The eMalahleni water reclamation plant, which tackles the environ- mental challenges associated with water discharge from operating and closed mines, has set a benchmark for treating mine water, with a similar project being investigated in South America.

The eMalahleni water reclamation plant is a public–private partnership that includes the eMalahleni local municipality and coal-mining companies BHP Billiton Energy Coal South Africa (Becsa) and Anglo Coal. The water treatment plant removes water from the underground workings of four mines, the nonoperational Becsa South Witbank colliery and three operating Anglo Coal mines, and desalinates it to augment the potable water supply to the municipality’s water-stressed reservoirs.

The plant, which began supplying potable water to the eMalahleni local municipality in October 2007, treats and converts mine water to a quality suitable for drinking. The researchers, engineering teams and decision-makers involved in the project drew on extensive research to deliver a plant design that recovers 99% of the feed to the plant.

The plant has achieved the design capacity of 20-million litres a day. It is able to supply 20% of the local community’s daily water requirements.

The project tackles the environmental challenges associated with water discharge from operating and closed mines, while benefiting the local community by supplementing its currently low domestic water supply and helping to meet its growing commercial and industrial water needs.

For Becsa, this initiative provides a long-term, sustainable solution to managing water from South Witbank colliery.

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