RGC Mineral Sands Ltd. has developed and operated a prototype water treatment and recovery facility at Geraldton for the past 7 y. It is a stand-alone facility capable of treating a wide variety of acidic industrial effluents and ground waters. Water recovery in excess of 90% is readily achievable, and near potable water (with respect to TDS) is produced. All streams are successfully contained and sludge is stored in synthetic lined solar evaporation dams in accordance with a ＇＇zero discharge＇＇ policy. This paper describes the operating experiences and practices developed for the process, which at the time of commissioning (March 1987) was considered unique, and to the author＇s knowledge the only one in Australia with this combination of features.