Watermining
Water2WATER project
Learn more about water re-use, and ACTEW's proposal to supplement the ACT's water supply by purifying Canberra's used water and adding this to the Cotter reservoir. Learn more...
Southwell Park Watermining
facility recycles Canberra's wastewater.
What is the Watermining facility?
The ACTEW Watermining facility extracts wastewater from a sewer, treats the water to a high standard, and provides recycled water for local use in irrigation of the local Southwell Park fields.
The benefits of ACTEW's Watermining facility:
- recycled wastewater
- reduced load on the main sewerage system
- potential to be used in many public parks and gardens in Canberra.
The Watermining process
The treatment processes employed in the Watermining facility include:
1. Sewage extraction |
- Wastewater is pumped from a main sewer
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2. Primary treatment |
- A screen keeps the larger solids out of the treatment system
- Lime is added to assist treatment
- Smaller solids are separated from the water by allowing them to settle
- All the solids are returned to the sewer
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3. Secondary treatment |
- Soluble impurities and ammonia are removed by biological treatment
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4. Tertiary treatment |
- Microfiltration removes fine solids and bacteria (the first health protection barrier)
- Hypochlorite disinfection kills any remaining bacteria (the second health protection barrier)
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5. Water recycling |
- The recycled water is then used to irrigate Southwell Park, adjoining the ACTEW Watermining facility.
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6. Solids disposal |
- The solids separated during the treatment process are returned to the sewer, for treatment at Canberra's major plant, the Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre (LMWQCC).
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Please click here to view a process flow diagram of the Watermining facility.
Is the recycled water safe?
The Watermining facility provides water of a suitable quality for irrigating the playing fields of Southwell Park.
Protecting the health of the public has been a major consideration in the design and operation of the ACTEW Watermining facility. The treated effluent is produced to a high quality as required by strict Environmental and Health guidelines.
Please contact us if you have any queries or require any additional information about ACTEW's Watermining facility.
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