Sarina Water Recycling Facility (SWRF) was commissioned in November 2014 and features a Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) using the five stage Bardenpho Process (8,000 EP). In November 2015 feedback control of the plant according to online permeate nutrient analysers was implemented. Aeration dissolved oxygen (DO) set points are automatically adjusted within a set range according to difference between permeate ammonia and the operator set target. The aluminium chlorohydrate (ACH) dose rate is adjusted over a long time period so that permeate orthophosphate is as close as possible to the target.

There is now much less need for the operations team to adjust dissolved oxygen (DO) set points. Plant total energy consumption has reduced by 6% since the trim was implemented on 17th November 2015 ($8,900 per year). Dosing of ACH to the bioreactor has decreased by 87%, saving $47,000 per year. Finally, sludge cartage decreased by 50 kg dry solids per day ($9,800 per year). The savings are significant for a plant with a load of approximately 3,800 EP (ultimate capacity of 8,000 EP).

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Water quality and treatment challenges arose when the Fitzroy River was impacted by Tropical Cyclone (TC) Marcia which in 2015 caused a prolonged water quality event with sustained high levels of manganese. The nature of where rainfall produced by TC Marcia was received and how conditions led to the creation of high levels of manganese in raw water stored in the Fitzroy Barrage is outlined in this paper. With a small number of Australian Drinking Water Guidelines exceedances this paper looks at the way the treatment challenges were dealt with to continue to supply safe potable water to a community already under stress.

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The Kelair-Blivet™ is a packaged Sewage Treatment Plant used extensively around the world in both developed countries and emerging economies.It is well suited for small remote applications such as: small towns, regional councils and their waste water operations, golf courses, caravan parks and remote temporary operational bases for military camps and mine sites.

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To present a case study on a recent project to clean a 3.5m wide x 2.1m high x 190 metre long culvert 50% blocked with debris. This created a weir for the upstream lines flowing into the culvert and caused local flooding on a major road during heavy storm events. The estimated volume of debris to be removed was 340 tonnes and the Microtraxx unit was an obvious choice to carry out the work without the need to use water.

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An operator works on the “front line” of water and wastewater treatment, serving to protect environmental values and ensure quality drinking water and supply to the community. The emergence of rapidly evolving treatment technology requires operators to be multi-skilled and adaptable in a fasted paced industry. Operators often gain knowledge from the older generation of operators, managers and internal industry experts to become more well-rounded efficient operators for the 21st century. Based in the Pioneer Valley in Mackay Regional Council, the operations team oversees a variety of sites on the water and wastewater treatment side, from a recently commissioned 4 ML/day water treatment plant to groundwater bores with chlorination facilities to an overloaded but star performing water recycling facility. Given the regional nature of these sites, operators often travel over 1290 km per week and need to trouble-shoot electrical, mechanical and process control issues along with providing accurate descriptions of issues to maintenance, technical and management staff. In order to drive efficiencies and make these roles easier, operators have undertaken advanced training programs, implemented remote ClearSCADA control for process control and touchpads for data entry and remote SCADA.

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Queensland Urban Utilities (QUU) operates 28 sewage treatment plants which combine to produce approximately 150,000 wet tonnes of biosolids per year. To manage this product QUU developed the Biosolids Strategy in 2012. One of the key goals of the strategy is to identify and implement operational cost saving initiatives. Sandgate Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) is one of the 28 plants under QUU’s operation and it produces approximately 8,000 wet tonnes of biosolids per year. This paper will be looking at biosolids management at Sandgate STP and its role in meeting the Biosolids Strategy.

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Sludge production is a major problem due to disposal costs, which are constantly increasing to meet new stringent regulations. Increased dewatering efficiency, reducing sludge volume and therefore lower transportation and disposal costs and achieving auto-thermal characteristics for energy valorisation are among the major goals for many plant managers.

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Many water industry operators undertake their sampling, send off their samples to the lab, and trust that the results that they get back are accurate. However, there are times that the results that the lab provides are not an accurate depiction of the quality of the sampled water or wastewater product.

