Storm water treatment – Waterval Mine

Anglo Patinum’s Waterval mine is one of the biggest trackless mining operations in Southern Africa . The mine has a diesel and refuelling bay as well as aboveground workshop and two underground workshops which had a major effulent problem and required considerable manpower to operate. Large EMV mining vehicles create huge oil spillage and resulted in 300 000 l of oil used a month.

The Solution

Procon Environmental Technologies where requested in 2004 to design a solution which would remove hydrocarbons from stormwater before it reached the settling dams.

By 2005 “Ultraspin” equipment was installed at all the oil storage pits and vehicle wash bay workshop pits, removing hydrocarbons from the stormwater. In addition a hydrocyclone was installed on a trailer with diesel compressor; which is used on the settling dams and evaporations dams on a regular basis, and are now treated effectively and at a considerable saving in maintenance costs.

At the start of the project less than 1% oil recovery was reached but has increased to upto 70%. This included a silt trap being built and an ES15 being installed which recovered more oil at the above ground workshop and washbay.

Oil Pit:

Another two ES15 systems where installed at the central and east underground workshops in 2007

The Results

Waterval mine is now recovering around 80 000 l of oil a month and dramatically reduced its risk in possible spills. By utilizing the latest technology in oily water separation it has achieved a long term, cost effective solution in terms of oily water treatment and spill protection. Ultraspin equipment ensures low cost maintenance; no added chemicals and a mechanically safe environment as well as meeting environmental health can safety standards.

Underground ES15                    Above ground

Equipment supplied between 2004 and 2007:

• 1 Ultraspin OS35 & 1 Primary (Diesel & refuelling bay)
• 3 Ultraspin OS15 for main Atlas workshop aboveground and 2 underground workshops
• 2 Ultraspin OS35 installed in effluent channel East and west side
• Mobile Unit OS35 with diesel compressor

Background:

System Advantages

• System performance within stormwater discharge limits
• Low operating and maintenance cost
• High recovering rates of Ultraspin vs the old system, recovering more than 80 000 l of oil per month
• The waste oil is also free from water and dirt particles and this sold at a good price to waste collector.
• System pays for itself in a short time

Contact Procon at our Witbank or Pretoria branch now!