Open Pit Dewatering Pump & Piping Fundamentals
2-Days Online Training Course | 29–30 October 2026
MTCR Training invites engineering, maintenance, and operations professionals to attend this comprehensive Open-Pit Dewatering Pump & Piping Fundamentals training programme. This practical course provides participants with an in-depth understanding of the fundamental principles of mine dewatering systems, including pump selection, pump operation, piping systems, flow management, and effective water removal from open-pit mining operations.
Designed by experienced industry specialists, this programme equips participants with the practical knowledge and skills to effectively understand, operate, and manage dewatering pumps and piping systems, improve system performance, minimise operational risks, and support safe and efficient open-pit mining operations.
Course Information
Course: Open Pit Dewatering Pump & Piping Fundamentals
Date: 29–30 October 2026
Duration: 2 Days Online Course
2 CPD Points Available
Delivery: Live Online Instructor-Led Training
Investment: R10,499.00 per delegate
Course Overview
Open pit dewatering typically encompasses a combination of diesel and/or electric driven pump-sets located “in-pit”, and, in some cases, located in groundwater bores either “in-pit” or“ex-pit”.Many kilometers of pipelines are also employed to convey the raw water pumped from the pits to the bores to dedicated dams where centrifugal pump-sets are employed to transfer the contained water to process plants, water treatment plants, beneficial use systems or to creek/river discharge points.The purpose of this two day course is to provide knowledge relating to the sizing, selection, operation, troubleshooting and maintenance of pit dewatering systems which are described by the above-mentioned elements
Course Outline
DAY 1
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
•Fluid properties
•Pressure and head
•Hydraulic Grade Lines, velocity and flowrate
•Static Head, Total Dynamic Head and Friction Head
•Cavitation
•Head losses in pipe, fittings and valves
•Basic pipe sizing checks and calculations
CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS
•Principle of operation
•Classifications and components
•The different types of centrifugal pumps
•Impellers, Affinity Laws and Characteristic Curves
•How to read pump curves
•Pumps in parallel
•Pumps In series
•Testing, priming, starting and stopping
•Troubleshooting centrifugal pumps
•Motor sizing and tips/traps
•Diesel engine sizing and tips/traps
CASE STUDY – IN-PIT DEWATERING
•A detailed look at an existing in-pit dewatering system comprising diesel-driven pump-sets and slurry-grade submersible sump pumps for pit in-flows of 1500 litres per second.
CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS & PIPELINE SYSTEMS
•Slurry pumps for dewatering applications
•Focus on submersible slurry pumps
•Focus on borehole pumps and headwork’s setups
•Borehole risers
•Iron bacteria issues
•Hydrogeology basics relating to bores
•Focus on “high wall pumps”
•Booster pumping
DAY 2
SELF-PRIMING PUMPS
•Dry prime and wet prime
•Maintenance considerations
•Troubleshooting
•Advantages and disadvantages of self-priming pumps
CASE STUDY – GROUND WATER LOWERING
•A detailed look at an existing “ex-pit” dewatering system for the lowering of ground water levels for below water table mining for a peak total combined capacity of 120 mega litres per day. This case study focuses on borehole pumps, their design, operation, maintenance, use of shrouds and headwork’s designs employed.
MOTOR STARTERS & PUMP INSTALLATION TIPS
•Electric motor basics
•DOL starting, soft starters and variable speed drives
•Pump installation tips
•Suction and discharge piping tips
SEALS & PACKING
•Gland packing
•Dynamic (centrifugal) seals
•Basic mechanical seals and seal setups found in dewatering, submersible and transfer pumps.
CASE STUDY – TRANSFER PIPELINE
•A detailed look at the upgrade of a water transfer pipeline at an existing site and the constraints faced in increasing its capacity.
MISCELLANEOUS PIPING TOPICS
•Pressure ratings
•Water hammer
•Typical valves used in dewatering systems
•Polyethylene piping and pipelines
•Steel piping and pipelines
•Flanges and flange ratings
•Basic pressure pippin
Who Should Attend
Dewatering team members, site maintenance personnel, engineers, technicians, operators and hydrogeologists involved in the design, upgrade, operation, installation, testing and maintenance of pit dewatering systems, managed aquifer recharge systems and below water table mining operations.
Benefits of Attending
This course places a great emphasis on the ongoing operation, maintenance and improvement of existing dewatering systems. Case studies are used to highlight issues at existing sites around Australia and the methods used to fix such issues.
At the completion of this seminar, each delegate should be
able to:
•Read pump curves for sizing, selection and troubleshooting
purposes.
•Gain familiarity with the common types of pumps used on open-pit mine sites and managed aquifer recharge systems such as: submersible pumps (located in sumps), borehole pumps (located in bores) and end-suction centrifugal pumps (for general water transfer on site).
•Appreciate the advantages and disadvantages of different “headwork’s” designs for borehole pumps used for lowering
the water table.
•Understand that dewatering and transfer pumps only have a safe working range and that continued operation outside this range will lead to ongoing pump failures and maintenance
cost increases.
•Perform basic calculations relating to pressure, head, pump duty point, motor power, engine power, diesel fuel consumption and power costs.
•Understand the limitations and benefits of the most common types of pipe materials, end connections, valves and fittings used for dewatering systems and water transfer systems on mine sites.
•Be better placed to troubleshoot pumping and piping problems on site as well as look at ways of improving an existing site’s operation and reliability. Training Seminar Materials
Flexible Learning Options
We make learning convenient by offering flexible training solutions:
- Live Online Training
- In-House Corporate Training
- Onsite Group Training
- Customized Mining Training Programmes
Register Today
Open Pit Dewatering Pump & Piping Fundamentals
29–30 October 2026
2-Days Live Online Course
2 CPD Points Available
R10,499.00 per Delegate
Contact MTCR Training
Telephone: 010 746 7421
Email: info@mtcrtraining.co.za
Website: www.mtcrtraining.co.za
Reserve Your Seat Today
Spaces are limited. Register now to strengthen your technical expertise, improve operational performance, and advance your career in the surface mining industry with MTCR Training.
