Prediction of depth to water table in bauxite residue ponds

Abstract

Measurements were taken of the rate of water loss from the water table in columns of bauxite residue. The data were used to develop a simple model to predict the changes in depth to water table, using inputs of weekly rainfall and estimates of potential evaporation. The model was successfully validated against a further experiment and then used to predict water-table behaviour for hypothetical residue ponds in south-west Australia. Evaporative loss from the water table occurred only when the water table was less than 1 m below the soil surface. Unless drained, the water table in many residue ponds would rise above the ground surface in most years.