WORK is now underway on an upgrade of the Gloucester Water Treatment Plant that will see more than half a million dollars invested over an 18 month period.
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The project will upgrade the plant to deliver an automated modern treatment facility for the residents of Gloucester and Barrington. In March, residents were warned to temporarily stop drinking town water after an oversupply of chlorine contaminated the water.
A number of critical works have already been completed since then, including the replacement of the chlorine dosing system and the design and purchase of automation equipment to allow for more reliable monitoring and reporting systems.
The next part of the $600,000 upgrade will consist of the replacement or renewal of aged and failing mechanical equipment, installation of automatic online water quality analysers and replacement of some electrical equipment.
Acting general manager Darryl Hancock explained the project will improve work health and safety outcomes.
“The Gloucester water treatment plant was originally build back in the late 1930s/early 1940s and was last upgraded in the 1980s,” Mr Hancock explained.
“As a result the infrastructure in the scheme is aging and experiencing issues and this can impact on the levels of service we can provide to our Gloucester and Barrington customers.”
Stage two of the upgrade is expected to be completed by March next year. Other works will include switchboard modifications, building upgrades and the replacement of mechanical process equipment.
“The upgrade will improve the service Gloucester customers receive and importantly automating the process will increase our ability to monitor water quality and initiate alarms and shut down procedures when required.”
Work is also underway on the detailed design for a $1.2 million water recycling scheme attached to the Gloucester Sewage Treatment Plant, to meet conditions imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This scheme will see approximately 98 million litres of treated recycled water used for agricultural recycling each year, reducing the amount of the treated water returned to the Gloucester River. It is expected construction will start late this year and be completed mid next year and will include modifications to the sewage treatment plant as well as the construction of an irrigation system on a nearby agricultural area.
