BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) have engaged Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment's Mackay Branch to deliver a specialised Modular Underground Dewatering System at their Broadmeadow Coal Mine, located approximately 200km South West of Mackay, QLD.

The Broadmeadow Underground Coal Mine is a 'Top Coal Cave Longwall Punch' mine located approximately 30km from Moranbah. Located on BMA's Goonyella open cut mine lease, the Broadmeadow Mine was established in late 2003 and feature's BMA's first application of punch longwall mining - a highly efficient underground technique utilising an existing open cut pit for longwall panel access. Broadmeadow Mine delivered a number of synergies between BMA's underground and open cut operations, including utilisation of the existing Goonyella coal preparation plant capacity, increased flexibility to respond to market demand, improved reliability of supply for customers and optimisation of product quality through selective blending.

The Modular Underground Dewatering System (MUDS) was designed / manufactured and installed by Dowdens Mackay to optimise further development of BMA's Broadmeadow mining operations by improving on-site dewatering efficiencies. The MUDS has been utilised in developing Broadmeadow panels 12 & 13, and will help to advance mine site progression for the entire life of operations. The main objective of this project was to provide a unique, custom built air / electric pump system to improve Broadmeadow's dewatering efficiency. This was achieved through the automation of pumping systems supplied and lowering any ongoing maintenance requirements - thereby saving site operator input, lowering air / power consumption and reducing the need for BMA to further invest in dewatering pump systems.

Dowdens were engaged during the concept phase of this project to provide input and engineering advice to help BMA overcome the many operational challenges this site presented. With intimate product knowledge and via extensive direct consultation 2 unique transportable Quick Docking System (QDS) Fish Tank Dewatering POD designs were developed. Capable of operating under 1,000V power, these modular POD systems required the ability to remain operational during regular power outages, utilising the limited underground supply of compressed air. Each pump station needed considerable storage / retention capabilities (5,000L per POD) and the capacity to operate seamlessly 'in-sequence' thereby delivering zero overflows onto roadways even during loss of underground power.

The composition of the water derived from the mine's development process posed its own transportation challenges with a high water content ratio of rock, coal, trash and coal fines. A solids management system consisting of various sieves, hoppers and tank agitation components was developed and tested to ensure the coal fines and inflow management system was capable of continuous operation, whilst also delivering simplified maintenance and cleaning procedures.

The coal fines and inflow management system was designed with the ability to:

• Retrofit to existing POD systems recovered from the Crinum underground coal mine
• Bolster the developing site dewatering fleet - with continuity of all pumps, instrumentation & control equipment used.

With the negotiations finalised, Dowdens proposed the fabrication of 2 Teams of 4x Dewatering PODs. Each Team is led by the newly designed 5m³ EXD QDS transportable roadway POD. 3x additional specially modified 4m³ Elliptical PODs (a combination of EXD & IP66 rated) are then positioned at strategic intervals along the panel as main gate development advances.

Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment was successful in BMA's tendering process due to:

• Vast in-house engineering, drafting/design, fabrication, servicing capabilities & proven competencies
• Over 20 years' experience designing & producing specialised underground dewatering equipment
• The proximity of Dowdens head office [Mackay] & ongoing presence in the region
• Providing a competitively priced solution to the clients unique challenges
• High level of detail provided in the preliminary engineering proposal

After a successful tendering process Dowdens team of engineers and draftsmen immediately began analysing the recovered Crinum mine 4m³ POD design. After much consideration, a plan was established to incorporate all new specifications and functionality required whilst retaining as much of the existing structure as possible, saving both fabrication time and money. This design was carried over to the new generation 4m³ Elliptical PODs.

The Narrow Gauge 5m³ Lead POD had to utilise every inch of its restricted underground foot print to facilitate the 5,000L capacity and extra-large solids screening hopper. All work access steps and ladders were designed to be stowed away to avoid contact by passing machinery. All equipment was to be readily accessible to operators, even while positioned hard against the roadway rib. The complete set of design drawings were completed within 5 days and construction began immediately ensuring delivery was made within BMA's tight project deadlines.

