SA Water's $1.6 million upgrade

A $1.6 million upgrade of SA Water’s wastewater pump station in Queensbury is underway. The project aims to improve odour control and support ongoing residential growth.

The pump station, located in Adelaide’s western suburbs, collects more than 15 million L of sewage each day and pumps it to the utility’s Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant where it’s treated and recycled.

As part of the project, the site’s existing odour control unit — which consists of bio-filters — will be upgraded and the wastewater main that discharges sewage into the pump station will be aligned.

Amanda Lewry, General Manager of Sustainable Infrastructure, SA Water, said the upgrade will aim to minimise the impact of odour released from the network on local residents. She said treatment plants may play an essential role in protecting public health, and with the increase of residential growth in the area, the site’s capacity to extract and treat odour will be increased.

According to Lewry, the existing four bio-filters in the site’s control unit will be replaced and two more will be added. These filters harness air to help microorganisms break up organic material in sewage.

In addition to this, two activated carbon filters will be added to the site to double the extraction rate. These will help neutralise odours by trapping molecules in a process called adsorption.

The combined processes are expected to eliminate 99% of odour, according to Lewry.

“As part of the project, we’re also realigning a section of the pipe along Davidson Avenue that brings sewage into the pump station, to relocate the point at which it releases odour, so it’s better contained to the site. There is still potential for a slight aroma, particularly on hot and still days, but the upgrades we’re delivering will keep this to a minimum,” she said.

The project is expected to be completed by early 2023.