HWT supplied a water treatment plant for the Sabodala mining operation in Senegal, designed to produce up to 270 m³/day of treated water and accommodate the requirements of a camp population of approximately 2,000 people.
The complete treatment system is housed within four modified 6 m shipping containers and incorporates raw-water screening, flocculation, sand filtration, Activated Filter Media (AFM), granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration and disinfection.
A dedicated constant-pressure pumping system provides treated-water supply to the camp, while automated controls and an interactive HMI allow the treatment process to be monitored and controlled with minimal operator intervention.
Sabodala Mine Water Treatment Plant
Raw water entering the treatment plant first passes through an automated self-cleaning sieve.
This provides the first physical treatment barrier by removing larger suspended material before the water enters the downstream treatment processes. Automatic cleaning reduces the requirement for manual intervention and helps maintain consistent flow through the plant.
Following preliminary screening, the water passes through a series of treatment stages designed to progressively improve its physical and aesthetic quality.
Flocculation and Sand Filtration
Flocculation is used to assist with the removal of fine suspended and colloidal material from the incoming water.
During this process, smaller particles are encouraged to combine into larger flocs that can subsequently be more readily removed.
The water is then passed through sand filtration, providing an effective physical barrier for the removal of suspended material.
This reduces the solids loading on the downstream polishing filters and forms an important part of the overall multi-barrier treatment process.
AFM Filtration for Turbidity Removal
Following the initial filtration stage, the water undergoes additional treatment using Activated Filter Media (AFM).
AFM filtration is used for the removal of residual turbidity and fine suspended particles, providing a further polishing stage before the water reaches the granular activated carbon filters.
The use of successive filtration stages allows different particle sizes and contaminant types to be addressed progressively through the treatment plant.
Granular Activated Carbon Filtration
Granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration is incorporated for the removal of residual colour and odour.
Activated carbon provides an adsorption process in addition to physical filtration and can therefore improve the aesthetic quality of the treated water.
This is particularly useful where the incoming raw water contains naturally occurring organic compounds responsible for undesirable colour, taste or odour.
pH Stabilisation
Provision has been made for optional chemical dosing for pH stabilisation.
The requirement for pH adjustment is determined by the raw-water chemistry and the required characteristics of the final treated water.
By incorporating provision for chemical dosing within the treatment system, the process can be adapted where stabilisation is required.
Water Disinfection
Final disinfection is provided through the site’s existing chlorination system.
Chlorination provides microbiological protection while allowing a chlorine residual to be maintained within the downstream storage and distribution system.
Following filtration and disinfection, treated water is discharged to the existing clean-water storage tanks.
Automated Water Treatment
The Sabodala treatment plant has been designed as a fully automated system.
An interactive Human Machine Interface (HMI) provides operators with a central interface for monitoring and controlling the treatment plant.
Flow measurement is incorporated into the system, while automated controls manage the principal treatment equipment and processes.
This reduces routine operator intervention while allowing important operating conditions to be readily monitored.
Constant-Pressure Water Supply
In addition to the treatment process itself, HWT supplied a dedicated constant-pressure pumping system for distribution of treated water.
The pump set consists of:
3 × 5.5 kW vertical multistage pumps
and is housed within its own modified shipping container.
The arrangement allows pumps to be automatically staged according to water demand while maintaining the required pressure within the downstream distribution system.
Four-Container Modular Treatment System
The complete installation is housed within four modified 6 m shipping containers.
Containerisation allows a substantial portion of the mechanical, electrical and control installation to be completed under controlled workshop conditions before shipment.
This approach is particularly suited to remote mining operations because site construction requirements can be reduced while the treatment equipment remains protected within robust, transportable structures.
High-duty PVC pipework is used throughout the treatment plant, providing a corrosion-resistant piping system suitable for the water-treatment environment.
Water Treatment for a 2,000-Person Mining Camp
With a design treatment capacity of 270 m³/day, the Sabodala plant has been designed to accommodate a camp population of up to approximately 2,000 people.
This corresponds to an available treatment capacity of approximately 135 litres per person per day at the maximum design population.
The treatment train combines:
Screening → Flocculation → Sand Filtration → AFM Filtration → GAC Filtration → Chlorination → Clean-Water Storage → Constant-Pressure Supply
The result is a robust multi-stage water-treatment system designed specifically for the operational requirements of a large remote mining camp.
HWT Containerised Water Treatment Plants
HWT designs and supplies containerised water treatment systems for mines, construction camps, residential developments and other off-grid applications.
Each treatment process is developed according to the incoming raw-water quality, required production capacity and final treated-water requirements.
For remote installations such as Sabodala, containerisation allows treatment equipment to be assembled, piped, wired and tested before shipment, thereby simplifying installation at the final site.
The 270 m³/day Sabodala installation demonstrates how multiple treatment processes, automation and high-capacity water distribution can be integrated into a compact modular system for a substantial remote population.
Clarifier, filtration and control room
Flocculation before sedimentation