limpopo and Olifants River Basin, as defined by Schulze (1974),
which has a semi-arid to hot climate. Rainfall is generally in the form of thunderstorms. Winds are
mainly light to moderate and blow mostly from the north-east except for short periods during
thunderstorms when they blow from a southerly direction.

2.1.1 RAINFALL

Rainfall and evaporation data for the site was considered from various sources including weather
stations managed by both the South African Weather Services (SAWS) and the Department of Water
Affairs (DWA). A site specific estimate of average rainfall was made possible through interrogation of
the WR2005 (2009) dataset which indicates that the mean annual precipitation (MAP) for the site is
approximately 659 mm/year.

Weather stations in the vicinity of the site were analyzed according to the availability of data from the
weather stations, the length of the data record as well as the elevation above or below the site. The
most appropriate weather stations are summarized in Table 2-1 while Figure 2-1 presents the locality
of these weather stations. For the purposes of this report, more detailed climate data was obtained
from the South African Weather Service (SAWS).

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Conceptual Stormwater Management Plan for the Moabsvelden Portion 8 Coal Mine
August 2016
3

-60000 -50000 -40000 -30000 -20000

!.513738 W !.
±
B31A B31A
514408 W
!.
514618 W
-2860000

B20D

A23A
!.
.! 514112 W
!.
B2E001
.! 513743 W

513623 W B20C
-2870000

!.
A21A 513836 W
!. B20F
514537 W

!.
514329 W
-2880000

B20B

!.
-2890000

476666 W
Blesbokspruit

!.
C21D
477309 W
!.
B20A 477459 W

!. !.
-2900000

477191 W
!
.
476641 W
476673 W

!. !. !.
477224 W 477494 W
476644 W
!.
!
.
476766 W
476736 W
-2910000

C22C !.
476737 W

C21E

!. !.
476802 W 477501 W
-2920000

!.
476835 W C21A

C21F
-2930000

476660 W
!C2E013
.
.
! C21B
!.476630 W
-60000 -50000 -40000 -30000 -20000
Highlands Hydrology (Pty) Ltd 5|P a g e

TABLE 2-1: DETAILS OF SOUTH AFRICAN WEATHER SERVICES STATIONS NEAR THE SITE
Witbank Delmas Delmas Witbank
Strehla Vlakplaas Cologne
Station number 0477762 5 0477494 6 0477309 0478008 1
1
Latitude (South) 26o 12’ 00” 26o 13’ 48” 26o 09’ 26o 07’ 48”
00”
Longitude (East) 28o 55’ 48” 28o 46’ 48” 28o 40’ 29o 01’ 12”
48”
Elevation (m AMSL) 1585 1615 1571 1585
Length of data record 79 years 16 years 65 years 65 years
available

Rainfall data from the South African Weather Service’s Witbank (SAWS) Strehla station (0477762-5)
was selected since this station has an elevation similar to the site, it is one of the closest weather
stations and it has one of the longest rainfall records. The mean annual precipitation (MAP) for the
Strehla station is 667.9mm (SAWS) which is a slightly conservative estimate in comparison to the
WR2005 estimate of 659mm. Table 2-2 presents the rainfall data for the Strehla station.

TABLE 2-2: RAINFALL DATA FROM THE STREHLA STATION


Maximum recorded daily Date of maximum
Month Average (mm)
rainfall rainfall

January 112.4 98 1972/01/20


February 88.4 90 2004/02/13
March 80.7 103 1995/03/25
April 37.7 64 1990/04/28
May 17.2 98.8 1936/05/23
June 7.6 38.9 1940/06/17
July 5.5 35 1957/07/03
August 7.9 32.3 1922/08/23
September 20.1 52.2 1987/09/27
October 69.6 85 1995/10/29
November 105.9 106.5 1977/11/29
December 114.9 125.5 1989/12/05

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2.1.2 EVAPORATION

The evaporation data was sourced from the Department of Water Affairs (DWA) Bronkhorstspruit Dam
station (B2E001), which is the closest station to the mine with available evaporation data.

