Bringing quality solutions for your groundwater consulting needs
Hydro Earth Consulting conducts hydrogeological investigations for mining operations, contaminated sites, wastewater irrigation schemes, and construction sites. Aside from this, we also design and install groundwater monitoring programs for state regulators' approval, generate groundwater inflow estimates for construction sites, and provide expert witness services. Our capabilities are listed below:
- Design and installation of monitoring bore networks for mines and industrial settings
- Baseline assessments and water quality investigations
- Evaluation of groundwater impacts from mining and industrial activities
- Contaminated land/groundwater assessments, including at service stations, mines, and other heavy industries
- Development of conceptual groundwater models, which is a simplified set of assumptions that describe how water enters, moves within, and leaves the aquifer system. Conceptual hydrogeological models are essential for any groundwater assessment, including groundwater flow modelling
- Working with skilled independent groundwater flow modelers to deliver a range of services, including estimates of drawdown, water levels, pore pressures and inflow rates
- Assessment of aquifer properties, including permeabilities (hydraulic conductivities) and porosities
- Interpretation of major ions, isotopic and environmental tracer data to assess groundwater interactions and mixing
- Tracer tests, including the use of fluorescein to identify the source of groundwater inflows to mining pits and underground infrastructure
- Expert witness reporting
- Dewatering assessments for property and mining applications
Surface water assessments
As hydrogeologists and environmental scientists, the team at Hydro Earth Consulting have a complementary understanding of interactions between the hydrosphere and lithosphere. The skilled team can assist with a variety of surface water projects in both natural and industrial settings. This includes but is not limited to Tasmanian rivers, streams and lakes, industrial discharges, pit lakes and wetlands. Our key capabilities include:
- Design and implementation of water quality monitoring programs
- Surface water monitoring of physiochemical properties: pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and redox
- Surface water sampling for analysis of major ions, trace metals, alkalinity, hydrocarbons and other contaminants
- Flow gauging and mass load estimates
Tracer test investigations to identify and manage water sources
Tracer tests can identify unknown water sources in streams, groundwater and karst systems. Hydro Earth use dye tracers for multiple applications such as mine dewatering, groundwater ingress and stream-sink investigations.
Careful preparation and sampling is combined with flow gauging and data analysis. Fluorescein dye has been used extensively in Australia and overseas and is considered safe for humans and the environment. Hydro Earth have also successfully used rhodamine WT and eosine tracers.
Environmental
Hydro Earth Consulting are dedicated to achieving joint positive outcomes for industry, regulators, and the environment. We are committed to understanding the complex environments we work within and maintaining environmental compliance for clients and stakeholders. The team at Hydro Earth can assist in coordinating tasks pursuant to remediation objectives and environmental permit conditions for mining and industrial activities.
Our key capabilities include:
- Providing support to maintain compliance with Environment Protection Notice (EPN) & Permit Conditions Environmental (PCE)
- Water quality investigation and baseline studies
- Groundwater and surface water investigations, remediation projects, assessment of acid and metalliferous drainage (AMD), and acid sulfate soils (ASS)
- Geochemical assessments of water-rock interactions
- Routine environmental monitoring and sampling in line with relevant ISO and/or Australian standards.
- Stakeholder and regulator liaison
- Discharge limit investigation and reporting
- Quality environmental reporting including annual environmental reports and reviews
Geophysics
We use Loupe Transient Electromagnetic Method (TEM) surveys to assist us with identification of mineralisation and geological boundaries. Geophysical surveys can be used in conjunction with geological data to design more effective monitoring bore networks that target key features (see an example above).
Contact us to get cost-effective 2D/3D conductivity mapping using the time-domain electromagnetic Loupe TEM system, or discuss other geophysical methods for your site.
Soil and geology
Our team consists of skilled geologists with a range of skills in soil sampling, mineral exploration and geochemical sampling.
Our key capabilities include:
- Geological mapping
- Drilling contracting and supervision
- Logging, sampling, QA/QC, chain of custody implementation
- Geochemical sampling