WestWater have successfully won a tender with Rio Tinto Iron Ore (Pilbara Iron Company) for the design and construction of a containerised Electro-chlorination facility for the Hope Downs 1 mine site in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

RTIO currently dose 12.5% Sodium Hypochlorite into the water supply at the Hope Downs 1 mine site (approximately 10L/day, equating to 1kg/day of 100% chlorine solution), however to minimise chemical handling risks to their operators and to improve reliability of the disinfection process, we will be upgrading their water treatment facility to a new Hyprolyser Electro-chlorination system. Hyprolysers utilise brine and DC current to generate 0.6% Sodium Hypochlorite on site.

Two Hyprolyser iSEC 90 Electro-chlorinators will be housed within a 40-foot transportable building, and will have capacity to produce 2.2kg/day of 100% chlorine solution. The following equipment will also be installed as part of this new Electro-chlorination package: 225kg brine tank; air blower; water softeners; water chillers; 2000L chemical storage tank; hydrogen leak detection system; Grundfos DDA dose pumps; Endress & Hauser chlorine, pH and turbidity analysers; sample return system; recirculation system; safety shower & eyewash; and ancillary instrumentation for local and remote monitoring.

All aspects of the works will be completed in accordance with RTIO design standards and Australian Standards.

The project is expected to reach Practical Completion by November 2026.