SERVICE OFFERING

Hydrological Impact Assessments

Water is essential in our daily lives, and we all have a role to play to respect and understand our water sources so that we can manage them better. Hydrological data can help us to prepare and plan for extreme events by identifying where the risks are highest. Day to day hydrological data is used to manage our water resources in ways that suit our economic and environmental needs. Hydrological impact assessments are particularly useful to property planners and developers as they can alert them to any issues related to the management of surface hydrology.

Letsolo Water and Environmental Services takes the time to thoroughly identify and establish watercourse locations that are suitable for the accurate measurement of water flow. We identify and delineate all surface water catchments in the affected area. We also determine the status of any surface water resources within the affected area in terms of water quality, in-stream flow, riparian habitat, and aquatic biota. In addition, we can identify sensitive downstream users of these water resources and determine the 1:100-year flood line of all watercourses within the affected areas. Letsolo Water and Environmental Services can also assess potential impacts of proposed developments on water resources, in line with legislation, and determine suitable mitigation measures towards sustainable and environmentally sensitive developments.

Process and Storm Water Management

The term “process water” refers to water used in industrial processes, manufacturing processes, and power generation applications, among others. Due to its ability to pollute the environment, Letsolo Water and Environmental Services works to ensure that any water in the process water system, as well as other contaminated water, is collected and contained in a process water circuit.

The process water circuit is isolated from the dirty stormwater system. Unless the stormwater is absorbed into the process water circuit by a controlled intake device as make up water, stormwater is collected in a stormwater dam. Letsolo Water and Environmental Services can design a site-specific storm water management plan for management of clean and dirty site catchments, such that dirty runoff is under control. Water is then collected, and excess process water is contained in a dedicated pollution control dam. This control dam is designed to have a spillage frequency of not more than once in 50 years.

It is up to Letsolo Water and Environmental Services to ensure that the dam has a dedicated 0.8-meter freeboard that is above the dam’s full supply level. This ensures the long-term integrity of the dam unless otherwise specified in terms of Chapter 12 of the National Water Act 36 of 1998. It is also our responsibility to make sure that the dam is equipped with a suitably sized spillway to pass floods to the dirty area. Depending on the risk posed by the impounded contaminated water, we ensure the dam is equipped with a basin barrier properly engineered to protect the local water supply. To ensure optimal dam storage capacity, we provide the dam with suitable-sized, cleanable upslope silt traps.

As far as is practical, we ensure that water used in all mine processes is recycled and that any facilities, sump, pumping installation, pipes, and channels used for recycling water are designed and equipped adequately. This prevents spills, seepages, or releases of contaminated water. To keep the process water management infrastructure efficient, we make sure that any matter or obstruction is removed.

Lastly, we ensure that process water is not stored in underground workings, open-pit excavations, or mining voids.

Groundwater Management

Letsolo Water and Environmental Services will identify, delineate, and characterise all groundwater resources which may potentially be affected by the mining operation. We also identify the most sensitive groundwater users that may be impacted by the exploration. Additionally, we compile a management plan to prevent any pollution of a groundwater resource identified in terms of regulation 5(1)(a)(i). The information generated in terms of regulation 5(1) shall be submitted to the Department within seven days of submission of the environmental management plan in terms of section 39(2) of the MPRDA.

Our groundwater services include but are not limited to, siting and drilling boreholes, borehole purging, hydro census or water user surveys, hydro chemical and water level assessments, development of integrated groundwater and surface water management plans. Contact us to find out more about our groundwater services.

Water Balances

In addition to accurate values based on measured volumes, Letsolo Water and Environmental Services incorporates analysed values for the extracted and discharged water, beneficiation process water intake, outflow to and return water from waste management facilities, and extracted water from mining facilities. We also incorporate accurate values determined from suitable measurements of rainfall, runoff, seepage, and evaporation. We also use trends in chemical parameter analyses in water quality monitoring for calculation of salt balances.

Contact us for your annual water and salt balance updates, with consideration of your site-specific water uses as well as water quality monitoring results.

Water Conservation and Water Demand Management

Letsolo Water and Environmental Services expertly quantifies the water use efficiency of the client’s activity, including management of mine water and water loss programmes. Annual targets for improved water use efficiency for the mining activity are also set by us. We can also report on the implementation of more efficient processes, equipment designs, and other on-site measures to assist the mine to avoid and reduce water consumption. Additionally, we report on the implementation and reduction of total water demand with recommendations for improved water conservation and demand management.

Post-Closure Water Management Planning

Letsolo Water and Environmental Services presents a post-closure mine water balance. According to Regulation 10 of the National Water Act, we act to maximize the use of pollution prevention measures based on the assessment of the long-term impacts of closure management actions on water resources. We also define monitoring programs that should be implemented to collect data. This data will allow for scheduled future updates and improvements.

