AS part of Coliban Water\u2019s community draft pricing submission, a major overhaul of the utility\u2019s Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant in Epsom is being proposed.<\/p>\n
The plant receives sewage from across the region and treats about 20 megalitres a day, converting it to recycled water for irrigation and open spaces.<\/p>\n
With the works budgeted at $435 million, Coliban Water\u2019s chief officer of assets and operations Danny McLean said the 31-year-old site and faces pressures from increased population and climate change.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the population grows, capacity gets chewed up over time,\u201d he said. \u201cThis particular plant is reaching its designed life and capacity.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have extremes in terms of weather events that have an impact on the process, and we have a lot of ageing infrastructure that\u2019s due to be invested in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr McLean said the plant provides water security, with the output reused for irrigation of the region\u2019s parks and gardens, at Fosterville Gold Mine, Bendigo Creek and for farming in dry months.<\/p>\n
The plant\u2019s lagoons help native flora and fauna like frogs and spiders, with the biodiversity supported by the site\u2019s biological nutrient removal process.<\/p>\n
Coliban Water also trucks out biosolids, a by-product of the sewerage treatment process, to farmers across the state.<\/p>\n
Mr McLean said the plant\u2019s upgrade will be planned to minimise interruptions to services.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have land availability on this site for growth and expansion for new processes, but in some cases, we\u2019ll reclaim some land and demolition some pieces of kit and rebuild on those sites as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a whole project team, we very carefully plan on when we\u2019d do shutdown works, construction and what order we\u2019d do those, so we don\u2019t interrupt treatment or processes or impact on our obligations.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AS part of Coliban Water\u2019s community draft pricing submission, a major overhaul of the utility\u2019s Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant in Epsom is being proposed. The plant receives sewage from across the region and treats about 20 megalitres a day, converting it to recycled water for irrigation and open spaces. With the works budgeted at $435 […]<\/p>\n