Water recycling & reuse - 2007Home | Human Settlement | Water Supply & Sewage Management | Water Recycling & Reuse | 2007 What does the Data tell us for 2007Northern Shoalhaven Reclaimed Water Management Scheme (REMS) The Northern Shoalhaven Reclaimed Water Management Scheme (REMS) has been developed to provide a long-term beneficial approach to wastewater management in the Shoalhaven. Reclaimed Water (treated wastewater) is tertiary treated including filtration and chlorine disinfection. The aim of the Scheme is to reuse an average of 80% of reclaimed water produced with surpluses released to the ocean at Penguin Head. Scheme water is currently supplied to seventeen properties including dairy farms, golf courses and sporting grounds. In excess of 500 hectares of farmland and sporting areas is now irrigated via the REMS. Reclaimed water is also now replaces drinking water for wash down of yards at dairy farms saving over 100 megalitres of town water per year. REMS Stage 1A construction was completed in 2003 and includes Callala, Vincentia, Culburra Beach and St Georges Basin Wastewater Treatment Plants (WwTPs). From October 2001 reclaimed water from St Georges Basin and Vincentia WwTPs has been transferred to the REMS distribution facilities at Coonemia allowing releases to Jervis Bay to be stopped.
Operational Highlights Volumes Reused - In 2006/07 over 1,500ML of reclaimed water were recycled onto land or 77% of the reclaimed water managed within the Scheme. For the same period 480 megalitres was released to the ocean from the Scheme which is similar to the annual volumes discharged when Culburra Beach was a stand-alone scheme. Reclaimed Water Quality – Scheme water quality has been of a consistently high standard and fully complies with environmental and irrigation water quality targets. A high level of disinfection is also being achieved. This level of quality will allow reclaimed water to be used in a wide variety of applications in the future. Reclaimed water is now being irrigated on urban sports grounds and parks. A trial using reclaimed water for road construction was successful and may be expanded to other areas.
Reclaimed Water Irrigation on Huskisson Soccer Fields Impact on Jervis Bay – In excess of 8,800 megalitres of reclaimed water has not been released into Jervis Bay as a result of REMS. This has resulted in 35 tonnes less of nitrogen, 31 tonnes less of phosphorus and 60 tonnes less suspended solids being released into the Bay. Groundwater monitoring – The Scheme has now collected five years worth of groundwater height and quality data from 11 bores in the main REMS irrigation area. The data collected does not indicate any significant change to local water table heights or quality since irrigation began in December 2001. REMS Stage 1BThe REMS will be expanded to include management of reclaimed water produced from the Nowra and Bomaderry WwTPs. Concept designs have been completed with the preferred option to upgrade and expand the Nowra treatment plant to enable tertiary treatment of reclaimed water from both Nowra and Bomaderry plants. A pipeline under the Shoalhaven River is proposed to supply secondary treated water from the Bomaderry to the Nowra treatment plant. Detailed designs and investigations for REMS Stage 1B will occur in 2007/08. Construction is expected to be completed in 2009/10 subject to funding availability. Other Reuse Projects
Berry – Nearly all of the dry weather flows from the Berry treatment plant are used for irrigation on a local dairy farm. Shoalhaven Heads – Reclaimed water from the Shoalhaven Heads treatment plant is used for irrigation on a local turf farm. Bomaderry - Reclaimed water from the Bomaderry treatment plant is used for irrigation on Council’s tea-tree plantation. Nowra - Reclaimed water from the Nowra treatment plant is used for irrigation on a local dairy farm and a golf course. Sussex Inlet - Reclaimed water from the Sussex Inlet treatment plant is used for irrigation on local playing fields. Ulladulla - Reclaimed water from the Ulladulla treatment plant is used for irrigation on local playing fields. Conjola - Investigations are progressing regarding a dual residential water supply system in new subdivisions in Manyana using reclaimed water from the northern wastewater treatment plant. If approved this scheme could save up to 150 megalitres of town water per year and reduce releases to the environment. Home | Human Settlement | Water Supply & Sewage Management | Water Recycling & Reuse | 2007
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