02/07/2015

SewagetreatmentattheEasternTreatmentPlantMelbourneWater

Sewage treatment process

Sewage at the Eastern Treatment Plantgoes through three treatment stages to produce ClassA
recycled water.

View the sewage treatment process in more detail (JPG, 101.74 KB)[1]

Primary treatment
Primary treatment includes:
filtering out large objects like cotton buds, rags and other rubbish, using fine screens
aerating the sewage to remove finer particles like grit and sand
sedimentation, where heavy items sink to the bottom forming a layer called sludge the
settled sludge and floating debris is pumped to larger tanks, known as digesters, where it is
broken down by bacteria

Secondary treatment
In secondary treatment, different types of bacteria exist side by side in aerobic (with oxygen)
and anoxic (without oxygen) environments, breaking down organic material and removing
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nutrients in the plant's aeration tanks. The water then passes through sedimentation tanks
where more sludge settles to the bottom to finally produce clear treated water at the top, also
known as secondary effluent.
The treated secondaryeffluent flows to large holding ponds before it enters the tertiary
treatment stage of the plant.

Tertiary treatment

In 2012, the plant was upgraded to treat effluentto an advanced tertiary standard. This
process adds several additional steps including:
ozone and UV disinfection
biological filtration to reduce ammonia, oil and grease, foam, litter and solids
chlorination

The treated water is then recycled or discharged to the marine environment at Boags
Rocks,under strictEPA Victoria licence requirements.
StepThe tertiary supply pump lifts effluent from the secondary stage out of holding basins,
1 whereupon it enters the advanced tertiary treatment plant.
Step Ozone is added for disinfection, to reduce colour and odour, and to optimise the rest of
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the treatment process.

tep Biological filters containinghelpful bacteria biodegrade the organic matter and reduce
S
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ammonia, oil and grease, foam, litter and solids.
Step M

ore disinfection using ozone, which isgenerated on-site from oxygen.

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Step

Exposure to ultraviolet light for further disinfection.

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Step Treated water enters two large chlorine contact basins, wherechlorine is addedas part of

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the disinfection process. The basins also feed the treated water to the outfall pump
station.
Step T

ertiary treated water is transferred to the outfall pump station where some is recycled.
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The remainder is discharged to the ocean under strict EPA Victoria licence requirements.
View an illustration of the key stages of the advanced tertiary process (JPG, 202.08 KB)[2]

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Links
1. http://www.melbournewater.com.au/whatwedo/treatsewage/PublishingImages/etp_process_large.jpg
2. http://www.melbournewater.com.au/whatwedo/treatsewage/PublishingImages/etp_upgrade.jpg

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