TU/NALPAS: Water treatment to total drainage management
- NALCO Chemical Co., Plano, TX (United States)
- Texas Utilities Mining Company, Tatum, TX (United States)
Water quality management is a critical task in the mining industry. Wastewater discharge from surface mining is required by Federal and State regulations to be compliant with all wastewater permits. The Texas Coal Mining Regulations state: {open_quotes}no...water quality statutes, regulations, standards, or effluent limitations be violated.{close_quotes} While guidelines are provided for meeting these standards, the operator must develop a strategy that best fits a specific site. During the past decade many techniques have been researched to satisfy objectives and regulations ranging from physical treatment (i.e., settling ponds) to chemical treatment. Research led to the conclusion that a combination of methods would best suit the water quality objectives for Texas Utilities in Northeast Texas. A partnering relationship was developed between a major chemical manufacturer and the mining company, investigating from a scientific standpoint, water properties, soil properties, geographic factors, and polymer characteristics. The data collected during a study period was done in conjunction with the actual water treatment program using a package system (TU/NALPAS). The system proved to be highly reliable, continually monitoring parameters and immediately adjusting treatment to match constantly changing water conditions. Parameters including clarity, water volume, peak flow, and pH have been monitored and used in optimizing the logic system. The system has also been used in remote areas by the addition of solar power and radio-controlled activation. This systematic approach has changed difficult and labor intensive water treatment to one which is automated and provides for reliable and cost effective mine drainage management.
- OSTI ID:
- 613814
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9705128-; TRN: 98:001000-0003
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 14. annual national meeting of the American Society for Surface Mining and Reclamation (ASSMR), Austin, TX (United States), 10-15 May 1997; Other Information: PBD: 1997; Related Information: Is Part Of Vision 2000: An environmental commitment; Brandt, J.E.; Galevotic, J.R.; Kost, L.; Trouart, J. [eds.]; PB: 799 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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