Yarra Valley Water to probe Park Orchards

Yarra Valley Water is using water-quality monitoring probes as part of a trial to deliver sewerage services to the Melbourne suburb of Park Orchards. According to project manager David Diaz, the probes will help monitor the health of the local environment to assess whether containing all treated sewage from septic tanks on each property is an environmentally sound sewerage solution.

“Sewerage servicing options have continually evolved and septic tank technology has improved and dropped in cost,” Diaz stated. “Providing that the tank is maintained and appropriately designed, this option is now worth considering again.”

The environmental monitoring will happen periodically for the next four years inside a trial area of 100 properties, including Park Orchards Primary School and the main local shops. The probes will be placed firmly in the ground on properties of willing participants, where they will gather local data.

“We will monitor the local environment before, during and after upgrades to septic tanks are completed,” Diaz explained. “Monitoring will involve collecting information about septic discharge quality, local stormwater quality, local weather and groundwater conditions. We will liaise with EPA Victoria, Department of Primary Industries, Manningham City Council and the Department of Health to ensure their requirements are met.”

Diaz noted that the local community participation rate is currently 96% from trial residents. He thanked the participants for their cooperation in what “could be a truly groundbreaking trial”, noting that its findings will be “of huge significance in understanding how water can be re-used within a community”.

To find out more about the Park Orchards Sewerage Project, visit www.yvw.com.au/parkorchardsbacklog.