TABLE 2-3: MONTHLY EVAPORATIVE ESTIMATES


Month Mean Monthly Evaporation - Lake (mm)

January 183

February 157

March 144

April 110

May 88

June 71

July 80

August 116

September 157

October 184

November 186

December 199

Total 1675

2.2 DESIGN RAINFALL DEPTHS

Design storm estimates for various return periods and storm durations were sourced from the Design
Rainfall Estimation Software for South Africa, developed by the University of Natal in 2002 as part of a
WRC project K5/1060 (Smithers and Schulze, 2002). This method uses a Regional L-Moment
Algorithm in conjunction with a Scale Invariance approach to provide site specific estimates of depth-
duration-frequency (DDF) rainfall, based on surrounding observed records. This method of DDF
rainfall estimation is considered more robust than previous single site methods. WRC Report No.
K5/1060 provides further detail on the verification and validation of the method.

The rainfall depth estimates from this technique have been compared to the DDF estimates for DWA
weather station 0477762-5 using the HRU methodology. The HRU methodology is a simplistic
methodology which enables the estimation of depth-duration-frequency rainfall. The methodology
uses the MAP for the site (659mm) and a site location factor in order to determine the DDF estimate.

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TABLE 2-4: 24-HOUR STORM DEPTH FOR THE MOABSVELDEN PORTION 8 SITE
Rainfall Depth (24 hour)
Return Period
Smithers /Schulze HRU

2 59 49

5 80 65

10 94 80

20 109 99

50 129 130

100 146 165

200 163 197

In this project, the Smithers and Schulze technique was selected for the following reasons:

• Estimates are based on observed data;

• Estimates are specific to the site location; and

• Estimates are similar to HRU estimates for the 1 in 50 year (for use in design) event.

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2.3 HYDROLOGICAL SETTING

The topography and hydrology in the vicinity of the site are presented in Figure 2-2.

2.3.1 TOPOGRAPHY

The general topography of the site is mild with slopes over the site averaging less than 10% (1 in 10).
The average elevation for the majority of infrastructure and associated works on site is 1580m AMSL.

2.3.2 RIVERS AND CATCHMENTS

The site lies within quaternary catchment B20A, and is positioned at the edge of the catchment’s
watershed. According to the 1:50 000 topographical map sheets, there are neither perennial nor non-
perennial streams within the site boundary. The site drains in a northerly direction joining a non-
perennial stream at the northern site boundary. This then drains towards Bronkhorstpruit with the
confluence approximately 5.7 km downstream of the site.

2.3.3 WETLANDS

As shown on Figure 2-2, there are certain areas within the site boundary identified as wetlands
according to both the 1:50 000 topographical map sheet dataset as well as the most recent wetland
assessment undertaken by Scientific Aquatic Services in 2014. The sensitivities of these wetlands do
however differ and as such, the reader is directed to the wetland assessment report (SAS, 2014).

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Conceptual Stormwater Management Plan for the Moabsvelden Portion 8 Coal Mine
August 2016
-20000 -18000

±
-2892000

-2892000
Old Farm Dam

New Attenuation Dam


-2894000

-2894000
-2896000

-2896000

-20000 -18000

Legend
Keaton Mining
Boundary Dam Contrators Site ROM Stock Area

Graveyard Sediment Trap Figure 2-2


2628 Wetland (50K Da taset)
Haul Road Stockpile - Boxcut Spoils Hydrology and Topography
Non-Perennial River
Opencast Area Stockpile - Top Soil
Perennial River Hydrologic Consulting (Pty) Ltd
Pollution Control Dam
Wetlands (SAS) PO Box 71472, Bryanston, 2021
South Africa
Quaternary Catchments Tel. +27 72 239 0974
0 500 1 000 Email. mark@[Link]
Meters
Scale: 1:7,500 @ A3

Projection: Transverse Mercator M Bollaert February 2015


Datum: Hartebeeshoek, LO29
Highlands Hydrology (Pty) Ltd 10 | P a g e

3 CONCEPTUAL STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN

The aim of this stormwater management plan is to fulfil the requirements presented in Government
Notice 704 (Government Gazette 20118 of June 1999) which deals with the separation of clean and
dirty water. The conceptual stormwater management plan will therefore form a necessary part of the
Integrated Water Use License Application (IWULA), to be submitted to the DWA. This stormwater
management plan has been developed in line with the principles presented in the DWA Best Practice
Guideline G1 for Stormwater Management.

