Luggage Point marked for organic wastewater treatment technology

Construction of a full-scale sidestream ANITA Mox treatment plant will commence later this year at Urban Utilities’ Luggage Point Resource Recovery Centre in Brisbane. The plant will use Anammox bacteria to break down nitrogen in wastewater, requiring less energy and chemicals than traditional treatment processes.

Veolia Water Technologies and Urban Utilities will work together to install the technology in what is an exciting development for the wastewater treatment industry.

Once completed, the plant will treat 1 ML per day of high-ammonia sludge concentrate produced by the plant’s main treatment processes. The project is expected to save up to $500,000 per year in operational costs at the plant.

Traditional wastewater treatment produces a liquid by-product with high nitrogen loads, which is returned to the head of the plant for treatment. This process contributes significantly to the plant’s operating costs and requires a costly carbon addition and electricity for aeration. In contrast, the ANITA Mox solution is a robust, single-stage ammonia and total nitrogen removal biofilm process that utilises Anammox bacteria, offering a chemical-free treatment process that requires much less energy.

Urban Utilities Treatment and Production General Manager Peter Donaghy shared that the company has been researching the use of Anammox bacteria with The University of Queensland’s Advanced Water Management Centre for more than 10 years.

“Based on our preliminary research and work to develop Anammox bacteria seed, we made a decision in 2015 to work with Veolia to grow Anammox bugs into a booming farm at our Innovation Centre. This project is a great example of taking a new and innovative approach and making it part of our daily operations to help us cut costs, increase treatment capacity at the plant, and benefit the environment at the same time.”

As the Anammox bacterium cannot be imported into Australia, the sidestream plant will operate as a biofarm, making it possible for Veolia to harvest the seeds for use in future ANITA Mox projects within Australia.

“This development signals a new chapter for the wastewater treatment industry in Australia and offers other municipal service providers the opportunity to see the positive impact this innovative and environmentally friendly solution can bring to their treatment plants,” Veolia Water Technologies Client Manager Karen Shaw said.