Project summary
In line with its commitment to provide quality, reliable sewage treatment services, Unitywater has recently invested $48.2 million to upgrade the South Caboolture Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) to cater for growth in nearby areas and to deliver better care for the environment.
This plant services the residential, commercial and industrial areas of Caboolture, Upper Caboolture, Morayfield and Bellmere and is located on the southern bank of the Caboolture River at Morayfield.
The now complete upgrade will ensure that the plant can continue to treat the wastes generated by an expanding population and, by improving the standard of treatment, achieve this without compromising the wellbeing of the environment and nearby residents.
Fast facts
| Location |
Weier Road, Morayfield. |
|
Benefits
|
- Improved quality of the treated effluent released to waterways, resulting in a positive impact on the health and water quality of the Caboolture River and Deception Bay;
- Improved odour management, reducing the impact of the plant on the local environment;
- Improved efficiency and reliability of operations;
- Increased capacity to cater for growth in the region until 2021;
- Minimal environmental and social impact by containing the new works within the existing plant boundaries;
- Continued production of Class A+ recycled water for garden watering, toilet flushing, car washing and industrial use.
|
| Supplier |
- John Holland Pty Ltd (construction)
- GHD (planning and design)
|
| Commencement |
June 2010 |
| Completion |
November 2011 |
| Funding |
$48.2 million. |
Project background
The South Caboolture Sewage Treatment Plant has been in service for more than 30 years and was last upgraded in 1998. The plant currently treats around eight million litres of sewage per day.
A detailed planning study undertaken by engineering consultants GHD in 2007 confirmed the need to upgrade the plant to cater for the population growth projected to occur in the region in coming years.
Now that the upgrade is complete, the plant has the capacity to treat flows up to 16.3 million litres per day, ensuring that the plant can accommodate expected sewage flows to 2021.
Project details
The upgrade has delivered improvements in sewage treatment standards and processes to reduce the plant’s impact on the environment. State-of–the-art treatment technology has been employed to reduce the level of nutrients in the treated effluent and an odour control facility installed to reduce odour emissions from the plant.
One of the features of the upgraded plant making it unique is the combined use of Sequencing Batch Reactors (SBRs) with a Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) and Disc Filters. This innovative technology plays an integral role in removing nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from the sewage.
Believed to be the first of its type in Australia, use of this process combination has built on the older style SBR treatment technology employed in the existing plant thereby minimising the requirement to build new tanks. This has allowed the costs of the upgrade to be contained without compromising on the standard of treatment achieved.
Another key feature of the plant is its capability to produce recycled water. Treated effluent is pumped from the plant to Unitywater’s nearby Water Reclamation Plant and further purified to produce Class A+ recycled water. This turns the effluent into a valuable commodity able to be used for watering of gardens, toilet flushing and for washing down vehicles and equipment.
South Caboolture Sewage Treatment Plant - Upgrade Complete!
New sludge dewatering belt filter press in operation.
Gravity sludge thickener – an existing disused clarifier has been converted for use to thicken waste sludge prior to dewatering.
(Both images above)
Installation of mechanical equipment in Sequencing Batch Reactor Tank
Installation of electrical switchboards
Aerial view during construction