/ CASE FILE 03 · EPC DOCUMENTARY · PUBLIC RELEASE

Purifying 5,000 m³ per day of high-turbidity surface water
in the driest desert on earth.

A 5,000 m³/day integrated Lamella Clarification & RO plant engineered, factory-tested, and commissioned for a major copper extraction facility in the Atacama Desert, Chile.

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CAPACITY

5,000m³/d

RAW TURBIDITY

2,500NTU

WATER RECOVERY

92%

UPTIME (12 MO)

99.7%

System Technical Specifications

Engineering Data Sheet

Capacity Range

5,000 m³/day

Modular expansion supported.

Pre-Treatment

ILC + UF

Handles extreme 2,500 NTU spikes.

Operating Pressure

15 - 25 bar

BWRO stack via Grundfos VFD pumps.

Deployment Format

40HQ Container

High-altitude HVAC climate control.

/ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In early 2024, a major copper mining operation in the Atacama Desert (Chile) faced a critical water shortage. Relying on seasonal surface water (flash floods and snowmelt), the raw water was highly turbid, rendering standard filtration useless. WANDONG ENVIRO was contracted to deliver a turnkey containerized clarification and RO plant capable of handling extreme turbidity spikes.

Our engineering team architected a robust pre-treatment solution utilizing our proprietary Integrated Lamella Clarifier (ILC), followed by PVDF Ultrafiltration and a high-recovery BWRO system. By eliminating the need to build massive concrete settling pools at 4,000 meters altitude, the system achieved a payback period of just 1.2 years by ensuring zero downtime in copper processing.

/ MODULE 02 — THE RAW REALITY

The site refused to cooperate.

Three constraints that would have killed a standard industrial RO design. We documented them on day one.

DEADLY CONSTRAINT · 01

TURBIDITY SPIKES · 2,500 NTU

Extreme Turbidity Spikes

During seasonal melts, raw water turbidity hit 2,500 NTU. Standard multi-media sand filters would clog and blind within 2 hours, completely shutting down water production for the mine.

DEADLY CONSTRAINT · 02

WATER SCARCITY · ATACAMA

The Driest Desert on Earth

In the Atacama, water is more valuable than copper. Wasting water through excessive filter backwashing was unacceptable. Maximum system recovery (>90%) was a mandatory KPI.

DEADLY CONSTRAINT · 03

ELEVATION · 4,000 METERS

High Altitude & Zero Civil Work

At 4,000m elevation, intense UV degrades standard PVC, and thin air causes standard blowers to overheat. Pouring massive concrete clarifier pools on-site was logistically impossible.

/ MODULE 03 — THE ENGINEERED CURE

We didn't just supply equipment.
We engineered a paradigm shift.

Here is exactly how our engineering team neutralized the site's deadly constraints.

CURE FOR CONSTRAINT 01

Integrated Lamella Clarifier (ILC)

We bypassed standard sand filters and deployed our containerized Lamella Clarifier skid. It combines flash coagulation and inclined-plate sedimentation, effortlessly dropping 2,500 NTU raw water to < 10 NTU before it even reaches the fine filters.

CURE FOR CONSTRAINT 02

Heavy-Duty PVDF Ultrafiltration

To maximize recovery and protect the RO, we integrated an outside-in PVDF Ultrafiltration (UF) stage. Its 0.1μm absolute barrier guarantees an SDI < 2.5, allowing the downstream RO to operate at peak flux without frequent backwashing.

CURE FOR CONSTRAINT 03

High-Altitude Containerization

The entire plant was built into ISO High-Cube containers painted with UV-resistant C5-M marine epoxy. We oversized the aeration blowers to compensate for thin air at 4,000m, and pre-wired the Siemens PLC in a climate-controlled cabinet. Zero concrete pools required.

/ MODULE 04 — ENGINEERING BLUEPRINT

A 5-stage train designed for extreme surface water.

We engineered a highly resilient pre-treatment architecture. By utilizing Lamella clarification followed by Ultrafiltration, we completely insulated the delicate RO membranes from catastrophic turbidity spikes.

01 //

Coagulation & Flocculation

Automated PAC/PAM dosing to bind fine suspended solids.
02 //

Integrated Lamella Clarifier (ILC)

Inclined-plate settling drops turbidity from 2,500 NTU to < 10 NTU.
03 //

PVDF Ultrafiltration (UF)

0.1μm absolute barrier. Guarantees SDI₁₅ < 2.5 for RO protection.
04 //

Single-Pass BWRO Stack

Dow BW30 elements. Rejects 99.5% of dissolved salts and heavy metals.

