ASARCO Incorporated

Year Submitted: 2003

Process: Wastewater Treatment

Industry: Metals

Wastes Reduced: Copper

Substance: Copper

Equipment: Retention Pond

Location: Amarillo Copper Refinery (ACR) TX

No. of employees: 610

Contact: Pat Donovan

Phone: (806) 381-3134

Description:

The storm water runoff at this site has historically been managed as two parts: east side runoff and west side runoff. All of the runoff is channeled via earthen ditches into a series of earthen retention ponds. The runoff from the east side of the plant contains metals, primarily copper. This project was conceived so that ASARCO can recover the metals and reuse the water.

P2 Application:

The storm water runoff utilization project will catch the east side runoff in a double lined pond of approximately five million gallon capacity. This pond will have leak detection and will allow water to run freely into it due to the elevations of the property and ditches. The water will be pumped to a filter press and then to the boiler plant for use as makeup water.

Environmental Benefits:

Water is a vital resource in the Texas panhandle. This project will reduce the amount of water that is currently pumped from the Ogallalla aquifer and from Lake Meredith for use at ASARCO. The water can be used beneficially rather than be lost to evaporation. Water conservation is a very sound environmental practice

Details of Reductions

Additional Information :

When there is a storm event, there will be a significant savings in the amount of water purchased from the city. A two year storm event will generate 4.7 million gallons of runoff. This runoff is softer water than the purchased lake water and should also create a savings in water treatment at the boiler plant.

Source: TCEQ