3.1 DWAF GOVERNMENT NOTICE 704

GN 704 was established to provide regulations on the use of water for mining and related activities
aimed at the protection of water resources. There are important definitions in the regulation which
require understanding.

3.1.1 IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS IN GN 704

• Clean water system: This includes any dam, other form of impoundment, canal, works, pipeline
and any other structure or facility constructed for the retention or conveyance of unpolluted water.

• Dirty water system: This includes any dam, other form of impoundment, canal, works,
pipeline, residue deposit and any other structure or facility constructed for the retention or
conveyance of water containing waste.

• Dirty area: This refers to any area at a mine or activity which causes, has caused or is likely to
cause pollution of a water resource (i.e. polluted water)

3.1.2 APPLICABLE CONDITIONS IN GN 704

The two main principle conditions of GN 704 which apply to this project are:

• Condition 6 describes the capacity requirements of clean and dirty water systems. Clean and
dirty water systems must be kept separate and must be designed, constructed, maintained
and operated such that these systems do not spill into each other more than once in 50 years.
• Condition 7 describes the measures which must be taken to protect water resources. All dirty
water or substances which cause or are likely to cause pollution of a water resource either
through natural flow or by seepage are to be mitigated.

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3.2 CLEAN AND DIRTY WATER CATCHMENTS

It is important for the reader to understand that there have been previous specialist studies
undertaken at Moabsvelden Portion 8 and surrounding areas due to the anticipated coal reserves.
Stuart Coal (Pty) Ltd commissioned various studies including one which has specific impact on this
project resulting in the proposed “new attenuation dam” as illustrated in Figure 2-2. In summary, Stuart
Coal intend to mine to the North of Portion 8 thereby destroying the existing “old farm dam” as
illustrated in Figure 2-2. Their intention is to divert water which would have otherwise flowed into the
old farm dam, into the proposed new attenuation dam. The SWMP presented in this report aligns
somewhat with the intentions of Stuart Coal. Further hydrological investigations may be required to
optimize the management of stormwater at a later stage, integrating the intentions of Stuart Coal and
Keaton Energy once more specific mine planning information becomes available.

In this study, clean water areas have been defined as all upstream/upslope areas of the proposed
operation, as well as certain areas within the site boundary which will not be disturbed. Clean water
areas are required to be diverted around dirty water areas, while dirty water areas are required to be
kept to a minimum and diverted into containment facilities (with respect to dirty water runoff).
Applicable areas of the site are classified as either clean or dirty as illustrated in Figure 3-1. Clean and
dirty water generating catchments have been delineated based on available elevation contour data
supplied by the Keaton Energy as well as available satellite imagery.

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-20000 -18000

±
-2892000

-2892000
Clean D

Clean D

Dirty B
-2894000

-2894000
Clean C

Dirty A

Clean A

Clean B
-2896000

-2896000

-20000 -18000

Legend
Keaton Mining
Dirty Area Contrators Site ROM Stock Area
Figure 3-1
Clean Area Graveyard Sediment Trap

Opencast Pit Haul Road Stockpile - Boxcut Spoils Dirty and Clean Water Areas

Opencast Area Stockpile - Top Soil


Hydrologic Consulting (Pty) Ltd
Pollution Control Dam PO Box 71472, Bryanston, 2021
Boundary South Africa
Tel. +27 72 239 0974
0 200 400 Email. mark@[Link]
Attenuation Dam Meters
Scale: 1:7,500 @ A3

Projection: Transverse Mercator M Bollaert February 2015


Datum: Hartebeeshoek, LO29
Highlands Hydrology (Pty) Ltd 13 | P a g e

3.2.1 CLEAN CATCHMENTS

Flood peaks for the four clean catchments (Clean A to Clean D) flowing towards the dirty catchments
at the site were calculated using the Rational Method, selected to be an appropriate method for the
site specific catchment characteristics. The catchment characteristics together with the calculated
peak flow rate for the 1:50 year flood are presented in Table 3-1.

