Advanced treatment recycles effluent for mining expansion

摘要

The City of Arequipa, Peru's second largest city and home to more than one million people, is located in a very arid region of southern Peru within the Rio Chili hydrological basin. Arequipa has grown significantly over the last two decades, which has created challenges in allocating limited water resources. Agriculture and mining, including the Cerro Verde copper and molybdenum mine located approximately 30 kilometers southwest of Arequipa, have been the primary economic drivers in Arequipa. However, both are significant consumers of water. In 2009, Cerro Verde approached city leaders with a proposed multi-billion dollar expansion project that would triple its production capacity. Water was a critical component of the expansion, and it was estimated that an additional allocation of 1.0 cubic meters per second (m~3/s) would be required. Water authorities, including SEDAPAR, the local water and wastewater utility provider, were challenged with finding a way to provide additional water resources for the expansion while continuing to act in the best interests of the agricultural community and the environment.