3D CAD / P&ID DRAWING

Full skid isometric CAD & P&ID (DWG-WD-2024-CL-PID-003)
available during technical consultation.

FIG. 04.1 — PROCESS BLOCK FLOW EXCERPT

/ MODULE 04.5 — THE PARAMETER SHIFT

The Chemical Verdict.

Parameter	Feed Water (Raw)	Permeate (Output)	Target Standard
Turbidity (NTU)	2,500 NTU (Spikes)	< 0.1 NTU	< 1.0 NTU
Total Suspended Solids (TSS)	1,200 mg/L	Not Detected	< 5.0 mg/L
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)	3,500 mg/L	< 50 mg/L	< 500 mg/L
Silt Density Index (SDI₁₅)	> 15.0	< 2.5	N/A (RO Feed < 3)

// MODULE 05 — FACTORY ACCEPTANCE TEST

Witnessed FAT. Simulated Turbidity.

FAT DATE: 2024-04-12 → 2024-04-15

WITNESS: Client QA via Video Link

RESULT: PASS · 0 NCR

PLAY FAT HIGHLIGHTS

REC ● WANDONG WORKSHOP 01 · BAY A · 14.04.2024 10:15

SIMULATED FEED

Kaolin Clay · 3000 NTU

UF OUTLET SDI

1.8 (Pass)

UF TMP

< 0.08 MPa

RO PERMEATE

42 ppm TDS

// MODULE 06 — BILL OF MATERIALS (EXCERPT)

The physical evidence.

Every line item below is in-service in Chile today. 100% Tier-1 global supply chain.

P/N · WD-ILC-5000

Integrated Lamella Clarifier

Carbon Steel · Epoxy Coated · Inclined Plates

P/N · WD-UF-5000

PVDF UF Skid

Outside-In Hollow Fiber · 0.1μm

P/N · WD-BWRO-5000

BWRO Skid (Dow BW30)

Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis · Grundfos Pump

P/N · WD-DOS-PAC

PAC/PAM Dosing Skid

Automated Coagulation Control (SEKO Pumps)

P/N · WD-SCADA-S7

Siemens PLC Control Panel

S7-1500 PLC + 12" HMI + Remote IoT

P/N · WD-CTR-40HQ-UV

UV-Resistant 40HQ Container

C5-M Painted, High-Altitude Blower Specs

/ MODULE 07 — DEPLOYMENT DIARY

16 weeks. 4 milestones. Documented.

WEEKS 1-4 · DESIGN

Process Engineering

Analyzed raw water data showing 2,500 NTU spikes. Designed the Integrated Lamella Clarifier (ILC) to buffer the RO system.

Lamella Clarifier and UF System Engineering Design

WEEKS 5-10 · FABRICATION

Fabrication & Factory Acceptance

Lamella plates welded and epoxy-coated. Full system wet-tested with simulated high-turbidity water (Kaolin clay).

Containerized Water Plant Fabrication and FAT Testing

WEEKS 11-14 · TRANSIT

Ocean Freight & Inland Trucking

Shipped via standard 40HQ containers to Chile, followed by heavy-duty trucking up to 4,000m elevation in the Atacama.

Shipping Containerized Water Treatment Plant to Chile

WEEK 16 · GO-LIVE

Commissioning & Handover

System powered on. ILC successfully handled a simulated 2,000 NTU spike, protecting the RO. Copper processing resumed at full capacity.

Commissioning of 5000m3/day Copper Mine Water Plant

/ MODULE 08 — FINANCIAL VERDICT

The ledger doesn't lie.

Verified by mine finance team. 12-month post-commissioning data.

CAPEX SAVED

\$1.2M

vs. building massive concrete clarifier pools on-site at 4,000m altitude.

FRESHWATER COST

\$0.35/m³

Achieved through 92% high-recovery design, minimizing water waste in the desert.

VERIFIED

PAYBACK PERIOD

1.2 yrs

Driven by zero downtime in copper processing due to water shortages.

*Includes complete P&ID, BOM excerpt, and detailed OPEX calculation model.

/ MODULE 09 — THE CROSS-BORDER STANDARD

No Matter the Industry,
Our Baseline Stays the Same.

