Upgrades underway for Port Lincoln Wastewater Treatment Plant

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

The upgrade will include the rehabilitation of floating aerators in one of the plant’s treatment basins and seals located along the basin, improving the efficiency of the biological process that breaks down nutrients in sewage.

Chris Young, SA Water’s General Manager of Operations, says the floating aerators distribute a constant supply of oxygen to help microorganisms remove the nutrients, which is an important step in recycling sewage.

“As we look to tackle the changing climate, our treatment plants have transformed into rich resource recovery centres that are now capable of creating sustainable sources of recycled water,” Young says.

“When Port Lincoln’s used water and sewage come into the local plant, they undergo a series of processes to treat the sewage and separate the solid organic material from water.

“The floating aerators – which are operated by an electric motor and have propellers – are located near the centre of the basin and push oxygen into the sewage that’s held inside the structure.”

Young says the oxygen gives the naturally occurring bugs in sewage the extra push they need to break down organic material before the water flows to another tank for additional treatment.

“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,” he says.

“Once the water has been recycled, it’s used by the local council as a sustainable source of alternative water to irrigate ovals and parks across the town, helping keep these spaces green.

“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.”

SA Water’s Port Lincoln Wastewater Treatment Plant was built in 1994 and currently supplies around 100 million litres of recycled water each year.

For more information, visit: www.sawater.com.au