Wastewater upgrades boost services for Lake Macquarie customers
A $20 million investment at Toronto Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) is part of a suite of upgrades to Hunter Water’s wastewater infrastructure across Lake Macquarie City.
The Toronto WWTW upgrade, which is expected to be completed in mid-2023, will improve the plant’s aeration tanks and energy efficiency, high voltage electrical equipment, odour control facility, and the communication and control systems.
To save on using drinking water in the plant’s processes a new, onsite recycled water system will also be installed.
Hunter Water Executive Manager Customer Delivery, Clint Thomson, said the suite of upgrades will ensure the City’s network of WWTWs continues to operate safely and reliably as well as enhancing their sustainability and environmental performance at the same time as catering for population growth.
“The project we are completing at Toronto follows several significant upgrades to our treatment plants in 2021, including at Dungog and Farley WWTWs, and forms part of the $685 million we are investing in our capital works program over the four years to 2024.
“We are also working across our wastewater network to improve customer experience with our services and deliver even better environmental outcomes,” said Mr Thomson.
As part of the investment in upgrades across Lake Macquarie City, Hunter Water is relining sewer mains under an ongoing program to reduce overflows and service interruptions.
“Our crews in Warners Bay pushed through difficult wet weather conditions late last year to remediate a section of the wastewater network to ensure safe and reliable services for the community.
“The work, which involved lining a sewer rising main, took place along the water’s edge at The Esplanade.
“We are lining another sewer main, including access holes, in Belmont and we have almost completed restoration of a sewer rising main in Marmong Point.
“The work refurbishes a 400-metre-long section of pipeline that runs through bushland off Marmong Street,” said Mr Thomson.
In another boost to services, Hunter Water is upgrading chemical dosing units and electrical switchboards at wastewater pumping stations, while also planning to improve pump station wells.
This work will reduce odour emissions, improve equipment reliability, and help keep crews safe while minimising maintenance costs across Hunter Water’s network.
Hunter Water’s plans are progressing on an upgrade project at Edgeworth WWTW while work will start soon on the transfer pipeline connecting the newly-built Wyee Sewer Scheme directly to the Dora Creek WWTW.
The interim arrangement of tanker trucks transferring wastewater from Wyee to the Dora Creek WWTW will end once the pipeline is completed in early 2023.