Upgrade underway for SA water treatment plant

Work is underway at SA Water’s Port Lincoln Wastewater Treatment Plant as part of the utility’s $400,000 investment to enhance sewage treatment and the plant’s overall performance.

To improve the efficiency of the biological process that breaks down nutrients in sewage, the floating aerators in one of the plant’s treatment basins and seals located along the basin will be rehabilitated.

Chris Young, SA Water General Manager of Operations, said the floating aerators distribute a constant supply of oxygen to help microorganisms remove the nutrients. This is vital to recycling sewerage and helping create sustainable sources of recycled water.

Used water and sewage undergo a series of processes when they come into the plant, including treating the sewage and separating solid organic material from water. The aerators push oxygen into the sewage, giving the naturally occurring bugs a push to break down the organic material and remove all nutrients.

“The process is a living, breathing beast and we need to keep it performing at an optimal level to maximise our recycled water supply. Replacing the aerators every five years ensures we’re looking after our busy bugs,” Young said.

The recycled water is used by local council to irrigate ovals and parks across town.

“While the basin is empty, we’ll also give it a thorough clean and inspect other equipment that’s usually not visible, with the project expected to take around eight weeks to complete,” Young said.

The plant was built in 1994 and currently supplies around 100 million litres of recycled water each year.

The works are not expected to impact local customers’ sewer services and measures have been put in place to manage any temporary increases in sewer odour from the plant.

“We expect this to be a low likelihood, but do however encourage the community to be our ‘sleuths’ and get in touch if they notice any change,” Young said.