Virotec Global Solutions Pty Ltd is pleased to announce that it is offering smart solutions to dam wastewater treatment during the upcoming wet season in Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia. The offer, outlined today by Dr Lee Fergusson, Virotec’s Chief Executive Officer, provides mine operators with a total solution to address the problems associated with over-topping and nappe vibration, stormwater management, unscheduled releases, and potential dam failures due to stormwater and catchment overload.
Dr Fergusson pointed out that any number of chemical reagents can be used in Virotec’s smart solutions, but in all cases they used the “highest degree of proven treatment effectiveness supported by objective and comprehensive evaluation”.
“According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the outlook for November 2011 to February 2012 indicates a wetter season is more likely over large parts of northern, eastern and southwest Australia. A persistently warm Indian Ocean is the main driver behind this outlook, although it is also consistent with the developing La Niña in the Pacific Ocean,” said Dr Fergusson. “With higher-than-expected rainfall at mine sites comes the increased risk of rising dam levels and the threat of over-topping and unscheduled and uncontrolled contaminated stormwater releases. These risks can quickly result in contaminant levels and metal loadings in receiving waters exceeding allowable discharge limits. Virotec is a specialist in treating the contaminants in mine site dam wastewater, including neutralising acidity, reducing heavy metals, and lowering total suspended solids.”
Dr Fergusson went on to say that “Virotec has effectively treated tailings dams, attenuation dams, sediment dams, and process water storage dams at mine sites throughout the world, but with many mines facing an extreme wet season, Virotec has decided to launch its new smart solutions to treat dam wastewater in the tropics. These solutions are comprised of a number of elements, including site and water evaluation, sampling and analysis, plant and equipment, reagent supply, and on-site operators. We can mobilise these resources at a moment’s notice, thereby meeting the demands associated with major wet season events.
“With a decade’s worth of experience in this industry, it is no great surprise to find that our ViroMine Technology can be mobilised quickly to meet any environmental need at a mine site. Given that there are apparently going to be many unexpected storm events throughout the top end of Australia during the next few months, it makes sense to prevent over-topping and other dam problems before they occur. With our smart solutions for treating all types of dam wastewater, Virotec is in a good position to help mining companies manage their water needs in the coming wet season.”
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Virotec Global Solutions Pty Ltd is pleased to announce that it has developed and launched a range of new technology delivery service capabilities related to wastewater treatment. These services include economic solutions for all types of contaminated wastewater treatments, with particular specialisation in projects at remote sites with difficult or novel applications.
Virotec’s wastewater treatment solutions include the traditional remediation of acidity, heavy metals and metalloids, hydrocarbons, algae, odour, nutrients and suspended solids, typically including mine site water bodies and tailings dams, quarries, contaminated lakes, and industrial water bodies.
However, supplementing its ViroMine™ and ViroFlow™ Technologies, the company now has five variously sized chemical dosing plants designed to treat different sizes of water bodies using various reagent types. Virotec can now also design, fabricate and install customised dosing plants for treating water bodies containing less than one million litres to greater than one gigalitre. In addition to its core ViroMine™ and ViroFlow™ Technology reagents, Virotec can also dose other chemical reagents, including all forms of lime, magnesium oxide, zeolites, aluminium sulfate, oxidisers, ferric chloride, sodium hydroxide, PAC’s, coagulants and gypsum.
Daniel Blair, Virotec’s General Manager, pointed out that “all of our field technicians have over five years experience treating contaminated water in remote locations, construction Blue Card, and forklift, loader and excavator tickets. Our field staff has the skills to address every problem associated with work at remote locations, including plumbing, chemical and mechanical troubleshooting.”
Mr Blair emphasized that safe work practices are a priority at Virotec, including the use of internal safety management systems that comply with AS 4801, conducting detailed risk assessments with customers prior to every wastewater treatment application, and outcomes from risk assessments are translated into JSA’s and safe work procedures. In conclusion, Mr Blair stated that “all Virotec’s field staff are trained in safety management, and the company prepares more detailed safety and environmental management plans for larger projects.”
With this expanded range of application services, Virotec is now entering into a range of contracts with consultants and mining companies to implement “non-core” technology solutions and develop its business into new areas of the market and thereby continues to provide a host sustainable outcomes for industry throughout the world.
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