Specially equipped 1,000V electric motors were incorporated in the build to operate custom made hard-metal centrifugal pumps - primarily selected for water transfer between PODs operating 'in-sequence'. The Cast Iron WILDEN T15 Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pump was selected to serve as the auxiliary system for its robustness and relatively small weight-to-flow ratio. The lower weight and lower capital cost of the T15 allowed two pumps to be incorporated into each pump station to serve in duty / standby, or duty / assist mode if required.

A pneumatic control system provides seamless switching between air and electric pumping modes. Non-powered level controls allow maximum tank differential between the air pumps 'on & off' functions saving air consumption. Potential overflows are prevented by a pneumatically operated, inflow regulating valve. Each of the POD inflow manifolds are equipped with 4 auxiliary 50mm pump inputs to integrate localised pumping to the 'outbye' system. Custom built electrical control panels incorporate all EX'd field devices providing temperature, pressure, flow & fault communications via a PLC to the site Citect system. Area lighting and visual pump status indicator lights can be positioned remotely ensuring clear viewing from the mines underground roadways.

Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment design philosophy for this project was: Cost Effectiveness - Current Best Practice - Ease of Installation - Simple & Effective Plant Operation - Plant Reliability & Reduced Ongoing Maintenance.

Modular Underground Dewatering System's Key Components are listed below:

• Creation of a completely new Custom Narrow Gauge POD Design to suit clients space restrictions near Development Miner
• Supply of 2x teams of 4x PODs, 1 team for each main-gate under development (each team consisting of a special Narrow Gauge 5m³ Lead POD & 3x Modified 4m³ Elliptical PODs)
• Automatic Duty / Standby Cast Iron WILDEN T15 Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pump Backup with full starting / stopping control to minimise air consumption
• Automatic Shutdown of incoming water on High Tank Level (preventing overflows)

• Two levels of screening for incoming water to eliminate pump blockages
• Colour Coded POD visual lighting to indicate whether POD is healthy ('green') or in fault ('orange')
• System designed with site operators needs in mind - No entry to tank required to maintain field devices
• Supply of specially fabricated stainless steel canopies for Pump Starter (top & back) to protect against physical damage
• Provision of DN50 Camlock inlets - providing a readily accessible connection point for incoming water

Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment [Mackay] have delivered yet another Soft Hose Travelling Irrigator to a local Sarina Sugarcane Farmer.

Harvey Matsen [pictured below] operates a 100ha sugarcane farm in Sarina. Due to the lack of rainfall during the 2014/15 growing season he decided to purchase a TRAILCO T-450-2 Soft Hose Travelling Irrigator to better manage the irrigation of his cane.

Wanting to purchase his new irrigator from a local business Harvey sought the services of the Dowdens Mackay Agricultural Sales Team - one of the most experienced Ag sales teams in Australia, with over 125 years of combined irrigation system design and operational experience between them. As a company that has built its foundation on the servicing and development of agricultural pumping systems, Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment have the experience to engineer a solution to suit any agricultural application. For over 40 years Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment have been selling & servicing irrigation products throughout Central & Northern Queensland - designing each and every system to improve farming efficiencies, reduce downtime and increase the longevity of pumps / irrigators.

Jeff Roberts from the Dowdens Mackay Agricultural Sales Team visited Harvey's farm on a number of occasions to investigate, design and then match an irrigator and irrigation plan to best suit the property. Taking into consideration the terrain, existing pump capabilities and source water availability Jeff suggested Harvey purchase a TRAILCO T-450-2 Soft Hose Travelling Irrigator with irrigation gun.

