Thursday, November 13, 2025
Vancouver-based BQE Water Inc. has completed commissioning of a new full-scale Selen-IX water treatment plant at the Coeur Wharf Mine in South Dakota, marking the fastest implementation of the company’s technology to date.
The plant passed its performance tests and entered routine operation just 20 months after design engineering began—setting a record timeline for BQE Water. It is desgined to treat between 150 and 400 gallons of influent water per minute, reducing selenium concentrations to below five parts per billion (ppb) before discharge.
Testing included operations under a range of flow rates and with selenium concentrations spiked to double typical levels to verify system performance. The facility will now operate under BQE Water’s long-term technical support program to maintain compliance with environmental regulations.
BQE Water provides water treatment and management services for the mining, smelting and refining industries. The company’s Selen-IX™ technology was selected for the Coeur Wharf Mine over biological treatment systems for its ability to meet discharge limits directly at the end of the pipe without dilution, function effectively in cold temperatures, handle intermittent flows and minimize residue management costs.
“I am very proud of our technical team for delivering yet another Selen-IX™ plant safely and in record time,” said David Kratochvil, president and CEO of BQE Water. “The project showcases BQE Water’s agility and the capability of the patented Selen-IX technology, which enabled the mine site to start discharging clean water in just 20 months from the start of engineering.”
Jasmine McCauley, environmental manager at Coeur Mining, said the new plant represents a key part of the company’s ongoing commitment to environmental protection. “We truly appreciate BQE Water’s expertise and capabilities to meet our environmental commitments quickly and look forward to continuing to work with BQE as our technical partner,” she said.
Featured image: CNW Group/BQE Water Inc.
