200 pressure sewer pumps installed

South East Water and South Gippsland Water have completed installation of the 200th in-ground pressure sewer pump unit as part of the Poowong, Loch and Nyora Sewer Scheme. The water authorities are working together to connect more than 370 properties across the three South Gippsland townships to a reticulated pressure sewer system, tackling the growing public health and environmental problems caused by failing septic systems.

Under the partnership, South Gippsland Water is responsible for the overall funding; defining the scope and project requirements; managing community and customer engagement. South East Water is responsible for network design and construction, as well as managing connections to the scheme.

The sewer scheme involves the installation of a pressure sewer pump in a small storage tank at each house, which connects to a reticulated network. Central to the design is a remote control telemetry system called OneBox, designed and developed by South East Water, which manages property connections on a real-time basis, regulating flows of waste into the network to optimise capacity.

Its ability to smooth peak flows means that pipes across the network can be much smaller. Aided by horizontal directional drilling, the need for expensive and large-scale excavation is eliminated. The number of pumping stations required to transport the wastewater to South East Water’s Lang Lang Recycling Plant is also reduced.

“South East Water is perfectly positioned to offer specialist services that support sewerage solutions for regional communities,” said South Gippsland Water Managing Director Philippe du Plessis. “Leveraging off their pressure sewer expertise has allowed South Gippsland Water to deliver a sewerage network on an accelerated construction timeline and at reduced cost.”

Customers have until 30 June 2016 to take advantage of subsidised connection charges. For further information, contact the South Gippsland Water Connections & Construction Team on 1800 728 256.