Potosi Mining/Waste Water Clean up – 50 Families

Located in the high and dry area in Southern Bolivia in the Potosi Dept.

(Initial Test Project ~ $70,000. If successful a multi-million dollar project is possible in the future)

The Center for Restoration of Ecosystems and Watersheds at the Civil Engineering Department (CREW) at the University of Oklahoma is partnering with EIA to research and do a test run on using a ‘wetlands’ system for cleaning up the waste water which flows out of heavy metal mines in Bolivia.

This contaminated water is unfit for human consumption, but is still often used for irrigation and for watering domestic animals.

The passive treatment systems developed by CREW rely on naturally occurring ecosystem processes to improve water quality.  The eventual goal is to help clean up the waters coming from the famed Cerro Rico mines near Potosi.

These mines provided most of the silver for the Spanish in the 16th century (famously stolen by pirates in the Caribbean), as well as tin, lead, zinc and other metals.

The first large passive treatment project will probably involve one full-time EIA engineer to be on site for management and maintenance purposes within the next few years.

Project Update

CREW Director Dr. Robert Nairn and 4 students were in Bolivia in late July 2008 for assessment and the selection of a test site. It appears that we will be working on the Kumurana Mine near Potosi, working with the local mine owner. We have also looked into the possibility of working in Zamora which is near Anchoraimes on an abandoned mine there. Dr. Nairn also taught a short course on the wetlands clean up at the Tomas Frias University in Potosi. Milton, Ruben provided logistics and support for these projects.

CREW working with EWB-OU will be back for additional work during the summer of 2009.