Stage 2 Upgrade - Complete
The final component of the Stage 2 upgrade involved the removal and replacement of the media in the Activated Bio-Filter (ABF) Tower, which is part of the secondary treatment process at the WWTW. The ABF Tower contained structured timber media which supports organisms that carry out part of the secondary treatment process, primarily the removal of organic matter. The 'timber pallet' media reached the end of its life and has been replaced with longer-lasting plastic media. The ABF Tower was taken offline to enable this work to be completed.
Burwood Beach Wastewater Treatment Works
The Burwood Beach Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) is Hunter Water's largest wastewater treatment facility, treating an average daily flow of 44 million litres and servicing approximately 180,000 people (25% of Hunter Water customers).
Secondary treated effluent is discharged from the plant to the Pacific Ocean via a 1.5 km long ocean outfall. The Burwood Beach WWTW catchment extends from the Newcastle City area and suburbs to Dudley in the south, Wallsend in the west and Mayfield in the north. The current Burwood Beach WWTW was constructed in 1992 with a design capacity of 220,000 equivalent persons (EP).
The plant has recently undergone a major upgrade to improve the reliability of the existing process and ensure the plant can meet the current license conditions at its design capacity. Stage 2 construction began in September 2009 and has now been completed.
Planning has now begun for the Burwood Beach WWTW Stage 3 upgrade. A long-term strategy for effluent and biosolids management will be considered as part of the Stage 3 upgrade. The planning process will consider a range of environmental, social, technical and financial factors to ensure the most sustainable outcome for both Hunter Water and the community it services.
Marine Environmental Assesment Program - Marine Notice
Hunter Water has commenced further scientific investigations into the impact of discharges from Burwood Beach WWTW into the marine environment. The results of this study will feed into the sustainable decision making process for planning of the Stage 3 Upgrade works at Burwood Beach WWTW. This process will consider a range of environmental, social, technical and financial factors to ensure the most sustainable outcome for the environment, community and Hunter Water.
www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/marine_notices/hunter2.html, or for further information contact the Newcastle Office, Road and Maritime Services (Maritime) phone: 02 49628500.
Burwood Beach - Clean Beach Award
Hunter Water received a Highly Commended Water Conservation Award at the Keep Australia Beautiful Hunter Region Clean Beach Awards in December 2011. Hunter Water was recognised for delivering water quality improvements through previous upgrade works at the Burwood Beach wastewater treatment plant and for engaging with the community and stakeholders in planning future upgrades for the plant.
Hunter Water has commenced further scientific investigations into the impact of discharges from Burwood Beach WWTW into the marine environment. These studies will assist in the selection of sustainable long term wastewater management solutions and upgrades required as part of the Stage 3 upgrade to the WWTW, in consultation with the community and regulators. This process will consider a range of environmental, social, technical and financial factors to ensure the most sustainable outcome for the environment, community and Hunter Water.
