Long-Term Water Savings at BHP Drilling Sites: Legacy Story #2

Oct 1, 2025 | Legacy Stories, Mining

Legacy Stories: A Decade of WaterFleet Solutions

Revisiting proven projects to show how our mobile utility solutions aren’t just built to solve short-term problems but deliver long-term value, cost savings, and compliance that still hold up today.

Originally delivered in 2015, this project helped shape how we deliver clean water solutions today. Here’s how it started…

Then vs Now

  • Then: In 2015, BHP trialed WaterFleet’s mobile water and wastewater systems to improve water quality, reduce hauling, and stay compliant.

  • Now: WaterFleet’s approach has become a proven long-term infrastructure alternative at mining, construction, and industrial sites across the U.S.

long-term water savings at drilling sites

The Problem

BHP’s shale drilling camps needed nonstop access to potable water and sewer services for 25+ personnel. Their traditional setup including bottled water, water trucks, and vacuum-hauled sewage caused:

  • Water quality concerns and bottled water dependency

  • Onsite storage of raw sewage

  • Excessive truck traffic

  • Rising costs

  • Compliance headaches with RCRA, TCEQ, and TRRC

BHP launched a task force to find a safer, smarter, and more cost-effective alternative.

The WaterFleet Solution

WaterFleet deployed a full mobile utility infrastructure:

  • Mobile Water Treatment System

    • Pre-filtration, reverse osmosis, chlorine injection

    • Direct pressurized delivery

    • 24/7 water quality monitoring

    • Ice production, safety showers, and FDA-grade pipe distribution

  • Mobile Wastewater Processing System

    • Collected and treated all sewage onsite

    • Recycled 100% of water for downhole use (dust suppression, cementing, washdown)

    • Reduced hauling and onsite sewage storage

Aerial Photograph of a Water Fleet Setup at a Site

Water and wastewater treatment systems working together onsite

Results

Within 30 days of implementation:

  • 100% pass rate on water and bacteria testing

  • 3.12 million gallons of fresh water saved

  • 3+ million gallons of wastewater recycled

  • 2,000+ truck trips eliminated (equivalent to 100,000+ hauling miles)

  • Seven-figure savings in water and sewer costs

  • 8 sites deployed over 9 months

“What started as a 90-day trial became our new standard across multiple sites.”
— Internal feedback, BHP Billiton Task Force

Why This Still Matters

If you’re still trucking in water and hauling out waste, this isn’t just a story from 2015, it’s a wake-up call. WaterFleet’s mobile infrastructure has proven itself in the field, over time, and under pressure. It’s a long-term solution, even when your operations are temporary.

Want to see how these long-term water savings at drilling sites compare to your current setup?