Harvey has access to pressurised irrigation water from the nearby Kinchant Dam. Located in Sarina near Kinchant Dam, meaning this farm has access to irrigation water coming via the Eton Water Supply Scheme. Kinchant Dam, situated near Mt Kinchant, 6kms southeast of Mirani, is the only major storage in the Eton Water Supply Scheme. It was constructed to capture runoff water from the small portion of the catchment of Sandy Creek and water pumped from the Pioneer River. Three water harvesting pump stations are located at Mirani Weir below the confluence of Cattle Creek and the Pioneer River, and divert water into an 8km diversion channel into Kinchant Dam. At farm door the dam feed water arrives at between 20 - 30psi. With the TRAILCO T-450-2 Soft Hose Travelling Irrigator needing a higher pressure to operate efficiently Dowdens utilised the farm's existing Power-Take-Off (PTO) Tractor driven booster pump, raising the feed water to over 70psi.

The T-450-2 is able to apply 50mm of water onto a 2ha area of cane whilst travelling along 300m of 4" soft hose - delivering 22.5L/sec @ 70psi. Together with flood irrigation (using the gravity fed Kinchant Dam feed water), an existing travelling irrigator and the new T-450-2 Harvey can now irrigate his property in half the time. In times of low rainfall when young cane is most vulnerable to dry soil conditions, Harvey can now irrigate his young cane faster ensuring they take root quicker and go on to deliver a better overall yield. The T-450-2 is an extremely efficient and reliable soft hose travelling irrigator - so much so it can easily pull Harvey's tractor towards it as it travels down the feed hose on an irrigating run [pictured below].

Arabon Seafoods employed Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment [Mackay] to deliver a broad acre irrigation system watering their cattle feed pasture located in Bowen, QLD. Arabon Seafoods are a proud Queensland small business specializing in the sale and export of locally sourced live, chilled and frozen seafood.

Dowdens designed an efficient energy and water use irrigation system for Arabon Seafoods that utilises a Valley Two-Wheel-Linear Irrigator - the ideal irrigator for smallholder growers with limited access to electricity - together with a Nelson S3000 Spinner Sprinkler Package, Nelson 110VAC Shut-Off Valve, Valley Autopilot GPS Ready Control Panel and a Yanmar 10kVa 3-Phase Diesel Generator Set.

The Valley Two-Wheel-Linear Irrigator is a fairly standard machine in it's configuration but it's application to Arabon's cattle feed pasture is a departure from local practice. Most irrigation in this region is normally provided by low pressure boom type irrigators which are far less efficient in regards to energy and water consumption when compared to the Valley machine.

The system is required to pump water directly from onsite bores to the Valley Two-Wheel-Linear Irrigator watering 3.5 ha of cattle feed pasture. The irrigator's purpose is to provide water to a 'baleable' hay crop which is periodically onsold to local graziers as stock feed. The installation of a Valley linear irrigator has greatly reduced the number of irrigation runs that Arabon Seafoods has previously undertaken with their smaller boom type irrigator to water the same area of crop. Valley Two-Wheel-Linears deliver the ability to easily tow or swing the machine around to cover more acres.

Valley's 'easy to operate' Valley Autopilot GPS Ready Control Panel has enabled other Arabon Seafoods personnel to operate the irrigator which had always proved difficult in the past using a more dated irrigator. The GPS Ready Valley Autopilot Control Panel allows linears to automatically perform functions similar to a center pivot. The AutoPilot Linear measures the lateral position and direction of travel of the linear, allowing functions to be easily programmed to run automatically.

Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment [Mackay] are the sole Valley Irrigation Master Dealers for the Mackay / Whitsunday region enabling the best possible pricing and unmatched product support for all of our customers.

Arabon Seafoods contacted Dowdens Mackay in mid-2015 and requested a site visit and quote. Within a week the Dowdens Ag Sales Team were onsite taking measurements and discussing options with the business owners. A system was designed to suit the area and application, and the quote was delivered. Arabon Seafoods was happy with the design and pricing and instructed Dowdens they would budget for this system in 2016.

Fast forward to mid-2016, working closely with the business owners Dowdens had successfully refined the quote and sourced all materials to be supplied. The purchase order arrived with Dowdens in late May 2016 - the irrigator was delivered to site on Friday 24th of June. The installation commenced Monday 27th of June and the machine was fully operational and commissioning was completed by Wednesday 29th of June.

Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment's design philosophy for this project was: Cost Effectiveness - Current Best Practice - Ease of Installation - Simple & Effective System Operation - System Reliability & Delivering Reduced Ongoing Maintenance Requirements.

The entire project was overseen and managed by Brett Hayes from the Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment [Mackay] Agricultural Sales Team.

Key Project Features:

• Valley Two-Wheel-Linear 'hose-drag' Irrigator with a 2.74m Overhang & 2 x 43.37m Lateral Spans
• Valley Autopilot GPS Ready Control Panel
• Nelson S3000 Spinner Sprinkler Package
• Nelson 110 VAC Shut-Off Valve
• 16.9" x 24" Tyre Package
• Yanmar 10kVa 3-Phase Diesel Generator Set
• 220m of 3½" Crusader Irrigator Hose

Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment's Brisbane branch has built a strong relationship with Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology (SNP) after more than 25 years of providing high purity water treatment systems / solutions for 22 of their Commercial Testing Pathology laboratories - from as far north as Cairns, down south to Coffs Harbour and everywhere in between. The majority of Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment's high purity water treatment systems are used primarily in Sullivan Nicolaides blood testing machines. SNP was formed in 1956 when Dr John Sullivan started a small pathology practice to service local families in and around Brisbane. Dr Nick Nicolaides joined him 18 months later and since then, it has grown to one of the largest and most trusted pathology practices in Australia.

The PROBLEM:

Tap or 'town' water contains many substances that if left untreated, can react with the reagents used in controlled laboratory tests, causing positive or negative interference which leads to unreliable test results. Cations such as sodium, calcium, magnesium or iron; anions such as bicarbonate, chloride and sulfate; and other inorganic ions, are commonly found in tap water. A number of other contaminants - such as pyrogens, nucleases, alkaline phosphatase and endotoxins may be present. As they are not harmful for human consumption, they are not thoroughly regulated or tested in the course of South-East Queensland municipalities potable water treatment and distribution. These contaminants are detrimental to experimental / laboratory processes that require precision, high sensitivity and precise instrumental operation.

Our SOLUTION:

Water purification is highly dependent upon local (and even site-specific) variations in the make-up of the town / tap water quality, which can differ greatly from place to place. For this reason Dowdens Engineers have designed each and every SNP high purity water treatment system individually, with local and site specific feed water characteristics in mind. The most recent system was installed at SNP's Central Laboratory located in Bowen Hills, QLD.

After careful analysis of the town water being delivered directly to SNP's Bowen Hills Laboratory a turn-key 'looped' treatment system was designed, manufactured and incorporated into SNP's existing Building Maintenance System (BMS). The first stage of this looped system is pre-treatment of the town water via a set of Duplex Carbon Filters and Water Softeners. The water is then fed through Duplex Matten Reverse Osmosis systems and Duplex 10" Deionisers and then stored in four 1,000L loop tanks. This treated water then passes through a set of four Deioniser Polishing Systems which (via a pump) is recirculated into and around the labs as 18 MΩ/cm ultrapure water (UPW).

This 'looped' high purity water treatment system delivers 56,000L of 18 MΩ/cm UPW / day - providing not only the capacity required for SNP's entire Bowen Hills Central Laboratory, but also delivering sufficient redundancy so that during times of service / maintenance the lab and testing machines are never without sufficient UPW to remain operational.

Dowdens Pumping - Brisbane's design philosophy for this project was: Cost Effectiveness - Ease of Installation - Simple & Reliable Plant Operation - System Reliability & Reduction of Ongoing Maintenance Costs. The entire SNP high purity water treatment system was designed, manufactured, installed and commissioned on time and within budget.

Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology's Central Laboratory [Bowen Hills, QLD] - Key Components:

• Duplex Carbon Filters (with automatic Clack Valves)
• Duplex Water Softeners (with automatic Clack Valves)
• Duplex Matten 'L Series' Reverse Osmosis Systems

• Duplex 10" Deionisers
• 4x Deioniser Polishing 'Loop' Systems
• 4x 1,000L Treated Water 'Loop' Tanks

...

