Engineering & Design Services
Mining
As the world’s leading water-focused consulting firms for the mining industry, MWH brings value to mining clients throughout the mine lifecycle with services to support new mine engineering and development, expansion, closure and remediation services. Our expertise in engineering and design helps our clients meet their development, production and efficiency targets. We bring practical solutions to the complex mining engineering and water-related issues that mine operators face, making us one of the most trusted mining consulting and services companies.
Pre-Feasibility
We bring value throughout the mine life cycle, including the earliest stages of mine planning, including:
- Baseline hydrologic/hydrogeologic characterization
- Water supply alternatives
- Waste characterization
- Fatal flaw analyses and workplans
- Preliminary facility design and layout
- Cost-estimation
- Permitting strategies
Feasibility
- Detailed design and engineering analysis for facilities and infrastructure
- Hydrology and design of hydraulic structures
- Groundwater modeling
- Geochemical modeling and pit lake analyses
- Acid rock drainage (ARD) prediction, monitoring and management
- Dewatering evaluation and design
- Water supply reservoir and wellfield design
- Design and installation of groundwater and surface water monitoring networks
- Impact analyses and mitigation strategies
- Complete hydropower services - planning, design and construction
Permitting
We partner with our clients to ensure projects meet environmental and regulatory requirements, including a wide-range of permitting expertise:
- Identification of critical path permitting issues
- Environmental and social impact assessments (water/air/waste)
- Compliance and due diligence audits
- Engineered risk assessments
- Environmental management systems (ISO 14001 compliant), monitoring and reporting
- Agency and stakeholder engagement
- Expert technical support for permit negotiations
Construction and Construction Management
We offer a full range of high-value, “start-to-finish” pre-construction, construction and construction management services including:
- Construction quality assurance
- Preparation of tender and construction documents
- Integrated engineering and construction management
Operation
MWH is at the forefront of smart use of water during mining operation, with a commitment to the environment and the bottom line. Our services include:
- Site-wide water management including dewatering optimization, managed aquifer recharge, and water use inventories
- Mine water treatment (active and passive)
- Water rights and supply sustainability evaluations
- Ponds and impoundments
- Engineering of erosion and sediment controls
- Tunnels, channels and diversion/conveyance systems
- Alternative tailing disposal technologies
- Pumping, storage and pipeline and conveyance systems
Closure and Post-Closure
As projects close, MWH experts partner with our clients to balance the use of the Earth’s resources with ecologically sound practices, including:
- Strategic “mine for closure” planning to minimize long-term liabilities
- Closure and reclamation planning, design and cost estimation
- Cover and liner systems
- Abandoned mine reclamation and impact mitigation
- Construction quality assurance and reporting
- Post-closure planning, monitoring and redevelopment