TABLE 3-1: CLEAN CATCHMENT CHARACTERISTICS AND PEAK FLOW RATES FOR THE 1:50
YEAR FLOOD EVENT
Area Time of Concentration Peak Flow Rate
Catchment
(km2) (minutes) (m3/s)
Clean A 0.107 22.8 1.0
Clean B 2.645 59.8 13.3
Clean C 1.936 53.4 10.7
Clean D 1.796 64.3 8.5

3.2.2 DIRTY CATCHMENTS

Flood peaks for the two dirty water generating catchments (Dirty A and Dirty B) affecting the operation
were also determined using the Rational Method. The catchment characteristics together with the
calculated peak flow rates for the 1:50 year flood are presented in Table 3-2. The opencast area is
also defined as a dirty water generating area but will be self-contained with dirty water draining
towards a central sump and as such, will not require diversion channels/berms.

TABLE 3-2: DIRTY CATCHMENT CHARACTERISTICS AND PEAK FLOW RATES FOR 1:50 YEAR
FLOOD EVENT
Area Time of Concentration Peak Flow
Catchment
(km2) (minutes) Rate (m3/s)
Dirty A 0.235 30.6 3.4
Dirty B 0.134 29.9 1.8

3.3 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE

Stormwater management infrastructure has been designed as per the requirements of GN 704 and
presented in Figure 3-2. It should also be noted that where average longitudinal slope of channels are
negligible, the channel may require appropriate excavation to ensure water is effectively routed
towards the containment facility (in the case of dirty water) or effectively routed away from the site (in
the case of clean water). Where longitudinal slopes are steep, appropriate channel designs/soil
erosion control measures must be considered.

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Conceptual Stormwater Management Plan for the Moabsvelden Portion 8 Coal Mine
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-18000

± Clean D

Clean D

Dirty B

.! !.
Dirty/Clean Intersection

Clean C

Clean B

Dirty A

Clean A

-18000

Legend
Keaton Mining
Boundary Pollution Control Dam Diversion Non-Perennial River
* #
#

Clean - Left Side Berm Figure 3-2


ROM Stock Area
Contrators Site Attenuation Dam
* #

Clean - Right Side Berm Stormwater Management Plan


Sediment Trap
Graveyard
* #

Dirty - Left Side Berm Wetlands (SAS)


Stockpile - Boxcut Spoils
Haul Road
*

Dirty - Right Side Berm Hydrologic Consulting (Pty) Ltd


Stockpile - Top Soil PO Box 71472, Bryanston, 2021
Opencast Area South Africa
Dirty Area Tel. +27 72 239 0974
0 200 400 Email. mark@[Link]
Meters
Clean Area Scale: 1:7,500 @ A3

Projection: Transverse Mercator M Bollaert February 2015


Opencast Pit Datum: Hartebeeshoek, LO29
Highlands Hydrology (Pty) Ltd 15 | P a g e

3.3.1 CLEAN WATER BERMS/CHANNELS

Figure 3-3 illustrates a typical cross section through a clean stormwater diversion. The aim of the
channel section is to divert upstream clean water which would otherwise flow into the dirty area, while
the berm section will ensure containment of dirty water within dirty areas. Where possible, the berm
component should be constructed from the material excavated from the channel and supplemented by
topsoil stockpiling if required. The side slopes for all berms and channels have been kept constant at 1
vertical: 1.5 horizontal. The channel component has been sized using Manning’s equation for
trapezoidal channels, assuming a roughness coefficient of 0.03. The clean water channels have been
sized to enable conveyance of the 1:50 year flood.

