Water Kit - Hunter Water
Water Kit - Hunter Water Water Kit - Hunter Water
3.2 wastewater treatment in the hunter WHERE ARE THE treatment works LOCATED? Hunter Water manages 17 WWTW in the Lower Hunter. These WWTWs process the wastewater of about 500,000 people every day. The smallest serves 700 people and the largest 204,000. Three WWTWs are on the coast and have offshore outfalls, and two others link up to Belmont WWTW. Another three are near Lake Macquarie and Newcastle Harbour, and nine WWTWS are inland. Hunter Water operates 17 WWTWs throughout the Lower Hunter Burwood Beach WWTW is the Hunter’s largest treatment facility THE Wastewater TREATMENT PROCESS The level of treatment in WWTWs around the world can range from ‘primary’ (filtering and screening) through to ‘tertiary’ processes. Most of Hunter Water’s WWTWs operate to a tertiary level. PRIMARY 1 Screening Non-biodegradable solids/objects are removed from wastewater by selective screening. These screenings are usually compressed and sent to a landfill site. 2 Grit removal Grit and sand is separated from the wastewater in a small vortex tank, which is designed to permit only the heavier solids (grit) to settle. The grit is collected, washed and then sent to a landfill site. 3 Flow balancing and odour control Flow equalisation tanks provide a means of smoothing out fluctuating flows and limiting the maximum flows entering the treatment works, especially during wet weather. The inlet works are usually covered to contain odours. These odours are then directed to a soilbed filter. SECONDARY 4 Biological treatment Biological processes break down organic matter into simpler chemical substances such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrates. The processes are carried out by micro-organisms, which obtain food from the organic matter in the wastewater. 5 Clarification Biological solids settle out from the effluent in large concrete clarifiers (tanks). The solids are often recycled back to the bioreactor and the clear effluent flows on to the disinfection system. TERITARY 6 Disinfection Potentially harmful pathogens are killed through a disinfection process involving high intensity ultraviolet (UV) lights or additions of chlorine to the effluent or in maturation ponds. 7 Discharge effluent The effluent is either discharged via pipelines to waterways or may be reused, eg watering golf courses and woodlots or by nearby industries. 8 Sludge treatment The sludge resulting from the settling process is further treated and then dewatered to form a biosolid that can be reused in suitable industrial rehabilitation projects. wwtw population communities daily volume Burwood Beach 204,000 Newcastle, Dudley, Wallsend 43 megalitres Belmont Edgeworth Morpeth Water kit . ssS . 001 . april 2010 91,000 Charlestown, Dudley, Windale, Valentine, Belmont, Swansea 60,000 Cardiff, Glendale, Elermore Vale, West Wallsend, Edgeworth 50,000 Beresfield, Thornton, Ashtonfield, Tenambit, Morpeth, East Maitland 30 megalitres 20 megalitres 20 megalitres Toronto 34,000 Fassifern, Blackalls Park, Awaba, Rathmines, Toronto 15 megalitres Boulder Bay 30,000 Salamander Bay, Nelson Bay, Shoal Bay, Fingal Bay, Anna Bay Shortland 28,000 Fletcher, Wallsend, Marylands, Shortland, Sandgate, Hexham, Farley 26,000 Maitland, Lorn, Oakhampton, Tenambit, Thornton, Beresfield 15 megalitres 14 megalitres 14 megalitres 5
wwtw population communities daily volume Cessnock 26,000 Pokolbin, Aberdare, Kearsley 12 megalitres Raymond Terrace 25,000 Medowie, Heatherbrae, Raymond Terrace 12 megalitres Kurri Kurri 19,000 Weston, Kurri, Heddon Greta 9 megalitres Dora Creek* 17,000 Morisset, Wangi, Bonnells Bay, Silverwater, Dora Creek 9 megalitres Tanilba Bay 6,000 Lemon Tree Passage, Mallabula, Tanilba Bay 5 megalitres Branxton 5,000 Greta, Rothbury, Lochinvar 1 megalitre Karuah 2,000 Karuah 0.6 megalitres Kearsley 1,000 Kearsley 0.3 megalitres Paxton 700 Paxton 0.1 megalitres * All effluent from this plant is re-used at Eraring Power Station