The acronym PTAR o WWTP stands for Waste Water Treatment Plant and these facilities are essential in almost all industrial processes because they are a way to manage the waste that comes from different parts of the mining process.
There are now strict regulations, in Colombia where our projects are located and around the world, associated with wastewater generated by mining operations. The sector feels increasingly responsible for the need not to discharge toxic waste that is harmful to the environment.
In our case, by practising green mining or sustainable mining, we have found the most appropriate and sustainable solution for the management of this waste in our mining projects.
Through advanced water treatment processes, we generate clean, quality water. The idea is to be able to reuse it without any problem or discharge it into the environment without any danger.
Do you know what wastewater is generated in the mining industry?
In mining operations, wastewater can be generated in various ways. It all depends on different factors, such as the refining process, whether the mine is underground or open pit, or whether the water balance is positive or negative, etc.
The water coming from a mine usually has many components, which are subject to contamination, such as: dissolved metals, free acid, chemicals, hypersalinity, radioactive elements or anions.
Wastewater generated by the mining industry is also known as tailings. Tailings are made up of waste from the extraction process, equipment washing and the refining process.
Tailings are a slurry-like waste consisting of water, chemicals and other fine particles. It is usually stored in large facilities known as tailings ponds or tailings dams.
Managing this type of wastewater is essential for mining operations. It is a major environmental responsibility to do so, otherwise toxic components may be discharged into the environment, affecting the fauna and flora in the areas of influence.
Environmental legislation in this area is becoming increasingly stringent and all mining operations are obliged to carry out certain key tasks:
- Optimise the use of water in the process
- Make use of energy efficiency
- Carrying out mine waste treatment.
Here is a video about the Vereda Guayaquil WWTP.
