Recycled water in Bendigo Ross Johnson Manager Strategic Operations April 2011
About Coliban Water Recycled water what and why How it is produced in Bendigo Uses of recycled water in Bendigo Risk management Current issues 2
COLIBAN WATER Coliban Water is a Statutory Authority established in 1992 under the Water Act 68,000 customers 49 towns $64M revenue $950M assets 3
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COLIBAN WATER S FUNCTIONS Water harvesting and storage Water treatment Water distribution to urban & rural customers Sewerage collection for urban & trade customers Water reclamation, including production of high quality treated water for recycling 5
COLIBAN WATER S REGULATORS Department of Health Environment Protection Authority Essential Services Commission Department of Sustainability and Environment 6
RECLAIMED / RECYCLED WATER Product of sewerage treatment plants. Reuse or discharge to environment. Class C normal treatment. Usage tightly controlled. Class B additional treatment with disinfection. Less restrictions on use. Class A Advanced treatment. Few restrictions on use. 7
WHY USE RECLAIMED / RECYCLED WATER? Reduce environmental discharges. No more water to harvest full commitment to users or the environment. Water trading. Substitution for potable quality water. Drought / climate change. 8
Annual Coliban River Flow (GL) 24GL Average 160 62GL Average Annual Inflow (105 years) (13 years) 9.6GL Average last four years 120 100 80 60 40 20 Annual River Flow Average from 1996 (24.1GL) 9 Coliban River Flow 7yr Rolling Average Coliban11yr Rolling Average Average to 1996 (62GL) Average 2005 to 2009 2008 2005 2002 1999 1996 1993 1990 1987 1984 1981 1978 1975 1972 1969 1966 1963 1960 1957 1954 1951 1948 1945 1942 1939 1936 1933 1930 1927 1924 1921 1918 1915 1912 1909 1906 1903 1900 1897 1894 0 1891 Natural River Flow (GL) 140
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Recycled Water in Bendigo
BENDIGO WATER RECLAMATION PLANT Upgraded in 1992 - Biological Nutrient Reduction process with discharge to Bendigo Creek and some flood irrigation of nearby land. (20 30Ml/d) Class C. Sand filters and UV added in 2004. Improved quality of creek dischargeclass B. Water Factory constructed in 2007 to provide high quality treated water for 12 substitution of potable water in Bendigo.
CLASS A TREATMENT PROCESS Biological Nutrient Removal Treatment (BNR) Lagoon treatment Dual media sand filtration Disinfection Ultraviolet Chlorination Membrane filtration Ultrafiltration Reverse osmosis Spring Gully Reservoir natural sunlight 13
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BENDIGO WATER FACTORY 16
BENDIGO WATER FACTORY 17
About Coliban Water Recycled water what and why How it is produced in Bendigo Uses of recycled water in Bendigo Risk management Current issues 18
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VOLUMES OF CLASS A RECYCLED WATER Maximum production = 3000Ml per year Bendigo s urban water consumption = 10,000Ml per year 20
WHO USES THE RECYCLED WATER? Sporting clubs Bendigo Bowls Club Bendigo Tennis Club Bendigo Jockey Club Bendigo Golf Club Schools City of Greater Bendigo Parks and Gardens (White Hills Botanical Gardens & Rosiland Park) Sports ovals such as QEO, Weeroona Oval, etc 21
WHO USES THE RECYCLED WATER? (cont) Rural customers Axe Creek and Ascot channel systems Standpipe customers Construction companies Road works Car wash Fire fighting Residential use Third pipe systems for new residential developments Toilet flushing, garden watering 22
RISK MANAGEMENT Human exposure Environmental Inadequate treatment 23
RISK MANAGEMENT (cont) Human exposure Accidental consumption due to cross connection or failure to identify recycled water infrastructure Inappropriate use, such as filling swimming pools Site Management Plans state management practices required by the customer which involve: 24 Signage Lilac coloured infrastructure (taps & sprinklers) Cross connection testing Audits conducted by Coliban Water
RISK MANAGEMENT (cont) Environmental Contaminants Run off / spills Salinity / Nutrient build up Water quality specification requirements are set by EPA and Department of Health to ensure low risk of impacts. 5 6 log removal of bacteria, viruses and pathogens. (5 log removal = 99.999% removal) Regional Environment Improvement Plan Health and Environment Management Plan 25
RISK MANAGEMENT (cont) Inadequate treatment Treatment process problems Unknown constituents Continuous monitoring of critical treatment processes. Automatic shutdown. Validation of processes. Testing of treated water quality. Approved Recycled Water Quality Management System. 26
CURRENT ISSUES Production difficulties Feed water variation from design specification Complexity of demonstrating treatment compliance Instrumentation, continuous monitoring, validation of processes, changes to regulations Costs of production Costs exceed sale price Variable demand Supply exceeds demand 27
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