Minera del Norte – Cerro Del Mercado, an Iron ore mine in Mexico, faced water scarcity issues, leading to restrictions on potable water usage for production processes. To address this challenge, the mine sought an alternative water source and identified municipal wastewater reuse as a cost-effective solution. The new wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) had to ensure continuous supply of high-quality water, withstand hydraulic shocks and toxins, and maintain low operational costs.
Minera del Norte
Sustainable Mining: Advancing Wastewater Treatment at Minera del Norte
Overview: Minera del Norte – Cerro Del Mercado, an Iron ore mine in Mexico, faced water scarcity issues, leading to restrictions on potable water usage for production processes. To address this challenge, the mine sought an alternative water source and identified municipal wastewater reuse as a cost-effective solution. The new wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) had to ensure continuous supply of high-quality water, withstand hydraulic shocks and toxins, and maintain low operational costs.
Bluegen Water Solution A new WWTP was constructed based on Aqwise Technologies Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) and Media Clarifier technologies. The WWTP comprised two lines of two-stage AGAR® MBBR followed by a Media Clarifier (MC). The installation, spanning 11 months, included earthworks, installation of biological reactors and media clarifiers, equipment installation, and commissioning.
The incorporation of fine-bubble diffusers resulted in reduced operational costs, contributing to overall cost efficiency.
AGAR® MBBR system ensures stable removal efficiency of organic loads and solids, accommodating variations in water quality.
The system was designed with low construction and operational costs, enabling economical operation of the mine.
Reuse of municipal wastewater increased potable water availability and supported the sustainability of the local municipality.
The WWTP enabled significant reduction in water consumption-related operational costs, leading to overall production cost reduction.
Zuvamesa, Spain’s largest orange processing company, faced the challenge of increasing its effluent treatment capacity without expanding its facility’s size. Moreover, there was a critical need to reduce the average wastewater treatment costs. In partnership with SUEZ WATER Spain, which has collaborated with Zuvamesa for over five years on the plant’s operation and maintenance, a sustainable and cost-effective solution was developed using Aqana’s (Bluegen water Subsidiary) DACS® technology.
