The Castlemaine Water Reclamation Plant (CWRP) upgrade project was completed in May 2011.
Announced in March 2010, the upgrade has improved operational efficiency and reduced the volume of odour generated at the plant.
The plant was originally commissioned in 1999, and currently treats wastewater from Castlemaine, Maldon and Newstead.
The age of the equipment, together with population growth in the area, meant improvements were needed to ensure efficient plant operations into the future.
Originally announced as a $5.2M project, final costs have been closer to $6.9M. This is a result of further investigations once works had commenced that identified additional works required and delays in progress due to heavy rain events late last year and early this year.
Throughout the course of the upgrade works, there was no interuption to
customer wastewater services.
> What was involved in the upgrade works?
The upgrade works included covering the portions of the plant which
generate odours, the installation of odour filtration/absorption facilities and other mechanical, electrical and structural work.
This included:
> New inlet works with screens and grit removal systems to remove large particles and debris from incoming flows, and improve the efficiency of the treatment process.
> Anaerobic Tank cover to contain odours generated through this treatment process.
> New biofilter to absorb odours.
> New aeration system to improve effiency in the final stages of treatment.
> Installation of chemical delivery bunds to contain any spills that may occur and removing the possibility of chemicals entering the environment.
> Electrical upgrades to existing cabinets and onsite electrical mains.
> Large scale plant maintenance, including the removal of more than ten megalitres of liquid and accumulated residual grit in the anaerobic tank, replacement of aeration membranes and maintenance to submerged steel structures within the tanks.
