The Transferability of Recycled Water Treatment Systems across Various

Decentralised Scales

Angel HoDecentralised Systems Project

18 August 2009

Urban Water Security Research Alliance

Co Authors

Ted GardnerDERM & CSIRO

Cara BealDERM

Ashok SharmaCSIRO

Barry HoodDERM

Pressures on Pressures on Urban AreasUrban Areas

• Population growth• Constrained water

& wastewater infrastructure

• Climate change• Carbon tax

• 50,000 new residents each year

• 754,000 new homes by 2031

ProblemsProblems

New development

SolutionSolution………… Upgrade the STP Upgrade the STP

($70M) ?($70M) ? oror

Build a decentralised Build a decentralised plant?plant?

Nambour STP

Ever increasing loads on existing STPs

Research Aim

•• Can decentralised WWT&R systems be Can decentralised WWT&R systems be incorporated into mainstream urban incorporated into mainstream urban developments?developments?

We examine three cluster-scale systems to explore how sustainable the systems are

– GHG emissions and residual production– Robustness to variations in loads– Challenge/opportunity presented when they

scale up for larger developments

Capo Di Monte Retirement Village

46 one/two bedroom houses… for over 50s

Communal Resort… heating swimming pool using rainwater

Irrigation with recycled Water

Capo Di Monte WWT&R PlantKubota MBR system

Capacity: 115 EP

ADWF: 11 kL/day

Required RW quality:

BOD5 :10 mg/L; TSS: 10 mg/L

TN: 10 mg/L; TP: 5 mg/L

E.coli: 10 colony /100 mL

Protozoa/virus: 10 col/100 mL

Min Cl2 residue: 1 mg/L

MLSS and the Transmembrane Flux & Pressure

Wastewater gravity fed to storage tankbefore anoxic chamber and MBR

The MBR Plant

UV treatment of recycled water

MBR

A 2008 view of the Ecovillage looking east to the ocean

The Currumbin Ecovillage110 houses (400-1600 m2)

1st Flush Diversion

Tank

Pressure Pump and UV

Covered Recycled Water Pond

Potable Water Supply to House

Wastewater Collection System

Recycled Water Distribution

Household Toilet Flushing and Garden Watering

Recycled Water Supply to Open Space Irrigation

To Currumbin Creek

Site Stormwater Runoff

Tank Overflow

Fire Hydrants(future)

Possible Supplement by Borewater

Balance Tanks

The EcoVillage at Currumbin Schematic

UV dosing

ClNTU

SPS

Emergency Storage

WWTPWTP

WSUD

Primary Tanks

Anoxic / Recirc

Orenco Textile Filters

Memcor CMF

The Currumbin Ecovillage WWT&R Plant

Textile filter

Textile Filter

Underground filter pods

Activated carbon filter for odour treatment

The recycled water treatment plant

Microfiltration

UV treatment of

recycled water

The northern most surf beach on the east coast of

Australia… at “Sunrise” 1770

Typical houses

(172)

Communal resort for scientists

Sunrise @1770 WWT&R Plant

Anoxic tanks

Sonic disintegrator

Sewage Pump Station

Zeolite filters

Key AreasEnergy & flow metering at key treatment process components

Process applicability

WW characteristicsflow ranges & variationefficiency & effectiveness

Robustness Hydraulic shock loadsCOD shock loads

SpaceFootprintAccessibilityExpansion

GHG emissions

Energy Fugitive GHG

CAPEXOPEXCost

Receiving environment

Odour & noiseSludge productionLand application

Quality measurement gas, liquid and sludgeSolids, BOD, COD nitrogen, phosphorus & microorganisms

fugitive GHG emissions

Mass balance & kinetic Model (e.g.ASM1)Estimate oxygen consumptionEstimate sludge productionEvaluate key variables influencing

treatment performance

Life Cycle Costing

Data for Life Cycle Assessment

Virtual application to SEQ greenfield developmentsVirtual application to SEQ greenfield developments

Methods

Thank youThank you

www.urbanwateralliance.org.au

Contact:Email: angel.ho@csiro.au