In order to fulfill Barrick’s environmental commitment to develop it’s mining project Pascua Lama, HIDROMAS consultancy company asked us to build a shallow piezometer net to monitor water levels and water quality in the valley areas inside the influence area.

In total, 28 shallow piezometers were designed and installed along with 2 limnimeters in three valleys located around Pascua Lama mining project, near the head of Chollay and El Toro rivers in Atacama region Mountain range.

In each investigation point a description of soil sample was conducted, installation using a PVC tube and gravel pack. Also, water levels were registered besides general physicochemical parameters.

The survey allowed to expand the knowledge about the aquifer geometry, saturated levels and water quality in the valleys. The groundwater monitoring net that was implemented in located inside the influence area of the mining project.