Unitywater builds new Sunshine Coast sewerage network

To keep up with our region’s ever-growing population, roughly 25 Unitywater staff and contractors worked for four days to improve the existing sewerage network. 

The Unitywater team used a $17.7 million pipeline, which ran from Mountain Creek to Kawana, to guide sewerage out of areas with high growth rates such as Mountain Creek, Sippy Downs, and areas in southern Maroochydore.  

Amanda Creevy, the Unitywater Executive Manager for Sustainable Infrastructure Solutions commented on the project, that the mega-commissioning was a complex undertaking for many reasons.

Ms Creevey said, “the keystone was the completion of new treatment infrastructure at Kawana STP, which is part of a $74 million upgrade. It allowed many pieces of new and old infrastructure to be integrated, fulfilling our strategic plan for Kawana STP to service multiple surrounding high-growth areas, now and into the future.”

A key contribution to the new sewerage network was two upgraded sewerage pumping stations at Mountain Creek, which were 132kw and 90kw. These upgrades improved the innovative pressure vessel, which prevents the network from surges that exert unwanted force on the system. These strains can cause bursts or sewerage spills. 

In 2018, when the Mountain Creek to Kawana sewer rising main pipeline was constructed, it was filled with 1.4ML of river water. Over time, the river water in the 3.2km by 900mm pipe deteriorated. 

According to Ms Creevey, “If this volume of stale, silty water had been directed straight into the new Kawana STP, it would have overwhelmed the anaerobic digester, killing the bacteria that do the treatment work.” 

“However, the old STP could accept and treat the water, so some carefully timed diversions directed the pipe contents to the old STP, before the sewage following along in the pipe was redirected to the new STP.”

This sewerage management and development project by Unitywater has certainly set up the local area for years in the future. Express Wastewater can help develop your local sewerage system for the near future. 

Reference - https://utilitymagazine.com.au/unitywater-brings-new-sewerage-network-to-life/