"We initiated startup on Oct. 19 and we're going through a series of tests of each piece of equipment," said Louis Bonasso, president of AOP Clearwater and of Appalachian Oil Purchasers. "Operations will be forthcoming over the next 10 days as the final testing of equipment is completed."

Bonasso explained the multi-phase evaporation process that his facility uses.

The water goes first through a settling basin, then bag filters, then carbon filters to remove the heavy metals, sand and silt.

Then, he said, "if you envisioned taking the raw water and boiling it multiple times, that's what a multi-phase evaporator does. Each time it passes through a stage, you get more water of the total fluid and the constituents left behind should be sodium chloride, which is salt."

The sludge has been tested and found to be non-hazardous and will be moved every couple of weeks to a local landfill.

"The salt, if the good Lord's willing and the snow flies, we're going to try to sell it as road salt," he said.

The facility employs 16 people and can process about 5,000 barrels of water per day.

AOP will charge $6 per 42-gallon barrel, about 14.3 cents per gallon, with return of 80 percent of the water to the producer for re-use; the price without return is $5 per barrel or about 12 cents/gallon.

The producer is responsible for hauling.

Bonasso said he would consider expanding the current facility's site.

Although he does not know how many gas wells are being drilled in the region at this time, he keeps track of permitting activity and is in frequent contact with producers in the area.

"We are getting a lot of calls," he said. "I'm very grateful and thankful that the phone's ringing."