The Cargill facility near North Battleford has a deep underground structure that houses important equipment for the operation of the grain handling facility. This area has had groundwater infiltration problems that threaten both operator safety (freezing of the groundwater making access difficult) and the life of the equipment
Cargill retained Associated to develop a step by step program to look into resolving groundwater infiltration. Associated developed a program which involved completing the hydrogeological desktop study at the site to ascertain if dewatering with externally placed groundwater wells is feasible and the water quality is acceptable for discharge either into sewer or sanitary mains or into the local environment.
Once test wells were constructed, water quality monitoring was conducted. Larger pump wells would be constructed next to confirm estimated water flows and sustainability of the dewatering process. If the wells are successful they will be used for dewatering and rates and volumes will be calculated along with pumping scheme and discharge methods.