CALCULATING THE POPULATIONS SERVED To reflect the true wastewater load on both catchments and WWTWs, the populations quoted in the table above are calculated as the Equivalent Population (EP). The EP measures the number of people served in addition to an estimate of the wastewater produced by business and industry; converted to population. For example, you may have 1,000 actual people in a community plus a school, shops and a restaurant. In this instance the EP would be calculated by: (a) determining the wastewater flows expected from the school, shops and restaurant; (b) converting this flow to the number of people it would represent if it was coming from houses; (c) adding this ‘equivalent’ number of people to the actual number of real people in the community. In this case the EP might be estimated at 1,100 people. EP is used because without it, the population numbers on their own do not match the daily volumes of wastewater produced, as the daily volumes also include flows from business and industry. How you can help with wastewater We all have a responsibility to reduce the impact of our wastewater. You can help reduce the volume of wastewater produced and contaminants in wastewater by following these simple tips: • Reduce water use in the kitchen by only using the dishwasher when its full or washing up items in the Water kit . ssS . 001 . april 2010 sink instead. • Use the specified amount of detergent and choose detergents that are low in phosphorous. • Minimise your water use in the bathroom by turning off the tap when you brush your teeth, taking shorter showers, use a watersaving showerhead and use a dual-flush toilet. • Wash your hands quickly at school and don’t leave the tap running or dripping. • Choose cleaning products that are environmentally endorsed - these aim to have a smaller impact on the environment. • Do not dispose of products that contain chemicals down the sink or drain. If you have old chemicals or oils that need to be disposed of, contact your local council who can advise you on the best method of disposal. • Minimise your water use and understand where your water goes after you have used it. Explain to family and friends how reducing the amount of wastewater produced benefits the environment. Maximising the Benefits of Recycled Water The Karuah water recycling scheme began in November 2002 and provides 420 properties in Karuah with a modern reticulated sewerage system. The sewerage scheme provides significant benefit by eliminating poorly performing septic tanks that had the potential to overflow and to the Karuah River. A priority of the design was ensuring the system’s impact on the local oyster industry was minimised. This was achieved by reusing the effluent from the Karuah wastewater treatment works to avoid discharge from the plant into local waterways. The Karuah plant has been specially designed to minimise the discharge of treated effluent off-site. It is predicted that, on average, there will be no discharge of effluent off-site for three out of four years. It is estimated that 98% of effluent produced by the works will be used onsite to grow fodder crops and trees. Sewerage is treated to a secondary standard in a conventional activated Irrigating feed crops with recycled water at the Karuah WWTW sludge treatment plant. The treated effluent is then disinfected using ultraviolet light prior to discharge into a 100 megalitre effluent storage dam. The effluent is stored until it can be used to irrigate the crops and trees. The effluent reuse area consists of a 100 hectare property containing two centrepivot irrigators each covering 20 hectares of fodder crops. The Karuah water recycling scheme provides a great example of what can be achieved in the Hunter region to recycle water in an effective and environmentally sustainable manner. 6
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3.2 wastewater treatment in the hunter<br />
WHERE ARE THE treatment<br />
works LOCATED?<br />