FIGURE 3-3: EXAMPLE OF TYPICAL CROSS-SECTION THROUGH CLEAN STORMWATER


DIVERSION

Table 3-3 presents the berm and channel dimensions to route the clean water effectively.

TABLE 3-3: BERM AND CHANNEL DIMENSIONS FOR CLEAN DIVERSIONS


Catchment a (m) b (m) Average Longitudinal Slope
Clean A 0.6 2.0 1:478
Clean B 1.6 3.0 1:333
Clean C 1.5 2.0 1:200
Clean D 1.5 2.0 1:340

3.3.2 DIRTY WATER BERMS/CHANNELS

Figure 3-4 illustrates a typical cross section through a dirty stormwater diversion. The aim of the
channel section is to ensure dirty water is firstly contained within dirty areas and secondly that it is
routed to an appropriate containment facility. The construction of such channels will allow for the
effective routing of dirty water to the containment facilities. This will reduce ponding and associated
seepage. The berm section, located on the clean water side will ensure that no upstream clean water

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can enter the dirty water area. Where possible, the berm component should be constructed from the
material excavated from the channel and supplemented by topsoil stockpiling, if required. The side
slopes for all berms and channels have been kept constant at 1 vertical: 1.5 horizontal. The channel
component has been sized using Manning’s equation for trapezoidal channels, assuming a roughness
coefficient of 0.015 (concrete lined). The dirty water channels have been sized to enable conveyance
of the 1:50 year flood. It is important to note that the channel component of the dirty water diversions
may require different lining (based on decision from the DWA) which could significantly affect the
routing of stormwater. Flood hydrology calculations and associated diversion characteristics will need
to be updated accordingly.

FIGURE 3-4: EXAMPLE OF TYPICAL CROSS-SECTION THROUGH DIRTY STORMWATER


DIVERSION

Table 3-4 presents the berm and channel dimensions to route the dirty water effectively. A minimum
design with a = 0.6m and b = 1.2m has been used. This is the case in order to simplify construction
and enable a small front end loader to scrape the diversion (with regards to maintenance).

TABLE 3-4: BERM AND CHANNEL DIMENSIONS FOR DIRTY DIVERSIONS


Catchment a (m) b (m) Average Longitudinal Slope
Dirty A 0.6 1.2 1:100
Dirty B 0.6 1.2 1:183

3.3.3 DIRTY WATER CONTAINMENT – CAPACITY REQUIREMENTS

Condition 6 of GN 704 states that clean and dirty water systems must be kept separate and must be
designed, constructed, maintained and operated such that these clean and dirty water systems do not
spill into each other as a result of storm events below and including the 1 in 50 year event. A minimum
freeboard of 0.8 m above full supply level must also be maintained as per the requirements of GN
704. Table 3-5 presents the volume requirements for the dirty water containment facilities.

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TABLE 3-5: DIRTY WATER CONTAINMENT FACILITY VOLUME REQUIREMENTS FOR 1:50 YEAR
(DIRTY A) AND 1:10 YEAR (DIRTY B) FLOOD EVENT
Catchment Minimum Volume (m3) Recommended Volume (m3)
Dirty A 18 500 26 500
Dirty B 6 000 6 000

It must be understood that the “minimum volume” as presented in Table 3-5 is based purely on a
single 1:50 year storm event (for Dirty A) over the dirty water producing areas and does not include
the storage of any process water, anticipated average rainfall/runoff, spillages, wash water or the like.
The pollution control dam at “Dirty A” will therefore need to be operated empty to comply with GN 704,
which is often not a realistic scenario due to the contribution of dirty water from one or some of the
aforementioned sources.

To account for the contribution of average rainfall and runoff (at minimum) from dirty water areas, the
“recommended volumes” as presented in Table 3-5 were calculated based on the summation of the
1:50 year design rainfall (24 hour) event for the catchment area and the highest monthly rainfall falling
over the catchment, less the corresponding monthly evaporation (estimated average depth 2m) taking
place over the surface area of the proposed containment facility. Runoff coefficients used were
determined according to the return period of interest, such that maximum monthly rainfall event was
associated with a smaller runoff coefficient than the 1 in 50 year design rainfall event.

