no problem Slimbo IMO KLL did extensive trials and long term...

no problem Slimbo
IMO
KLL did extensive trials and long term trench pumping
and the Data is readily available
so one can assume that the porosity stated is believable
SO4 in the other hand did very limited testing and relied on historic data by another company some 40 years ago
and no data is available
miraculously they come up with a similar porosity

as for the photo it lends itself to the same conclusion
clay whilst it can hold up to 50% porosity it will only release 2% of that moisture this is were you need to look at transporsivity the grounds ability to release the moisture
the fact that they claim they do not need to line the ponds suggest large clay content
eg sand can have a 50 % porosity and a large transporsivity of up to 40% meaning nearly all the moisture can be drained from it with a flat cone of depression.
would you build a pond from sand ?
no as it would not hold
so clay either holds or releases water It can’t do both
if the ground is that stable and can have a 30 ton excavator on it with out sinking it is unrealistic to suggest the transporsivity is that great
back in the early days SO4 bagged bores as to expensive and ineffective
now bores are the way to go and being fastracked one of the many 180 degree turns this month has done
this suggest to me that the trench performance is not living up to expectations

as for capex
the original ponds that were built at LW as trials
but then had their name changed to production are all built out of capex
no trials were ever concluded and no data ever released of any trials
the first Taurus loan and royalty was to complete BFS
and went into building infrastructure
so the realty is
the company either spent
$170 000 000 on a BFS or the real capex is $400 000 000
that’s why they borrowed and raised $400
there are many smoke screens here and yes I do think there is a real possibility of a CA
if the ducks don’t line up