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Dewatering

Dewatering is a technology and process used to remove water from solid materials, slurries, or excavation sites, widely applied across mining, construction, and industrial operations. In mining contexts, dewatering encompasses both the removal of groundwater from mine workings to enable safe extraction and the separation of water from mineral slurries and tailings to recover valuable solids and manage waste. The process employs mechanical equipment such as pumps, centrifuges, filter presses, and thickeners, alongside drainage systems and wellpoint installations. Effective dewatering is essential for maintaining operational safety, preventing flooding of underground workings, and ensuring stable pit walls in open-cast operations. It also plays a critical role in tailings management, where reducing water content minimises the volume of waste requiring storage and facilitates water recycling within processing circuits. In construction, dewatering lowers groundwater levels to allow excavation and foundation work in dry conditions. The technology must balance operational efficiency with environmental considerations, as extracted groundwater often requires treatment before discharge to prevent contamination of surface water or aquifers. Dewatering systems are designed to suit site-specific hydrogeological conditions, ore characteristics, and regulatory requirements. Advances in dewatering technology focus on energy efficiency, automation, and improved water recovery rates to support sustainable resource management.

Latest Articles in 60 Seconds

Skid-mounted pumps target theft and downtime in remote pits

Industrial consultancy M Bond Pumps has engineered wheel-free drag-skid dewatering units, the diesel Cape Cobra and electric Anaconda and Boa series, for open-cast operations from the Northern Cape through Zambia to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Built from Pr. Eng.-certified S355 marine-grade steel with a 6 mm solid steel drag-floor and tractor-tow mobilisation, the skids resist theft and overturning while an isolated jackshaft drivetrain protects pump-to-engine alignment on rugged terrain; triple-failsafe priming, Silicon Carbide or Tungsten Carbide seals and automatic dry-run shutdown further guard against unplanned stoppages.

Dewatering specialists prepare for Electra Mining Africa 2026

Integrated Pump Technology will showcase its Godwin diesel-driven and Grindex electric submersible pump ranges at the exhibition, advising on emergency flood response, groundwater ingress and long-term dewatering strategy. MD Jordan Marsh says success depends on selecting the right technology, correct sizing and rapid deployment, backed by a distributor network across South Africa and the rest of Africa.

Weir positions dewatering within integrated flowsheet

Weir will use the same event to promote its South African-manufactured Enduron Elite screens, Warman slurry pumps and Linatex wear linings, framing dewatering as part of a flowsheet spanning comminution, classification and wear management, with local manufacturing at Alrode, Isando and Gqeberha reducing lead times.

Dewatering Updates


M Bond Pumps mining and industrial logo
The logistics of remote mine dewatering
16th July 2026

Discover how M Bond Pumps' engineered drag-skids eliminate asset theft and drivetrain fatigue for zero-downtime remote mine dewatering across Africa 


Weir believes that understanding the full mining process with the customer is where real value begins
Weir To Showcase African Manufacturing Strength And Flowsheet Expertise At Electra Mining Africa
14th July 2026

Understanding mining customers is about far more than supplying equipment. For Weir, it is about understanding the entire mining process and identifying where real value can be added across the... 


Godwin diesel-driven pumps provide reliable high-volume dewatering performance for demanding mining, construction and industrial applications across Africa
Integrated Pump Technology Brings Proven Dewatering Expertise To Electra Mining Africa 2026
6th July 2026

Integrated Pump Technology will showcase its specialist dewatering expertise at Electra Mining Africa 2026, giving visitors direct access to a team with a proven track record across Africa in both... 


Successful dewatering depends on more than pump selection
3rd July 2026 By: Natasha Odendaal

Selecting the right pump for a dewatering application is often far more complex than anticipated, as many operations underestimate just how application-specific dewatering can be, says pumps... 


An image of a Yuchai water pump engine
Diesel pumps remain a reliable solution despite sustainability concerns
3rd July 2026 By: Nadine Ramdass

While rising fuel costs and sustainability considerations are encouraging equipment electrification, diesel engine provider YC Diesel GM Paul Lastrucci says diesel pumps remain the most reliable... 


Northern Cape copper mining being revived.
Capital raised to turn South African copper projects into mining operations
22nd May 2026 By: Martin Creamer

More than R180-million has been raised to transition key copper projects in South Africa’s endowed Northern Cape into operations as early as in the second quarter of this year. The strongly... 


