A mine changes how water moves through the land. This page has an illustration of a water managemenet system similar to what Frontier proposes. You can learn what each part does, and what questions Sandy Lake is asking.
This illustration shows how water moves through an open pit mine site — from rainfall and runoff, through treatment, and eventually into a river. Click the buttons at the bottom of the illustration to learn about each component.
CLICK THE BUTTONS ABOVE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EACH COMPONENT
Select a component
to read about it
From rain falling on the mine site to water eventually discharged into a river — here is the sequence Frontier proposes.
Water enters the system from rainfall and snowmelt hitting the pits and rock piles and from groundwater inflow to the pits.
Contaminated water from the pit, rock piles, plant and tailings is piped to the reclaim pond.
The central holding pond receives all site water. Some is recycled back to the plant for reuse.
Excess water is sent to a treatment plant where contaminants are removed before release.
Treated water is discharged into a nearby river. Sandy Lake is asking hard questions about this step.
Team Sandy is reviewing Frontier's water management plans. These are some of the key questions we have.