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Reutilization of treated waste water
Published on 02 November 2018
Spain
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About this good practice
Cobre Las Cruces (CLC) owns a complex for the open-pit mining and hydrometallurgical treatment of copper, occupying almost 1,000 hectares in the province of Seville
CLC meets part of its need for water supply by reutilizing treated wastewater pumped from the San Jeronimo Sewage Plant owned by EMASESA (public water supply and treatment company for the city of Seville).
The water is pumped to CLC during seven months of the year in a 18km-long buried pipeline running between the Sewage Plant to the CLC site, where it has two end uses:
1. Part of the water is given a physical-chemical treatment so its characteristics meet those required for the processing the mineral in the hydrometallurgical plant. Hence, the CLC industrial plant covers part of its water needs using treated wastewater.
2. The rest of the water is pumped to a wastewater regenerating facility on the CLC site for further treatment to obtain a water quality suitable for reincorporation to the public groundwater resource by reinjecting it at depth underground (environmental purpose).
In the CLC wastewater regenerating facility, the water undergoes treatment using chlorination followed by ultrafiltration.
The water from the Sewage Plant is stored in the CLC site in a pond called the Primary Supply Pond (PSP) before reutilization. The PSP has a capacity of 1.3 Hm3 and occupies a total surface area of 40 hectares.
Thanks to the water reutilization activity, a major accomplishment has now been of achieve
CLC meets part of its need for water supply by reutilizing treated wastewater pumped from the San Jeronimo Sewage Plant owned by EMASESA (public water supply and treatment company for the city of Seville).
The water is pumped to CLC during seven months of the year in a 18km-long buried pipeline running between the Sewage Plant to the CLC site, where it has two end uses:
1. Part of the water is given a physical-chemical treatment so its characteristics meet those required for the processing the mineral in the hydrometallurgical plant. Hence, the CLC industrial plant covers part of its water needs using treated wastewater.
2. The rest of the water is pumped to a wastewater regenerating facility on the CLC site for further treatment to obtain a water quality suitable for reincorporation to the public groundwater resource by reinjecting it at depth underground (environmental purpose).
In the CLC wastewater regenerating facility, the water undergoes treatment using chlorination followed by ultrafiltration.
The water from the Sewage Plant is stored in the CLC site in a pond called the Primary Supply Pond (PSP) before reutilization. The PSP has a capacity of 1.3 Hm3 and occupies a total surface area of 40 hectares.
Thanks to the water reutilization activity, a major accomplishment has now been of achieve
Resources needed
• Investment in facilities (approximate cost): 12.300.000 €.
• Operating cost: 40.000 – 50.000 €/year.
• Operating cost: 40.000 – 50.000 €/year.
Evidence of success
The treated wastewater that would be discharged from the sewage plant is converted into a raw material for CLC.
Recharging the aquifer by direct injection contributes to raising the piezometric level of the groundwater system in those areas where this may be necessary, as well as signifying the storage of water for potential future use. The positive environmental aspects are: capacity of aquifers to store water both in rainy and winter periods; boost the recovery of wetland areas associated wit
Recharging the aquifer by direct injection contributes to raising the piezometric level of the groundwater system in those areas where this may be necessary, as well as signifying the storage of water for potential future use. The positive environmental aspects are: capacity of aquifers to store water both in rainy and winter periods; boost the recovery of wetland areas associated wit
Potential for learning or transfer
This collaboration project could be replicated anywhere in Europe wherever there could be alliance between a company running a wastewater treatment plant (facility A) and a second entity that needs water to operate (facility B). The process characteristics of facility B must be appropriate for the possible reutilization of treated wastewater.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
Organisation
COBRE LAS CRUCES, S.A.U.
Spain
Andalucía
Contact
Asesor técnico en residuos