Geraldton Wastewater Treatment Plants
There are three wastewater treatment plants in Geraldton, located in Wonthella, Glenfield beach and Grennough-on-sea.
The original and largest plant, situated in Wonthella, Webberton, processes almost 3,000,000 litres of wastewater per day.
Wastewater or sewage is 99.9% water.
Less than 0.1% is human waste, paper, vegetable scraps, soil particles and other items that get washed down our drains and toilets.
A series of gravity and pressure mains carry the wastewater to the treatment plants.
The sewer network in Geraldton currently services about 4,500 properties.
History
The first wastewater treatment plant was established in Geraldton in the 1970s to service the central business district.
Since 1982, it has been a condition of new land developments to provide deep sewerage where a sewerage scheme exists.
In 1992 the government introduced the Infill Sewerage Program to "infill" the areas throughout the State that have not yet been sewered.
The project has increased the availability of sewer facilities to about 7000 properties in Geraldton.
Treatment Process - Wonthella Treatment Plant
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The treatment plant at Wonthella consists of a series of three ponds.
The primary pond is largest and is 3.3 metres deep, the secondary and polishing ponds are 1.1 metres deep.
Natural biological treatment processes in the ponds breakdown the organic matter (wastes and disease-causing organisms) and reduces nutrient concentrations to levels the natural environment can readily handle.
A variety of micro-organisms, primarily bacteria and algae, are used to convert organic matter into gas and cell tissue.
The generated biomass then settles and is removed from the system in a concentrated and controlled fashion.
Aerators are used to supplement the oxygen produced by photosynthesis in the biological treatment process.
The aerators enhance the biological treatment and increase the design capacity of the ponds.
Not all of Geraldton is sewered. Non-sewered areas rely on septic tanks, which are regulated by the local government authorities - City of Geraldton or Greenough Shire.
The Wonthella plant currently receives wastewater from eighteen pump stations in the town.
Inflow discharges through a rising main into the primary pond.
Partially treated wastewater from the primary pond discharges into the secondary pond. Fully treated wastewater then flows to the polishing pond. The treatment has a minimum detention time of ten days.
The treated wastewater from these ponds then infiltrates into the ground via a reticulated sprinkler system and a series of infiltration lagoons.
Reclaimed water is then pumped out of the ground to supply the nearby turf club, golf club and playing fields for irrigation.
This ensures the most effective use of our available water resources.
Future Plans
The Wonthella plant is approaching its design capacity and community consultation has concluded with a new treatment plant to be built at Narngulu, with works commencing in 2006, and the plant to be operating by 2008. Approximately half the existing inflow to the Wonthella plant will be diverted to the new plant.
Recently completed Infill sewerage works in Sunset Beach connects to the wastewater treatment plant at Glenfield Beach, which provides for development up to and including Drummond’s Cove.
Contact Us
For more information on our Geraldton operations call 08 9923 4911.