ERG Comide

Water

Comide Mine, Kolwezi, DRC

Drilling and testing of community supply boreholes

As part of their social responsibility programme ERG provided villages surrounding the existing Comide copper and cobalt mine with borehole water supplies. GCS carried out a geophysical survey to locate the most favourable locations for groundwater abstraction points, drilling supervision and short aquifer testing to prove the boreholes could deliver the requested water volumes.

Due to the complex geology of the area drill targets were selected based on aquifer potential and contact zones or other structures. Sustainable yields of between 1 and 3 l/s were established. Submersible solar pumps were installed to provide the local communities with a constant supply of clean drinking water.