Pilot-scale demonstration for the bioremediation of nitrate contaminated water in cold climate

A mining client located in an area where the winter temperatures often drop below zero degrees contracted iWater to demonstrate the biological treatment of nitrate contaminated water from their return water dam.

Process design challenge included maintaining the treatment temperature above 17 ⁰C, selecting a cost-effective donor and ensuring that the biological nitrate removal process does not stall at nitrite which is a more toxic intermediary product in the denitrification process.

iWater installed a demonstration plant on the mine and treated on average 10 000 l/day, successfully achieving > 90 % nitrate reduction to achieve an effluent quality which is be low the release quality objectives.

Pilot-scale demonstration for the bioremediation of nitrate contaminated water in cold climate

A mining client located in an area where the winter temperatures often drop below zero degrees contracted iWater to demonstrate the biological treatment of nitrate contaminated water from their return water dam.

Process design challenge included maintaining the treatment temperature above 17 ⁰C, selecting a cost-effective donor and ensuring that the biological nitrate removal process does not stall at nitrite which is a more toxic intermediary product in the denitrification process.

iWater installed a demonstration plant on the mine and treated on average 10 000 l/day, successfully achieving > 90 % nitrate reduction to achieve an effluent quality which is be low the release quality objectives.