Water — Programs and Actions
At Alcoa Canada Primary Metals, our facilities are already equipped with systems for reducing water consumption and wastewater generation. Treatment systems allow water to be recycled in our processes. Although there is still some wastewater generated, there is less of it, and it is treated and regularly checked to ensure we meet required standards while minimizing our environmental impact. One of our smelters, Deschambault, is equipped with a zero process water discharge system.
The Baie-Comeau and Bécancour smelters run a closed-loop water management system—which produces zero waste water—in their Carbon sectors. The cooling waters are recycled and treated at the casthouse, and only the treated purge waters are discharged into the environment.
The consumption of water at the Deschambault Smelter, whether for industrial use or for drinking, is low. This is because of the design features of this plant, which is equipped with a recycling and zero-discharge system for process water used in the Electrode sector and casthouse. The plant collects water for industrial use from rain that falls on the site.
To analyze the potential for reducing water consumption at a site, we first establish a detailed water use report for the entire operation. From this study, the facility planning staff can isolate and prioritize conservation opportunities and act on those easiest to achieve.
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Water
Learn more about Alcoa water programs around the world.
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