HWT supplied and installed a containerised sewage treatment plant in Saudi Arabia for a remote mining operation. The plant has been designed to treat 12 m³/day of domestic sewage and incorporates biological treatment, nitrogen removal, final treatment and treated-water reuse within a compact, automated system.
The biological treatment process is housed within a modified 6 m shipping container, making the plant particularly suitable for the requirements of a remote mining operation. Furthermore, the modular construction allows much of the treatment system to be manufactured and assembled before delivery to site.
The plant has been designed for reliable operation with minimal operator intervention.
Sewage Collection and Transfer
Raw sewage is collected in a dedicated sewage collection sump, which was included within the HWT scope of supply.
From the collection sump, sewage is pumped to the treatment plant at a controlled rate. The transfer system therefore provides a reliable connection between the mine’s sewage collection infrastructure and the biological treatment process.
Containerised Sewage Treatment Plant Saudi Arabia
Biological wastewater treatment takes place within a modified 6 m shipping container.
The treatment process has been designed to remove both organic material and dissolved nitrogen compounds from the wastewater. Biological processes are used to convert the incoming pollutants into forms that can subsequently be removed from the treated water.
By integrating the principal biological treatment processes within a shipping container, a compact treatment plant has been produced with a relatively small site footprint.
Containerisation also provides protection for the treatment equipment while allowing the plant to be substantially assembled before being transported to the mine.
Treated Sewage Water Reuse
Water reuse formed an important part of the treatment philosophy.
Rather than regarding treated sewage simply as a waste stream requiring disposal, the treated water can be reused for several non-potable applications at the mine.
These include:
- Irrigation
- Toilet flushing
- Dust suppression
- Fire-control water
Where reuse is not required, provision can be made for the safe discharge of treated effluent to the environment, subject to the applicable local requirements.
This approach allows treated wastewater to become a useful water resource, which is particularly beneficial at remote and water-constrained sites.
Treated Water Quality
The treatment plant was designed to produce treated water compliant with the South African Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) General Limit specified for the project.
The DWS General Limit provides limits for a range of physical, chemical and microbiological parameters associated with wastewater discharge.
Read more: DWS General and Special Limits.
For an installation outside South Africa, the applicable local environmental and reuse requirements should also be considered when determining final treated-water quality requirements.
Fully Automated Sewage Treatment
The Saudi Arabian mining installation was designed as a fully automated sewage treatment system.
Instrumentation and process controls are incorporated so that routine treatment functions can be performed automatically. Consequently, day-to-day operator involvement can be kept to a minimum while the essential treatment processes remain controlled.
This is particularly advantageous for mining and other remote installations where dedicated wastewater-treatment personnel may not always be available.
Compact Treatment for Remote Mining Operations
Mining operations frequently require infrastructure to be established in locations where conventional municipal sewage services are unavailable.
Containerised sewage treatment provides a practical solution because the treatment process can be engineered as a compact modular package and transported to the point of use.
For this project, a treatment capacity of 12 m³/day was provided within a system centred around a single modified 6 m shipping container.
The result is a compact sewage treatment installation designed around three important requirements:
reliable biological treatment, minimal operator intervention and beneficial reuse of treated water.
HWT Containerised Sewage Treatment Plants
HWT designs and supplies sewage treatment plants for mines, construction camps, residential developments, farms, lodges, industrial sites and other off-grid applications.
Plant configuration is selected according to the sewage flow, incoming wastewater characteristics, required treated-water quality and intended reuse or disposal route.
Where appropriate, treatment systems can be supplied in modified shipping
Here is the pump sump – to be installed nearby