1. Zero Civil Work

100% skid-mounted and containerized. No site construction, no foundations, no delays.

2. Factory-Direct

No middlemen. No markup chains. The lowest Total Cost of Ownership in the industry.

3. 100% FAT Tested

Video-verified Factory Acceptance Testing before shipping. What you see is what you get.

4. Lifetime Support

Zero downtime. We provide 24/7 video troubleshooting and fast-track global air-freight for 100% genuine parts.

/ MODULE 10 — VOICE OF CLIENT & TECH Q&A

Words from the men who signed the cheque.

Building concrete clarifier pools at 4,000 meters altitude was impossible. WANDONG's containerized lamella clarifiers saved the project timeline. When the flash floods hit and turbidity spiked, the RO system didn't even flinch.

CITATION

Project Director

Major Copper Mine · Atacama

Q.01 · PRE-TREATMENT

Why use a Lamella Clarifier instead of standard sand filters?

Standard sand filters blind rapidly when turbidity exceeds 50 NTU. Our Integrated Lamella Clarifier (ILC) uses inclined plates to multiply the settling area, effortlessly handling spikes up to 3,000 NTU and protecting downstream equipment.

Q.02 · ALTITUDE

How does 4,000m elevation affect the equipment?

Thin air reduces cooling efficiency for motors and PLCs. We oversized all blowers and integrated climate-controlled HVAC systems into the containers to ensure the Siemens PLCs and Grundfos pumps operate within safe thermal limits.

Q.03 · INSTALLATION

We lack local engineers. How do we install it?

100% Plug & Play. We finish all internal piping and electrical wiring in our China factory. Your local plumbers simply connect the raw water inlet and power supply. We also provide 24/7 video guidance.

Q.04 · LOGISTICS

How did you ship this massive plant to the Andes?

The entire 5,000 m³/day plant was modularized into standard 40-foot High Cube (40HQ) containers. This eliminated the need for expensive flat-rack shipping or oversized inland trucking permits, allowing standard trucks to navigate the narrow mountain roads.

Q.05 · MEMBRANE LIFESPAN

What is the lifespan of the UF membranes in this muddy water?

Because the Lamella Clarifier removes 95% of the bulk solids first, the PVDF Ultrafiltration membranes only handle the fine polishing. Combined with our automated Chemically Enhanced Backwash (CEB) logic, the UF membranes are projected to last 3 to 5 years before replacement.

Q.06 · FINANCIALS

Can we get the full financial ROI breakdown?

Yes. The 1.2-year payback period is fully documented. Please click the "Download Project Dossier" button at the top or bottom of this page to receive the complete PDF, which includes the detailed OPEX vs. CAPEX calculation model.

MODULE 11 · PROOF OF LIFE · LIVE SCADA SNAPSHOT

UPDATED 60s AGO

FLOW NOW

208.5 m³/h

PERMEATE TDS

42 ppm

RECOVERY

92.0%

DATA SOURCE: WANDONG NOC · Tag stream WD-CL-2024 · SHA-256 signed at minute boundary.
Available for client due-diligence walkthrough.

Core Systems Deployed in this Project:

Industrial RO Systems Ultrafiltration (UF) Systems

// Explore Similar Environments

-38°C Extreme Cold

Yukon Gold Mine ZLD

38,500 ppm TDS

Luxury Resort SWRO Plant

// MODULE 13 — INITIATE PROTOCOL

STOP ADAPTING TO EQUIPMENT.
LET IT ADAPT TO YOUR INDUSTRY.

Every sector faces unique discharge limits and spatial constraints. Don't settle for off-the-shelf compromises. Submit your exact parameters, and our engineering team will architect a custom, zero-civil-work solution guaranteed to perform.

INITIAL RESPONSE

1-ON-1

CUSTOM PROPOSAL

CONSULTATION FEE

// SECURE YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN

Request Firm Quote & 3D Layout

Receive a custom P&ID and Factory-Direct project budget within 48 hours.

WORK EMAIL *

CAPACITY *

RAW SOURCE

RAW WATER REPORT (TDS, BOD, ETC.)

DROP FILE OR CLICK

.PDF / .XLSX / .CSV / MAX 10MB

NOTES & TARGET OUTPUT STANDARD

AVG. RESPONSE: < 4 HRS · NDA AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

Purifying 5,000 m³ per day of high-turbidity surface water in the driest desert on earth.