Dunsborough Wastewater Treatment Plant
The southwest town of Dunsborough is one of the fastest growing urban communities in Western Australia and has been provided with a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment scheme.
The newly commissioned scheme will enable the sustainable development of Dunsborough to 2040 through the ultimate treatment and disposal of up to 4,000 m 3/d of wastewater.
History
The new system replaces the old pond-based wastewater treatment plant and will result in a significant reduction in nutrients entering Geographe Bay.
The Dunsborough Wastewater Treatment Plant was commissioned in May 2000.
Treatment Process
The new wastewater treatment scheme features the latest Intermittently Decanted Extended Aeration (IDEA) technology which produces a tertiary treated wastewater, and is used to irrigate a blue gum plantation in the dry months of the year.
Tasmanian Blue Gums were chosen because of their ability to utilise large amounts of water.
The plantation site features a unique subsoil drainage system, as well as a soil moisture monitoring system and integrated weather station that is used to control the irrigation scheme.
During winter the treated wastewater is filtered, disinfected with chlorine and released into the Station Gully Drain which runs through the treatment plant property.
The performance of the plant has surpassed the Water Corporation’s expectations.
The Wastewater Treatment and reuse scheme adopted reflects the extensive community involvement program held to establish the most acceptable, effective solution to a complex environmental problem.
The scheme gives high levels of protection to public health and ensures environmental sustainability through the next forty years.
It provides a valuable drought proof supply of high quality tertiary treated wastewater for reuse and irrigation of woodlots and other worthwhile community projects.
The Future
After the bluegum plantation matures in about 2006 it will be harvested in rotation for woodchips and the treatment process and plantation will begin again.
The irrigated area will gradually increase from 40 hectares to more than 100 hectares over the next forty years.
A rigorous performance monitoring and reporting program has been established.
Contact Us
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For more information on our Dunsborough operation call 08 9791 0456.
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