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The South Rockhampton Sewage Treatment Plant (SRSTP) was recently upgraded from a conventional activated sludge design to a Modified Ludzack-Ettinger (MLE) design to improve nitrification and overall removal of nitrogen. This upgrade was required to ensure that the three Rockhampton STPs can continue to meet the combined environmental licence limits for nitrogen. The rationale, scope of work and challenges faced, for the completion of this upgrade are described below. The end result of this project was a cost-effective upgrade that met the objective of improving nitrogen removal.

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As the water industry continues to become more technologically advanced and with greater penalties for license infringements, utility providers typically turn to new technology or consultants for answer to performance related issues. Despite having their place, these “hi-tech” and “expert recommended solutions” are not always necessary and sometimes a “low-tech” solution may be the best fit.

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Over the past months and years, an increase in monitoring of water quality using sensing, logging and telemetry technology within potable water distribution systems was much talked about, but why? Compliance to ADWG (Australian Drinking Water Guidelines), public health, greater community awareness and expectation, intelligent/smarter networks.

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Biogas production from wastewater streams is one of the answers to the energy and environmental needs of the future. Many water authorities are either operating Anaerobic cogeneration plants or have the potential to convert their anaerobic plant to a cogeneration facility. Treating wastewater streams though an anaerobic process to produce biogas energy and treated wastewater simultaneously can provide a significant economic boost for water authorities. Two of the key parameters in maximising the economics of biogas generation from anaerobic systems are the management of H2S formation in the gas and the consistency of the gas generations. Addition of an alkali is typically a critical part of the Anaerobic system for maintenance of pH and alkalinity. Many water authorities do not take advantage of the energy potential their anaerobic systems offer via biogas capture and conversion.

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Gold Coast Water (GCW) is currently responsible for the asset management of a large portfolio of water and wastewater infrastructure, serving a population of nearly 570,000 residents and 12 million visitors per year. The city is primarily located on coastal floodplains segmented by a myriad of canals, rivers and tidal waterways, creating complex challenges for the teams that manage, maintain and operate GCWs underground pipe infrastructure.

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I will discuss my journey of becoming a qualified Water Treatment Operator throughout a 2 year Traineeship with the Toowoomba Regional Council as well as the ups and downs and everything in-between. This paper is a reflection on a new job or career, and I would ask you to recall your first time in a new industry and entering unfamiliar waters – pun intended.

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Biosolids are produced at Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTP) as a by-product of the waste water treatment process. The Victorian EPA “Guidelines for Environmental Management – Biosolids, Land Application” advises that biosolids should be viewed as a potential resource that can be beneficially utilised in the agricultural, horticultural and municipal sectors, rather than as a waste product requiring disposal.

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Establishing a new training program, or sustaining momentum for an existing one, can present a number of challenges for water service providers. Engagement with a variety of stakeholders and particularly staff members involved is critical to ensuring the overall success of any training program. Creating a training program that provides value for money and work-ready skills are key outcomes that many organisations are seeking to achieve.

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Unitywater’s Burpengary East Sewage Treatment Plant, with a process capacity of 50,000 equivalent persons, services a relatively notorious industrial estate which demands a high level of monitoring and regulation by our Trade Waste Team. It was not completely out of the usual for the Burpengary East STP process to cop the occasional hit from substances in the influent that temporarily affected process performance. Effects would quickly be overcome and would not generally manifest into an environmental compliance issue.

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A paradigm shift in sulfide control in sewers is presented. In January 2014, Biosol was awarded a public tender to treat the total Griffith City Council (GCC) sewer network for odour and corrosion control. By April 2014 the former dosing regime of Magnesium Hydroxide Liquid (MHL) and Ferrous Chloride was decommissioned and Biosol dosing commenced.

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The Central Queensland townships of Blackwater and Bluff, 200 kms west of Rockhampton, have experienced periodic poor water quality for a number of years, primarily due to high levels of manganese in the source water. This has progressively led to a loss of customer confidence, public health concerns and a disenchanted community stigmatised by what was believed to be a potentially unsafe water supply.

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