In the case of “Dirty B”, the runoff is not expected to be contaminated as the catchment is set aside for
topsoil stockpiling which will be used as/when rehabilitation is required. It is however, still
recommended that runoff generated during storm events is attenuated allowing for sediment to be
settled out before flowing downstream. Table 3-5 therefore makes provision for the 1:10 year flood to
be contained. Alternately to this, an appropriate silt trap can be used to ensure sediment is adequately
retained from the topsoil stockpiles.

In the case of the opencast pit, the approach to containment is different to that of “Dirty A” and “Dirty
B”. Dirty water is expected to drain towards a sump area within the pit, from where it can be
temporarily stored and later pumped to the dirty stormwater dam at “Dirty A” for reuse in the process
water circuit. An appropriate mining technique will need to consider effective routing of dirty water
generated within the opencast area to a sump area.

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4 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS


Appropriate baseline information including rainfall data, evaporation data, return period rainfall depths
and hydrological characteristics have been considered in the development of a conceptual stormwater
management plan for Keaton Energy’s proposed Moabsvelden Portion 8 coal operation. More specific
attention was then applied to the hydrological processes on site, with appropriate flood hydrology
calculations used for the sizing of stormwater infrastructure.

This conceptual stormwater management plan has been developed by first identifying clean and dirty
areas and assessing these areas with respect to the guidance provided by GN 704. Dirty water
producing areas have been isolated by diverting all incoming clean water around them via clean water
diversion berms. Water within dirty areas has been routed to dirty containment facilities via dirty water
containment channels and berms. The channels, berms and containment facility have been designed
based on the contributing catchment area and the associated catchment characteristics and sized to
contain the 1 in 50 year flood event at minimum.

Please note that the designs presented in this report are conceptual in nature and as such may need
to be updated during detailed design phase when more specific information such as survey data,
construction materials, longitudinal slopes etc become available.

L Wiles PrSciNat M Bollaert PrSciNat


(Project Manager/Author) (Project Author)

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5 REFERENCES

Chow, V. T., 1959, “Open Channel Hydraulics”, McGraw-Hill Book Company.

Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, 1998. National Water Act, Act 36 of 1998

Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, 1999. Government Notice 704 (Government Gazette 20118
of June 1999)

Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, 2006, “Best Practice Guideline No. G1: Storm Water
Management” , DWAF, Pretoria, August 2006

HRU – Hydrologial Research Unit, 1978, “A Depth-Duration-Frequency Diagram for Point Rainfall in
southern Africa”, Report 2/78, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Midgley, D.C., Pitman, W.V. and Middleton, B.J., 1994, “Surface Water Resources of South Africa
1990”, Water Research Commission, WRC Report No. 298/1.1/94

SANRAL. 2006, “Drainage Manual-Fifth Edition”, The South African National Roads Agency Limited,
Pretoria, 2006

Scientific Aquatic Services. 2014. Wetland Delineation, PES and Ecoservices Assessment of the
Wetland Resources in the vicinity of the Vanggatfontein and Moabsvelden Operations, Mpumalanga
Province. Report SAS 214103.

SLR. 2012. Conceptual Stormwater Management Plan for the Keaton Mining, Vanggatfontein
Operation. Report K015-23.

Smithers, J.C. and Schulze, R.E., 2000, “Long Duration Design Rainfall Estimates for South Africa”,
WRC Report No. 811/1/00, Water Research Commission, Pretoria

Smithers, J.C. and Schulze, R.E., 2002, “Design Rainfall and Flood Estimation in South Africa”, WRC
Report No. K5/1060, Water Research Commission, Pretoria.

WR2005, 2009, “Water Resources of South Africa, 2005 Study (WR2005)”, WRC Report No. TT
380/08, Water Research Commission, Pretoria.

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Conceptual Stormwater Management Plan for the Moabsvelden Portion 8 Coal Mine
August 2016

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