Sewerage plant maintenance may cause smell for residents

Date: Monday, 14th September 2009

Townsville Water has engaged a contractor for the removal of biosolids from three of the city’s treatment plants and residents in nearby areas have been advised they may experience unpleasant odours during the operation.

Work is underway to de-sludge holding lagoons at the Condon, Nelly Bay and the Mt St John sewerage plants as part of scheduled maintenance.

Townsville Water director Ken Diehm said the work would ensure the plants could continue to meet environmental licence conditions set by the Department of Environment and Resource Management.

“The work has to be done to keep our plants operating efficiently, but the unfortunate side effect for residents living in areas nearby is the smell,” Mr Diehm said.

“With blustery conditions prevailing at the moment the unpleasant odour will be noticeable at certain times and places, but I can assure residents that the contractor will be working over weekends to expedite the process and minimise inconvenience.”

Work started today at the Condon plant and will take up to a week, including Saturday.

After that, de-watering will begin at Nelly Bay for about two weeks and then work will resume at Mt St John for about four to five weeks.

At all three plants, the sludge located in a lagoon will be mixed, removed and pumped to a trailer-mounted centrifuge to separate the solids from the liquid. The liquid will then be returned to the lagoon, while the solids are stockpiled and removed by a truck.

Biosolids removed during the process will be beneficially re-used for soil enrichment.

All three water treatment plants are in the vicinity of residential or industrial areas. Council will undertake a letterbox drop in the days before work begins at any of the sites.

Questions or concerns should be directed to the Customer Service Centre on 4727 9000.