Integrated Water and Waste Management Plans

Letsolo Water and Environmental Services will prepare an Integrated Water and Waste Management Plan (IWWMP) in accordance with a format that is approved by the Department of Water and Sanitation. We will then submit the IWWMP to the Department for approval. We aim to keep the IWWMP current by updating it whenever there is a change to the mine plan. The IWWMP is updated annually, or as specified in terms of the water use license.

Auditing

A third-party external audit on compliance with the requirements of water use or environmental authorisation is conducted annually by Letsolo Water and Environmental Services. Our company takes pride in understanding all authorisation conditions pertaining to your development project and basing its independent audit of your performance against the set conditions. We will submit the audit reports generated in terms of the requirements of this regulation to the department within 30 days of the completion of the report. Letsolo also facilitates the application for water use licenses specific to the triggered sections of Section 21 of the National Water Act 36 of 1998.

Environmental Assessments

Letsolo Water and Environmental Services provides Environmental Impact Assessments, Basic Assessments as well as Environmental Screening for proposed development projects according to requirements of the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998. We will assess your proposed project details and determine the environmental authorisation required, conduct the authorisation process with relevant competent authority and engage relevant parties. Our services also include involvement of relevant specialist studies depending on proposed project, as well as public participation process. We also conduct Water Use Licensing processes, amendments of existing licenses as well as renewal of rights.

Environmental Control Officer Services

Due to the introduction of activities in an undisturbed environment, there is need to monitor and mitigate impacts as soon as they occur. The services of an Environmental Control Officer (ECO) are essential to quickly identify impacts and immediately rectify, mitigate, or rehabilitate where possible. Letsolo Water and Environmental Services has ECO consulting services that are independent and environmentally professional to advise towards continuous improvement of site operations from construction, operation through rehabilitation stages of development. Our timely reporting of environmental aspects with suggested recommended action plans will assist developers in achieving environmental compliance and environmentally friendly site operations. We can also assist in tracking resource use and production, by creating a site operation specific month to month dashboard for record keeping and easy annual assessments.

Environmental Auditing

Do you hold an environmental authorisation for your projects? Letsolo Water and Environmental Services can audit your project operation’s compliance to each of the set conditions of your authorisations for continuous improvement and towards legal compliance.

Flood Line Delineation

Letsolo Water and Environmental Services will identify and locate all surface water catchments in the affected area. We also specialise in geometric data in terms of conducting land surveys to generate contours. Our experts are also able to effectively generate a schematic of a river, as well as generate cross-section data at 50-metre intervals. We have experience in flow data and boundary conditions and can add tributaries, finalise the schematic, generate bridge and culvert data, as well as generate a final cross-section. We also perform hydraulic computation for the main storm events and map out flood lines on topographical sheets and Google Maps.

Municipal Storm Water Management Plans

Letsolo Water and Environmental Services is responsible for identifying and mapping all surface water catchments in the affected area. We identify sensitive downstream users of said water resources. We also take the time to establish downstream locations, which are suitable for the accurate measurement of water flow and quality for all potentially affected surface water resources. In addition, we calculate all the watercourses in the affected area according to the 1:100-year flood line, both for municipal and development sites.

Surveys

Letsolo Water and Environmental Services can now add value and enhance your projects. We are able to take exact measurements and determine physical boundaries, with accurate details pertaining to the terrain and land features. Our recent collaborative efforts with Terrasurvey (Pty) Ltd ensure that, in addition to our usual services, you have access to data relevant to the shape, contour, gravitation, location, elevation, and dimension of land and features on or near the earth’s surface. Our survey services are useful for engineering, mapping, mining, land evaluation, and construction. All clients of diverse backgrounds can benefit from our modern services using state-of-the-art technology such as aerial surveys for mining pits, aerial assessment of land surface infrastructure, site evaluations & aerial surveillance, and routine maintenance & quality control. Contact us and together we will assess and customise your requirements.

Civil Engineering Services

We are committed to providing customers with modern engineering designs that reflect their individual needs and preferences and are in accordance with the highest engineering standards. Our experienced and qualified engineers provide consultancy services based on both client needs as well as professional experience. Our civil engineering services include but are not limited to, automated calculation of construction quantities, design of the longitudinal profile, creation of the 3D model, revision of the Quantity of Earth Works and so much more.

As an immediate solution to air quality impacts from industrial and development activities, Letsolo Water and Environmental Services can assist in determining the condition of the air at operational sites such as mines, power generation plants, and industrial sites. We can also provide monthly and annual particulate matter and dust monitoring of the impact caused by pollutants such as smoke and other gases in the air. Compiling a management plan by conducting a detailed assessment on a variety of pollution indicators is also our specialty. Furthermore, we can monitor compliance with air quality standards, air quality limits, specific license, and regulatory requirements. Lastly, Letsolo Water and Environmental Services can install and maintain site ambient air quality instrumentation to record levels of exposure to pollution for the safety and protection of our environment and people.