Calculating Stream Flows in the Dominican Republic with Pentech Environmental

When Canadian based GlobeStar Mining Corporation needed key environmental permits to commence mining operations at a proposed Dominican Republic location, they contracted the services of Pentec Environmental and Pincock Allen and Holt, both divisions of Hart Crowser, to help make it happen. Hart Crowser provides a full range of services worldwide including site studies, regulatory permitting, design and construction. Their expertise lies in developing practical, cost-effective solutions that allow their clients to respond to environmental regulations. While Pincock Allen and Holt provided the feasibility study and provided mining engineering consulting services, Pentecâs role was to provide environmental services relating to natural resource related issues on the project.

Jon Ambrose, Hydrologist for Pentec states, 'A comprehensive baseline study on water loads and quality in the region surrounding the proposed copper and gold mine, known as Cerro de Maimon, was needed in order for the mining company to receive their permit allowing them to begin mining operations.ä According to Ambrose, there were multiple strained edges surrounding the deposits. "We had to get water load and quality data for all of the steams and small tributaries, as well as the main river coming out of the watershed. The majority of the water supply is used for irrigation purposes and a small amount is used for domestic water supply. The streams in the area of the mining deposits travel to a nearby reservoir where it is pumped back to the community. Water is not diverted at the site however the water eventually reaches the local water supply." Ambrose continues, 'I was asked to go down there and lead the effort to characterize ground and surface water. One of the other issues was to gain an understanding of the flow patterns of these creeks because some water would have to be diverted for process water upstream. We wanted to characterize the annual flow patterns on some of the creeks so we basically set up rating curves and staff gauges and calibrated them with measurements.ä As project leader, Ambrose was responsible for training the local team of geologists and operations personnel to be able to continuously perform the studies necessary to receive and maintain the environmental permit issued by the local Dominican Republic regulatory agency.

The study was performed during a two-week timeframe in January 2004. He adds, 'It was a busy two weeks. In addition to performing seven flow studies, staff gauges were set-up on two rivers, and several wells were drilled so the team could characterize local aquifers in an effort to better understand the surface and ground water connection.ä During the study, rating curves were established for the two critical streams that were used for process water. The local team would need to return to these sites seasonally and the volume could easily be read on the staff gauges.

Ambrose adds, 'The first thing I did when I got the project was to purchase equipment for flow monitoring and water quality monitoring. I would use these instruments to teach the team how to measure flow and calculate total loads in order to determine both end volumes and water quality. The local team needed to be able to go out and measure the flow of various streams when needed. Ambrose recalls some previous bad experiences he has had with hauling cumbersome boxes of monitoring equipment from site to site and he didnât want that for this team. He states, 'I wanted to get the best equipment available which is why I got them the Marsh-McBirney digital Flo-Mate flowmeters. I also got them solid water quality instruments as well.ä

The Flo-Mate Flowmeter is the most widely used velocity flowmeter of its kind in the world. The electromagnetic sensor contains no moving parts and its technology is based on Faradayâs Law for superior accuracy and reliability. From its rugged, compact construction to itâs time saving data/storage recall capability, it is the best choice for those desiring to streamline the flow measurement process.

'I have used the Flo-Mate and in my opinion it is the best flowmeter out there as well as the easiest to use. I knew this equipment was something they were going to use forever and felt we should get something thatâs durable and easy for them to use.ä Ambroseâs recalls the use of mechanical type flowmeters including the Pygmy and Price AA meters while attending grad school at Colorado State University. He adds, 'I definitely remember counting the clicks! Itâs good to know the theory of flow measurement by using that equipment but in terms of speed and utility itâs not practical. On my first job out of college I worked for a company that had a Marsh-McBirney digital flowmeter and I was pretty psyched. I had to do a lot of stream flow measurements at that job and it just made it much easier.ä

Since Ambroseâs original introduction to the Flo-Mate, he states he has worked with the meter 'everywhere.ä From flow monitoring projects all over South America to stateside projects, he declares 'It is the best product out there.ä

While the remote monitoring locations posed challenges of their own, rainy weather kept things exciting. Muddy, rain-soaked roads needed to be widened for drilling equipment to be transported to the site. Ambrose recalls, 'It started raining and the grader got stuck and we had to go pull it out. Then the owner of the drilling equipment was concerned that his equipment could also get stuck in the mud since they were on the cusp of their rainy season. It would be difficult to have another piece of equipment come pull the drilling equipment out and besides that the owner of the drilling equipment had other work to do. It was a real interesting time but we got our job done.ä

In June 2004, GlobeStar received their environmental permit and mining operations will begin soon. With the completion of another successful project with the Flo-Mate, Ambrose has moved on to his next adventure. He shares the fact that he tried to tell the Dominican Republic team just how lucky they were to have the Flo-Mate for their work versus 'counting the clicksä but says 'I know itâs hard to understand the difference unless youâve been there and Iâve been there, take my word for it!ä