Hunter Water is investing $20 million in the Toronto Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW), as part of a variety of upgrades the utility is undertaking to wastewater infrastructure across Lake Macquarie City.
The Toronto WWTW upgrade is part of the utility’s $685 million investment in capital works in the region, taking place over the next four years to 2024.
The Toronto upgrade, which is expected to be completed in mid-2023, will improve the plant’s aeration tanks and energy efficiency, high voltage electrical equipment, odour control facility, and the communication and control systems.
To save on using drinking water in the plant’s processes, a new onsite recycled water system will also be installed.
Hunter Water Executive Manager Customer Delivery, Clint Thomson, said the suite of upgrades will ensure the region’s network of WWTWs continues to operate safely and reliably, as well as enhancing sustainability, environmental performance and catering for population growth.
“The project we are completing at Toronto follows several significant upgrades to our treatment plants in 2021, including at Dungog and Farley WWTWs, and forms part of the $685 million we are investing in our capital works program over the four years to 2024,” Mr Thomson said.
“We are also working across our wastewater network to improve customer experience with our services and deliver even better environmental outcomes.”
As part of the investment in upgrades across Lake Macquarie City, Hunter Water is relining sewer mains under an ongoing program to reduce overflows and service interruptions.
“Our crews in Warners Bay pushed through difficult wet weather conditions late last year to remediate a section of the wastewater network, to ensure safe and reliable services for the community,” Mr Thomson said.
“The work, which involved lining a sewer rising main, took place along the water’s edge at The Esplanade.
“We are lining another sewer main, including access holes, in Belmont and we have almost completed restoration of a sewer rising main in Marmong Point.
“The work refurbishes a 400m section of pipeline that runs through bushland off Marmong Street.”
In another boost to services, Hunter Water is upgrading chemical dosing units and electrical switchboards at wastewater pumping stations, while also planning to improve pump station wells.
This work will reduce odour emissions, improve equipment reliability, and help keep crews safe while minimising maintenance costs across Hunter Water’s network.
Hunter Water’s plans are also progressing on an upgrade project at Edgeworth WWTW; while work will start soon on the transfer pipeline connecting the newly-built Wyee Sewer Scheme directly to the Dora Creek WWTW.
The interim arrangement of tanker trucks transferring wastewater from Wyee to the Dora Creek WWTW will end once the pipeline is completed in early 2023.
