Frac water recovery is a complex process that requires specialized equipment because of the high level of contamination of the frac waste water. The treatment of frac waste water was initially done by sewage treatment plants which did not have the best equipment to treat the toxic chemicals that were found in the wastewater.
Therefore, a new technology was improvised that is actually based on desalinization technology known as membrane distillation. The method uses less water is much cheaper compared to the previous method where millions of gallons were required to dilute the polluted water.
The process of frac water recovery has been made efficient with the aid of the new technology; however, there are steps that must be followed before accepting any fracking waste water. First, you need to determine the frac waste water constituents, proposed delivery method, volume and frequency.
You need to consider the effects of the treatment of both biosolids and final effluent quality. The pretreatment that the frac waste water has undergone should also be determined. And lastly, you need to discuss NPDES requirements and regulations with EPA and state regulatory agency.
There are also several factors that are considered before accepting any frac waste water for treatment. This includes the characteristics of the frac water, which contains a wide range of constituents. The components may include biocides, surfactants and oils which results from spillage.
There are also natural contaminants such as radium, bromide, calcium, radioactive materials and other salts that are absorbed by water during hydraulic fracking. The constituents found on frac waste water vary depending on waste water volume and drilling operation.
The frac waste water may contain a high amount of organic material and nitrogen depending on whether it has been pretreated or not. The organic matter in the frac waste water can be easily removed by simple waste water treatment procedures which can be provided by available sewage treatment companies. However, if the frac waste water has not been pretreated, you will need to use advanced technology.
Several processes that have been used in treating acid mine discharges have also been implemented in the treatment and recovery of frac water. These services are offered by a number of companies. Although frac water recovery is a complex process, it is very important because frac waste water causes environmental pollution and is harmful to humans as well as marine life.
Please take a look at to see what they are doing to conserve natural resources through decontamination, disposal and fluid concentration.
