The second stage of the $4.8 million upgrade to Heathcote Water Treatment Plant are progressing, with the project due to be complete early in the New Year.
Manager Infrastructure Corey Bourne said the second phase includes the installation of a permanent Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) dosing system, which provides a means of managing taste and odour issues in the raw water supply.
“Until now, we have been using a temporary PAC treatment system at the site on an ongoing basis to manage the taste and odour compounds in the raw water. To have this now made permanent will provide greater ongoing management for fluctuations in raw water quality,” Mr Bourne said.
The plant draws raw water from either Lake Eppalock or Caledonia Reservoir depending on demand and supply factors in the broader water supply system.
Mr Bourne said a further benefit of the upgrade works was that they will address any taste and odour compounds found in the raw water source being used at the time.
Works completed in stage one included the installation of a permanent UV water treatment system and a chlorine contact tank.
“These two upgrades are now operational and will see an improvement to water disinfection, which provides an additional process to remove microorganisms that are present in the raw water supply. UV treatment of water is a common disinfection method used by a number of water corporations,” Mr Bourne said.
A new wastewater handling system is also being installed, which will re-use as much of the wastewater at the plant as possible and help to address inefficiencies.
“It means we can prevent excess wastewater being released to sewer network, and in turn, reduce the volume sent to our Heathcote Water Reclamation Plant,” Mr Bourne said.
“We thank local residents for their patience due to some noise at the plant associated with rock breaking and site clearing.”
For more information about the Heathcote Water Treatment Plant project visit our website at www.coliban.com.au.
Last updated on 07 Nov 2019