Groundwater Abstract (Pty) Ltd
Lucas Smith – Principal Hydrogeologist, Pr.Sci.Nat.

Lucas has 26 years of experience in the field of hydrogeology.

Before moving to environmental consulting he was a principal hydrogeologist at the Department of Water and Sanitation (South Africa) where he devoted 17 years to groundwater research and exploration programmes; rural water supply-, larger municipal water supply-, and government water supply schemes; artificial groundwater recharge projects; as well as borehole and aquifer development and remediation projects.

He executed and managed different hydrogeological projects, focussing on aspects such as community water supply programmes, geophysical investigations, characterisation of aquifers, pollution studies, in-stream flow requirements, hydraulic fracturing, dolomite and karst investigations and monitoring, chemical borehole rehabilitation (biofouling) and hydro-chemical analyses.

Over the past 12 years Lucas’ environmental consulting experiences include the Southern African and Central- and West African mining and Energy sectors (Eskom and Alternatives) where he manages groundwater and surface water resource evaluations and interaction, as well as conceptualising and quantification of groundwater flow/contaminant transport, ultimately for input to Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), Environmental Management Programme reports (EMPr), Feasibility Studies and mine water management.

Integrated water management is key to any business, mine, industry, or community to ensure a sustainable resource for the environment and local communities to benefit from.