Operations to lay a pipeline to transfer wastewater from a lake around Shahediyeh and Zarch counties in Yazd Province to Mehdiabad Lead and Zinc Complex in the same area are complete, the head of Development Department at the Yazd Regional Water Company said.
“The 100-km pipeline is equipped with three pumps and will transfer about 50 liters of treated sewage per second from Yazd Wastewater Treatment Plant to the complex,” Javad Mahjoubi was also quoted as saying by the Energy Ministry’s news portal.
As soon as more pumps are installed, the transfer capacity will increase.
Costing around $20 million, the project has been implemented by the private sector.
The accumulation of wastewater in a lake around Shahediyeh and Zarch counties had troubled residents and the plan is expected to help them get rid of the sewage stench.
The official noted that tapping into unconventional water resources, including wastewater, has become necessary, especially in parched regions like Yazd.
Mehdiabad Mine is a world-class oxide, sulfide and mixed oxide/sulfide zinc, lead and silver deposit. It has up to 400 million tons of reserves, 70% of which are zinc and the rest lead, silver and barite.
Mahjoubi said the water company annually draws one million cubic meters of water from groundwater resources to supply industries in Yazd Province.
“We have problems allocating water to large industries due to the lack of resources in the province. The best way to replace groundwater for industries is by using treated wastewater. Such projects usually take at least three years,” he said.
The declining pattern of groundwater levels in many regions has become a serious cause of concern.