As an Australian owned company that began life in 1973 selling and servicing all manner of water treatment equipment, Dowdens has grown to employ over 160 staff situated across 4 branches in Mackay, Proserpine, Rockhampton and Brisbane permitting us to confidently service customers throughout Queensland, nationally and internationally. From project inception through to final commissioning - the team at Dowdens has the ability to deliver complete specialised long-term engineered solutions that are practical and innovative, ensuring our clients benefit from greater productivity and reduced equipment downtime.

With dedicated departments of industry trained engineers, draftsmen, project managers, sales staff and tradespeople including fitters, mechanics, polywelders, machinists, plumbers, electricians and boiler makers - Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment offer an unmatched range of world-class engineered solutions for any type of water management project. We truly are Queensland's premier one-stop-shop for pumping and water treatment systems!

Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment's Proserpine branch provide a range of products and services to island resorts throughout the Whitsundays and Northern Queensland; supplying and servicing everything from pool pumps to major sewage treatment / pumping stations and irrigation systems. We pride ourselves on being able to provide a large range of products across all facets of resort infrastructure.

Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment's Proserpine branch regularly service customers across local off shore resorts, as well as working extensively with mainland tourist attractions and resorts for both sales and servicing. With extensive knowledge and experience in this area we are confident that our team of experts can provide solutions to clients problems. Dowdens Pumping carries a large range of spare parts and our service team are proud to provide comprehensive and professional after-sales service.

Recently Dowdens Proserpine were engaged by Fullshare Holdings (owner / operators of the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Port Douglas) to upgrade 5 existing onsite pump stations that had reached the end of their service life. At the projects inception Dowdens Proserpine conducted a thorough audit of the onsite pumping systems - the subsequent detailed report submitted to Fullshare Holdings resulted in Dowdens being awarded the contract to replace the ageing sewage pump stations. Dowdens Proserpine then set about designing a more efficient and reliable sewerage pump system that was to include smaller and more energy efficient Grundfos pumps, resulting in a reduction in the required maintenance and considerably lower overall energy use onsite. Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment are Authorised Grundfos Dealers throughout the Whitsundays / Mackay / Rockhampton regions.

Once the design was accepted Dowdens began works that would see 10 new Grundfos sewerage pumps being installed in 5 existing pump stations. The projects scope included supplying and fitting all rails, brackets, lifting chains, concrete pump station lids and non-return valves. Together with the design and installation of Grundfos electronic control panels (Grundfos CU362 Waste Water Controllers) & remote monitoring systems (Grundfos Remote Management [GRM]) which allows for SMS & Email to be sent to relevant site operators alerting them to any faults. The GRM system also allows for system alarms to be reset and pump duties to be modified remotely via any smart-phone or PC. Full product and system descriptions can be viewed below.

The aim of this project was to provide a modern and efficient sewerage pumping system that was energy efficient, reliable, had improved remote monitoring capability and increased level of safety for Dowdens Servicing and onsite technicians. The Dowdens Infield Service Crew began by removing the existing 30-year-old pumps, rails, brackets, lifting chains, heavy concrete lids and control panels. These were replaced with more efficient and reliable Grundfos pumping and monitoring equipment. During installation and commissioning Dowdens had to schedule works to meet the resorts strict operation requirements, ensuring the project proceeded with little to no impact on the resort guests.

The existing concrete lids were damaged and unsafe and needed to be replaced. Dowdens provided 'light lift' aluminium lids with integrated safety grates (pictured below) to minimise the risk of falling into the wet well whilst servicing the pumps. 3 out of the 5 existing control panels were deemed unsafe by Dowdens Electricians and required replacement with new stainless steel panels incorporating the Grundfos CU362 Pump Controllers and Grundfos Variable Frequency Drives on the 2 main pump stations. Dowdens also provided Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Port Douglas with scheduled servicing of the Grundfos SEV & SE1 pumps; Grundfos CU362 Waste Water Controllers; Grundfos Remote Management [GRM] Systems; Dowdens custom built aluminium lids with safety grates; Stainless steel pump rails; 800kg rated lifting chains & the Backflow protection on wash down taps. The entire project was delivered on time and within budget.

Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment design philosophy for this project was: Cost Effectiveness - Current Best Practice - Ease of Installation - Simple & Effective Plant Operation - Pump Station Reliability - Advanced Remote Management Capabilities - Reduced Ongoing Maintenance.

Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort (Port Douglas) - Sewage Pump Stations Key Components:

• Grundfos SEV & SE1 Pumps - Dowdens are Authorised GRUNDFOS Dealers
• Grundfos CU362 Waste Water Controllers
• Grundfos Remote Management (GRM) Systems

• Custom fabricated 'light lift' aluminium lids with integrated safety grates (pictured below)
• Stainless Steel Pump Rails & 800kg Rated Lifting Chains
• Backflow Prevention Devices on Wash Down Taps

Racecourse Projects recently engaged Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment's Mackay 'Infield Service Crew' to undertake emergency repairs to a damaged Valley Irrigation Centre Pivot Irrigator at their Sugar Cane Farm located in Marwood, QLD.

This project began, like most emergency repair jobs do with an unexpected call from our customer. Racecourse Projects rang the Dowdens Pumping Agricultural Sales Team to inform them a Cane Haul-Out Truck had struck the first span of their Valley Centre Pivot. The pivot was now hanging precariously and needed to be repaired immediately. Daryn Gray (Dowdens - Industrial Workshop [Engineering Support]) and Brett Hayes (Dowdens - Agricultural Sales) promptly attended the Marwood site and assessed the pivot. Dowdens advised the pivot needed to be supported or it may have collapsed further. Straightaway the Dowdens 'Infield Service Crew' were onsite to elevate and secure the damaged span.

After speaking directly with the manufacturer of the damaged Valley Centre Pivot (Valmont Industries - Australia) Dowdens confirmed with Racecourse Projects there were no suitable spans for that machine currently available anywhere in Australia. This meant repairs needed to be undertaken promptly before the machine potentially collapsed completely - making any further repair work impossible. Dowdens then promptly engaged a local subcontractor to work alongside the Dowdens 'Infield Service Crew' repairing the machine in situ (whilst still suspended in the air). As the repairs had to be effected whilst the machine was still standing, this required coordination between 2 cranes and a telehandler forklift, along with a man box (attached to the all terrain telehandler) for 2 men to carry out the repairs. All the repairs and commissioning of the irrigator were successfully completed within 2 days of the accident!

Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment [Mackay] are the sole authorised Valley Irrigation Master Dealers for the Mackay / Whitsunday region enabling access to the best possible pricing and product support, an unmatched range of spare parts & fast-turnaround repairs for all of our customers irrigators.

Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment's methodology for the Racecourse Projects Centre Pivot Irrigator Repair was: Fast Response Time - Cost Effectiveness - Fast Turnaround Servicing - Ease of Installation - Limiting Product Downtime - Enable Farming to Continue as per normal whilst the Dowdens 'Infield Service Crew' was onsite.

For over 40 years Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment have been selling & servicing irrigation products throughout Central & Northern Queensland - designing each and every system to improve farming efficiencies, reduce downtime and increase the longevity of pumps / irrigators. As a company that has built its foundation on the servicing and development of agricultural pumping systems, Dowdens Pumping and Water Treatment have the experience to engineer a solution to suit any agricultural application.

The entire project was overseen and managed by the Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment [Mackay] Agricultural Sales Team. The Dowdens Mackay-Whitsunday Agricultural Irrigation Team of Glenn Agnew, Brett Hayes, Jeff Roberts, Kevin Krog, Mike Sanderson, Eileen Mason and Nathan Cross are one of the most experienced Ag sales teams in Australia, with over 125 years of combined irrigation system design and operational experience between them.