The successful implementation of saturated rock fill (SRF) facilities requires managing both known and emerging challenges across design and operations. This presentation summarizes key lessons learned from more than eight years of full-scale SRF implementation in the Elk Valley, drawing on operational data from the Elkview (EVO) and Fording River North (FRO-N) facilities.
The presentation highlights critical design and operational considerations, including recharge and entrainment management, wellfield sizing, operational flexibility, and contingency planning. Real-world performance data demonstrate how adaptive design, robust monitoring, and interdisciplinary collaboration have enabled consistent long-term treatment of selenium and nitrate, supporting reliable operation as facilities scale from pilot projects to full-scale mine water treatment systems.
