Photo: In front of the new solids screen
L to R Deputy Mayor Gordon Lambeth, Johan Guy KDC Manager, Operations (Water, waste and land drainage), Mayor Jonathan Larsen, Councillor Snow Tane
I had a visit of the work currently being undertaken at Dargaville's wastewater treatment plant yesterday, along with Deputy Mayor Gordon Lambeth and Councillor Snow Tane.
In the last few years, condition and capacity assessments of the treatment plant recommended a number of maintenance and operational upgrades. The project has a budget of $995,000.Floating baffles have been installed to make better use of the capacity of the oxidation pond.
Further work is now being carried out to install a new inlet screen which in conjunction with the baffles will -
1. Remove gross screenings (Gross solids, plastic, rags, ear buds, sanitary towels etc) from raw sewage flow and therefore the downstream unit processes
2. Reduce maintenance on primary equipment (such as the discharge pumps and aerators)
3. Reduce sludge build up, improve biological process performance, by forcing the liquid the full length and breadth of the pond, making full use of the working volume and avoiding 'dead spots'.
4. Help maintain consistency in nitrogen discharge concentration by reducing short circuiting.
5. Increased the reliability of meeting the faecal coliform discharge consent limit
6. Improve treated effluent quality.
KDC staff are doing great work upgrading these important assets for our community.
Photo: The aerator in action - unfortunately forgot my togs so couldn't use the diving platform...
