The optimisation of conjunctive use for water supply: A case study (1987)

Middleton, B.J. & Morton, K.L.

Abstract
A local mine complex in the planning phase requires a water supply for both potable and plant process use. A number of regional supply sources were investigated and found to be excessively costly. It was therefore decided to investigate the supply of water to the mine complex from local surface and groundwater sources.
It was considered at the outset that a conjunctive use approach using both surface and groundwater would be appropriate. First the quantity of surface and groundwater available to the mine within physical, legal and economic constraints had to be verified. Cost-risk matrices were then developed to compare the options available to the mine for several water demand scenarios from a number of combinations of dams and wellfields. The final recommendation was the combined use of a gravity dam and three boreholes with the boreholes used to supplement the dam during periods of low river flow.

Middleton, B.J. & Morton, K.L. (1987) ‘The optimisation of conjunctive use for water supply: A case study’, Proceedings of the Hydrological Sciences Symposium, Grahamstown, SANCIS.