When Is Water Too Much of a Good Thing?

Dust from haul roads can cost production time, increase wear on machinery and pose a safety hazard.

That’s why many quarry operators use water trucks to reduce dust. But there is a risk from over-watering haul roads—including excessive water usage, risks to driver safety, increased road maintenance, increased vehicle maintenance and excessive tire wear.

What happens when roads get too much water? They can, obviously, become slick. In addition, water on the wearing course of a road will start to pump fine material to the surface, leading to increased road maintenance.

Here are some tips on sustaining the right level of moisture:

• Avoid continually spraying the roads. This tends to flush out and deteriorate the road base, which could lead to excessive maintenance.
•  When watering a haul road, use an on/off pattern on grades. This helps prevent unsafe conditions.
• Water truck operators should monitor haul road conditions and water as necessary.