By Jessica Micallef
Coliban Water has announced plans to improve waste and domestic treatment processes at the Kyneton Water Reclamation Plant.
In a bid to protect the Campaspe River, additional aerators will be installed in lagoons to ensure the water released from the plant is within the Environment Protection Authority’s (EPA) licence conditions. The installation of extra aerators forms part of a three phase project.
In June, Coliban Water was forced to undertake a daily emergency discharge of class C recycled water from the Kyneton Water Reclamation Plant into the Campaspe River. Up to four megalitres per day of class C recycled water, mixed with class B recycled water, has been released into the Campaspe River.
The Kyneton Reclamation Plant treats wastewater from about 3800 residential, business and trade waste customers in Kyneton, Malmsbury, Trentham and Tylden.
Coliban Water project director Tony Kelly said the project will help ensure water released from the plant is keeping within EPA Victoria’s standard.
“Our plant has struggled to store the treated water it produces when there isn’t a demand for irrigation water or sufficient flows to release water to the Campaspe River,” he said.
“As part of the phase one works, we will be installing additional aerators on our lagoons to enable oxygen to circulate and increase the treatment capacity.”
Phase one works are expected to be completed by March next year.
Phases two and three will include additional storage lagoons and increased irrigation with the aim to discharge high quality water into the Campaspe River.
Mr Kelly said when all phases are complete the plant will operate within its EPA licence conditions and will meet future residential and business growth in the area.
“We acknowledge the distress and concern from the Kyneton community when we have released treated water that breaches our EPA licence conditions,” he said.
“We are committed to keeping the community informed and engaged on this project as it progresses.
