Portable Treatment Systems
Earth Systems has developed an innovative range of portable water treatment solutions based on our patented Neutra-Mill technology. These are portable, light-weight systems that are easily transported between sites for short term once-off and/or long term routine treatment applications. They can also be coupled to work with or supplement existing treatment plants. A range of options enable the systems to operate under a wide range of environmental conditions, in difficult and remote locations and with minimal support.
Available as skid-mounted, trailer-mounted or floating on water “direct dosing” systems they are suitable for:
- Total treatment, pre-treatment or emergency response tasks
- Long and short term treatment tasks
- A wide range of reagents and water quality treatment tasks
- Treatment across multiple sites
- Treatment at remote and decommissioned sites with minimal infrastructure
- Treatment during scheduled maintenance periods and breakdowns
Suitable for a wide range of water treatment tasks the systems are designed to be deployed on (floating water based systems) or adjacent to the water body requiring treatment. Treatment takes place “in-situ” on the water body requiring treatment minimizing the need for costly pumping and piping infrastructure and treatment sludge handling.
Case Studies
Earth Systems’ success in resolving water treatment issues is well evidenced by the following case studies.
- Toxic Metal Reduction – Australia
- Drinking Water – Australia
- Reduction in Treatment Costs – USA
- Treatment for Water Re-use – Indonesia
- Wastewater/Odour Control – Australia
- Stormwater Turbidity – Indonesia
- Reduced Infrastructure Requirements – Australia
Toxic Metal Reduction – Australia
An abandoned gold mine with a copper-rich pit lake required rehabilitation. The site was remote and no infrastructure was available. A portable Multi-Purpose Neutra-Mill was transported to the site, using a conventional vehicle and trailer, and the pit lake treated to reduce copper levels. The treated water satisfied requirements for discharge to a nearby creek flowing through a national park.
A single portable Turbidity Mill is used as a coagulation/flocculation system for the drinking water of five separate towns in central Victoria, Australia. Significant reductions in capital requirements and operating costs were achieved. The portability of the system also provides managers of the water supply assets with much greater flexibility in their operations.
Reduction in Treatment Costs – USA
The tailings pond at a heap leach gold mine in the US was undergoing regular pH adjustment using liquid sodium hydroxide. A trial at the site demonstrated potential annual reagent cost savings of US$400,000 if the existing sodium hydroxide system was replaced by a portable Multi Purpose Neutra-Mill dispensing hydrated lime.
Treatment for Water Re-use – Indonesia
Acidic stormwater collection ponds at a coal loading facility in Indonesia are treated with a Multi Purpose Neutra-Mill to correct pH. The treated water is re-used for dust suppression within the loading facility, reducing the need for additional clean water to be brought on to site.
Wastewater/Odour Control – Australia
Acidic leachate from a landfill was emitting offensive and toxic hydrogen sulphide odours and attracting complaints from residents and the attention of the local environmental protection authority. The water was treated using a portable Multi Purpose Neutra-Mill to raise the pH to 10.5 within 48 hours. Suspended solids, including bacteria were settled within the impoundments and the treated water was suitable for re-use at a nearby sand mine.
Stormwater Turbidity – Indonesia
A portable Turbidity Mill is used at a large coal mine in the tropics to reduce the turbidity in collected stormwater. Following treatment the stormwater is either discharged offsite or reused onsite. The unit is easily transported between the various water bodies requiring treatment. Treatment is conducted using alum (aluminium sulphate hydrate) and hydrated lime.
Reduced Infrastructure Requirements – Australia
A base metal mine on ‘care and maintenance’ needed to raise the pH of a 180 million litre tailings dam. A portable Multi Purpose Neutra-Mill was placed directly in the tailings dam and dispensed 180 tonnes of hydrated lime to raise the pH from 2.8 to 8.0. Treatment was conducted by the 2 site staff in conjunction with their daily care and maintenance tasks.