Image of a Weir mining pump solution
Pump solutions for Africa’s mining sector
22nd May 2026

Global mining technology company Weir asserts that it has built the largest installed base of dewatering and slurry pumps in Africa’s mining sector, through a combination of technical expertise,... 


MTR donates slurry pump to mining-focused school to boost hands-on engineering skills
22nd May 2026 By: Natasha Odendaal

Mogale Tailings Retreatment (MTR) has donated a R600 000 slurry pump to the Mandisa Shiceka School of Specialisation to promote South African mining skills upliftment. The high school specialises... 


Drill holes shown in green at Flat Mine East.
Northern Cape copper drilling provides clear scale-up path
20th May 2026 By: Martin Creamer

The latest drilling at Okiep in South Africa’s copper-endowed Northern Cape has provided a clear path to scale up at Flat Mine East, where a down-dip extension hole is already being developed as a... 


Image of pumps on a mobile trailer
Rapid dewatering response critical in extreme weather conditions
8th May 2026

The ability to deploy dewatering solutions rapidly is an important part of managing risk in mining and infrastructure operations, especially in conditions of extreme weather. Integrated Pump... 


An image of Project Roan
Jubilee’s nine-month copper output up 28.7% y/y
6th May 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Zambia-focused integrated copper producer and resource developer Jubilee Metals’ total saleable copper production for the nine months ended March 31 increased by 28.7% year-on-year to 2 177 t.... 


Marnus Koorts, General Manager – Original Equipment at Weir
Weir Leads Africa’s Mining Sector with Trusted, Risk-Mitigating Pump Solutions
4th May 2026

Weir has established the largest installed base of dewatering and slurry pumps in Africa’s mining sector by helping customers de-risk their pumping operations – combining technical excellence and... 


Western Queen openpit
Rumble Resources inks updated royalty agreement with Elemental
4th May 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

A subsidiary of ASX-listed Rumble Resources has entered into a transaction with a subsidiary of Elemental Royalty Corporation whereby Elemental will pay A$10-million to acquire a 2.5% net smelter... 


Weir builds sustainable mining performance through local presence in West Africa
Weir builds sustainable mining performance through local presence in West Africa
24th April 2026

Across West Africa’s rapidly evolving mining sector, proximity, responsiveness and technical depth have become decisive factors in supplier selection. For Weir, this has translated into a... 


Integrated Pump Technology advances Mine Dewatering across Africa
Integrated Pump Technology advances Mine Dewatering across Africa
24th April 2026

Integrated Pump Technology is playing a critical role in helping mining operations across Africa remain productive in the face of persistent groundwater ingress - both on surface and underground.... 


Integrated Pump Technology enables immediate mobilisation of dewatering solutions through its local pump stockholding, ensuring rapid response
Why local pump stockholding is redefining rapid dewatering response
8th April 2026

As climate volatility increases across southern Africa, the ability to deploy dewatering solutions rapidly has become a defining factor in how mining and infrastructure operations manage risk.... 


Godwin pump on mining site
SA mining presents opportunities, growing pump demand
20th March 2026 By: Tracy Klückow

While having been focused on expanding into the rest of Africa, pumps specialist Integrated Pump Technology knows the importance of prioritising South Africa’s mining sector by delivering reliable... 


Integrated Pump Technology image
Integrated Pump Technology drives dewatering success across Africa
20th February 2026

Pump supplier Integrated Pump Technology has been at the forefront of helping mining operations manage the persistent challenge of groundwater ingress, both on surface and underground. Groundwater... 


The image above depicts one of the pumps featured in Schurco Slurry's DW Series
New mining pump tackles abrasive dewatering duties
13th February 2026 By: Lynne Davies

Developed to bridge the gap between clear-water dewatering pumps and heavy duty mining pumps, pump manufacturer Schurco Slurry’s DW Series offers a purpose-built solution capable of handling... 


The above image depicts a Gridex Pump being off loaded
Pumps supplier scales up dewatering performance
13th February 2026

As African mines deepen and conditions grow more complex, water management remains one of the sector’s most persistent operational challenges. Groundwater ingress, seasonal flooding and... 


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