A remote submerged chain conveyor system for separating particles from a coal ash/water slurry conveyed from one or more remotely located boiler units, comprising: a tank forming an ash holding section, a dewatering section and an ash settling section, the ash holding section adapted for receiving the slurry and defining first and second opposite ends, the dewatering section extending from the first end of the ash holding section and including an incline for dewatering the slurry, the ash settling section extending from the second end of the ash holding section, the ash settling section being in the form of an elongated trough connected with the ash holding section at a proximal end and having a discharge drain trough at near an opposite distal end, the ash holding section, the dewatering section, and the ash settling section being oriented in a generally linear arrangement wherein a net flow of water from the ash/water slurry is in a direction from the proximal end, through the ash settling section, toward the distal end, and out of the drain trough, an endless drag chain moving along the bottom of the ash settling section and the ash holding section and along the dewatering section and conveying the particles settling from the slurry to the dewatering section, wherein the drag chain has an upper path for moving solids and a lower return path, the upper path causing the solids to move against the general flow of water through the system, and wherein the dewatering section is an inclined portion of the drag chain, and a containment plate positioned between the ash holding section and the ash settling section and having perforations for containing accumulated particles in the ash holding section. a tank forming an ash holding section, a dewatering section and an ash settling section, the ash holding section adapted for receiving the slurry and defining first and second opposite ends, the dewatering section extending from the first end of the ash holding section and including an incline for dewatering the slurry, the ash settling section extending from the second end of the ash holding section, the ash settling section being in the form of an elongated trough connected with the ash holding section at a proximal end and having a discharge drain trough at near an opposite distal end, the ash holding section, the dewatering section, and the ash settling section being oriented in a generally linear arrangement wherein a net flow of water from the ash/water slurry is in a direction from the proximal end, through the ash settling section, toward the distal end, and out of the drain trough, an endless drag chain moving along the bottom of the ash settling section and the ash holding section and along the dewatering section and conveying the particles settling from the slurry to the dewatering section, wherein the drag chain has an upper path for moving solids and a lower return path, the upper path causing the solids to move against the general flow of water through the system, and wherein the dewatering section is an inclined portion of the drag chain, and a containment plate positioned between the ash holding section and the ash settling section and having perforations for containing accumulated particles in the ash holding section.