De-Watering Supervisor

Job Purpose

The De‑Watering Supervisor is responsible for planning, supervising, and coordinating all mine dewatering activities to ensure effective water management, safe working conditions, and uninterrupted mining and processing operations in line with production plans, safety standards, and environmental requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Safety, Health & Statutory Compliance

• Enforce compliance with Mine Health and Safety legislation, mine water‑management standards, and operating procedures.
• Conduct pre‑shift safety meetings, toolbox talks, and risk assessments.
• Ensure safe application of lock‑out/tag‑out, isolations, permit‑to‑work, and confined‑space procedures.
• Identify, report, and correct unsafe conditions and behaviours related to water management.
• Participate in incident investigations related to flooding, pump failures, or water ingress.

Dewatering Operations Management

• Supervise and coordinate daily operation of:
• Underground and/or surface dewatering pumps
• Sumps, dams, pipelines, and piping networks
• Boreholes, wells, and water abstraction systems
• Ensure effective removal of water to keep mining and plant areas dry and accessible.
• Monitor water inflows, sump levels, pump capacities, and discharge rates.
• Ensure standby pumps and backup systems are operational and available.

Production & Operational Support

• Support mining and plant operations by:
• Preventing flooding and water‑related production losses
• Ensuring dewatering systems match mining advance and development
• Coordinate dewatering requirements during:
• Development, stoping, or pit advancement
• Plant shutdowns and major maintenance activities

Team Leadership & Supervision

• Lead and supervise dewatering operators and pump attendants.
• Allocate work, manage shift rosters, and ensure adequate coverage.
• Ensure employees are trained, competent, and authorised.
• Enforce discipline, performance standards, and safe work behaviour.
• Manage contractors involved in dewatering or water‑management work.

Maintenance Coordination

• Coordinate with mechanical and electrical teams to ensure:
• Pumps, motors, and pipelines are maintained and reliable
• Breakdown repairs are prioritised
• Inspect pumps, sumps, pipelines, and valves for defects or leaks.
• Report repeated failures and participate in root cause analysis.
• Support planned inspections, shutdown maintenance, and upgrades.

Environmental & Water Management

• Ensure dewatering activities comply with environmental permits and water‑use requirements.
• Monitor water discharge quality and quantities where required.
• Prevent pollution, uncontrolled discharge, and environmental incidents.
• Maintain good housekeeping around sumps, dams, and pump stations.

Administration & Reporting

• Complete accurate shift and daily reports covering:
• Water levels and inflows
• Pump utilisation and downtime
• Safety and environmental issues
• Ensure effective shift handovers.
• Maintain operational records and support compliance reporting.

Minimum Qualifications

• Grade 12 / NQF Level 4
• Dewatering Supervisor or Mining Supervisor Certificate (or equivalent)
• Competent person appointment (as per mine requirements)
• Medically fit for mine work

Advantageous

• Certificate or Diploma in Mining, Engineering Services, or Water Management
• Supervisory or leadership training
• First Aid and basic safety certifications

Experience Requirements

• 5–8 years experience in mine dewatering or water‑management operations
• 2–3 years experience in a supervisory role

Proven experience in:

• Underground and/or surface mining dewatering
• Pumping systems and water reticulation
• Shift‑based mining operations

Technical Competencies

• Mine dewatering systems and pump operation
• Understanding of groundwater and water inflow behaviour
• Basic mechanical and electrical awareness
• Pipeline, valve, and sump management
• Operational troubleshooting and reporting