30 MAY 2013Bizjournals.com
Alcoa completes water recycling project
Edited by : AL CIRCLE
2 min read
Aloca Inc. and The Saudi Arabian Mining Co. (Ma'aden) announced the completion of its engineered wetlands wastewater management system in Saudi Arabia.
The first-of-its-kind system will reduce water demand by nearly 2 million U.S. gallons per day and is expected to save more than $7 million annually that would otherwise be spent purchasing fresh water.
The technology, which was designed and engineered at the Pittsburgh-based Alcoa Technical Center, collects sanitary and industrial wastewater, cleans the water, and disinfects the water without the use of chemicals or the creation of water discharge and odors associated with conventional tank systems.
The water will then be reused in the manufacturing process and for irrigation at the Ma’aden-Alcoa aluminum complex at Ras Al Khair. The complex includes a refinery, smelter and rolling mill.
"(Sustainable Development is) a critical component of our operating excellence that will enable Ma’aden Aluminium to become the world's lowest-cost producer of primary aluminum, alumina and aluminum products, with access to growing markets in the Middle East and beyond," Abdulaziz A. Al Harbi, President of Ma’aden said in a released statement.
The technology, known as a Natural Engineered Wastewater Treatment system, was developed to mimic the physical, chemical and biological processes of natural wetlands.
The project is expected to be fully operational by the end of July and the technology is being considered for other wastewater treatment applications throughout Saudi Arabia.
The first-of-its-kind system will reduce water demand by nearly 2 million U.S. gallons per day and is expected to save more than $7 million annually that would otherwise be spent purchasing fresh water.
The technology, which was designed and engineered at the Pittsburgh-based Alcoa Technical Center, collects sanitary and industrial wastewater, cleans the water, and disinfects the water without the use of chemicals or the creation of water discharge and odors associated with conventional tank systems.
The water will then be reused in the manufacturing process and for irrigation at the Ma’aden-Alcoa aluminum complex at Ras Al Khair. The complex includes a refinery, smelter and rolling mill.
"(Sustainable Development is) a critical component of our operating excellence that will enable Ma’aden Aluminium to become the world's lowest-cost producer of primary aluminum, alumina and aluminum products, with access to growing markets in the Middle East and beyond," Abdulaziz A. Al Harbi, President of Ma’aden said in a released statement.
The technology, known as a Natural Engineered Wastewater Treatment system, was developed to mimic the physical, chemical and biological processes of natural wetlands.
The project is expected to be fully operational by the end of July and the technology is being considered for other wastewater treatment applications throughout Saudi Arabia.
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