Treatment plant upgrade moves closer

COLIBAN Water expects to award a tender for phase one of an upgrade of its water reclamation plant in Epsom in October.

The plant, which turned 100 last year, had its last major upgrade in 1991 and now receives and treats sewage from 110,000 people across Bendigo. The population served by the plant is expected to reach 200,000 by 2050.

Phase one is focusing on better management of biosolids – the final by-product of sewage treatment – and odour reduction.

The plant produces recycled water that can be used for irrigating farms, dairy cattle grazing, vineyards, golf courses, sports grounds and agricultural irrigation.

About 2400 megalitres of recycled water is already supplied to residential and commercial customers in Bendigo and is also released to Bendigo Creek as part of Coliban Water’s operating licence.

Earlier this year, general manager operations Julian Bull said recycled water would play a key role as part of a broader program of large-scale upgrades to future-proof wastewater treatment services for the region.

“Our Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant was established 100 years ago and following major upgrades in the 1990s, large-scale works are required as we face the challenges of population growth, ageing assets and a changing climate,” Mr Bull said.

“An increase in population means an increase in the volume of wastewater received by our plant; this means as we treat the wastewater, there will be more recycled water available for re-use in the future.”

The authority said efforts to reduce odour at the Howard Street plant from biosolids were continuing, with a trial of a different odour suppression system at the brine lagoon.

Call 1300 363 200 to report odour. Coliban Water will issue its next project update early next month.