<strong>Hunter</strong> <strong>Water</strong> manages 17 WWTW in the<br />
Lower <strong>Hunter</strong>. These WWTWs process<br />
the wastewater of about 500,000 people<br />
every day.<br />
The smallest serves 700 people and the<br />
largest 204,000. Three WWTWs are on<br />
the coast and have offshore outfalls, and<br />
two others link up to Belmont WWTW.<br />
Another three are near Lake Macquarie<br />
and Newcastle Harbour, and nine<br />
WWTWS are inland.<br />
<strong>Hunter</strong> <strong>Water</strong> operates 17 WWTWs<br />
throughout the Lower <strong>Hunter</strong><br />
Burwood Beach WWTW is the <strong>Hunter</strong>’s<br />
largest treatment facility<br />
THE Wastewater TREATMENT<br />
PROCESS<br />
The level of treatment in WWTWs around<br />
the world can range from ‘primary’<br />
(filtering and screening) through to ‘tertiary’<br />
processes. Most of <strong>Hunter</strong> <strong>Water</strong>’s<br />
WWTWs operate to a tertiary level.<br />
PRIMARY<br />
1 Screening<br />
Non-biodegradable solids/objects are<br />
removed from wastewater by selective<br />
screening. These screenings are usually<br />
compressed and sent to a landfill site.<br />
2 Grit removal<br />
Grit and sand is separated from the<br />
wastewater in a small vortex tank, which is<br />
designed to permit only the heavier solids<br />
(grit) to settle. The grit is collected, washed<br />
and then sent to a landfill site.<br />
3 Flow balancing and odour<br />
control<br />
Flow equalisation tanks provide a means<br />
of smoothing out fluctuating flows and<br />
limiting the maximum flows entering<br />
the treatment works, especially during<br />
wet weather. The inlet works are usually<br />
covered to contain odours. These odours<br />
are then directed to a soilbed filter.<br />
SECONDARY<br />
4 Biological treatment<br />
Biological processes break down organic<br />
matter into simpler chemical substances<br />
such as carbon dioxide, methane and<br />
nitrates. The processes are carried out by<br />
micro-organisms, which obtain food from<br />
the organic matter in the wastewater.<br />
5 Clarification<br />
Biological solids settle out from the<br />
effluent in large concrete clarifiers (tanks).<br />
The solids are often recycled back to the<br />
bioreactor and the clear effluent flows on<br />
to the disinfection system.<br />
TERITARY<br />
6 Disinfection<br />
Potentially harmful pathogens are killed<br />
through a disinfection process involving<br />
high intensity ultraviolet (UV) lights or<br />
additions of chlorine to the effluent or in<br />
maturation ponds.<br />
7 Discharge effluent<br />
The effluent is either discharged via<br />
pipelines to waterways or may be reused,<br />
eg watering golf courses and woodlots or<br />
by nearby industries.<br />
8 Sludge treatment<br />
The sludge resulting from the settling<br />
process is further treated and then<br />
dewatered to form a biosolid that can be<br />
reused in suitable industrial rehabilitation<br />
projects.<br />
wwtw population communities daily volume<br />
Burwood Beach 204,000 Newcastle, Dudley, Wallsend 43 megalitres<br />
Belmont<br />
Edgeworth<br />
Morpeth<br />
<strong>Water</strong> kit . ssS . 001 . april 2010<br />
91,000 Charlestown, Dudley, Windale, Valentine,<br />
Belmont, Swansea<br />
60,000 Cardiff, Glendale, Elermore Vale, West Wallsend,<br />
Edgeworth<br />
50,000 Beresfield, Thornton, Ashtonfield, Tenambit,<br />
Morpeth, East Maitland<br />
30 megalitres<br />
20 megalitres<br />
20 megalitres<br />
Toronto 34,000 Fassifern, Blackalls Park, Awaba, Rathmines, Toronto 15 megalitres<br />
Boulder Bay 30,000 Salamander Bay, Nelson Bay, Shoal Bay,<br />
Fingal Bay, Anna Bay<br />
Shortland 28,000 Fletcher, Wallsend, Marylands, Shortland,<br />
Sandgate, Hexham,<br />
Farley 26,000 Maitland, Lorn, Oakhampton, Tenambit,<br />
Thornton, Beresfield<br />
15 megalitres<br />
14 megalitres<br />
14 megalitres<br />
5
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