Projects

Plant Upgrade Minimizes Wastewater Discharge into Ocean, Maximizes Production of Recycled Water

Project Name
Eastern Treatment Plant Tertiary Upgrade
Location
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Client
Melbourne Water Corporation

Melbourne Water Corporation’s Eastern Treatment Plant (ETP) processes 40 percent of Melbourne’s wastewater each day and serves 1.6 million people. It is the second-largest wastewater treatment plant in Australia and the largest activated sludge plant in the Southern Hemisphere.

The ETP produced chlorinated secondary effluent, which was discharged via a 56-km pipeline into the ocean. The discharge point at Boags Rocks was through a nearshore outfall, and the discharge was apparent to beach users and surfers.

Class A Recycled Water

In 2006, the Victorian Government announced that the ETP-treated effluent discharge was to be upgraded to reduce its environmental impact. The Eastern Tertiary Alliance (ETA), including Melbourne Water and Black & Veatch, was subsequently formed to deliver the plant upgrade.

Black & Veatch selected a process train of ozonation, media filtration, ultraviolet irradiation and chlorination that provided significant improvements to the quality of discharge into the environment.

The process also produces Class A recycled water that can be used by the community. This has avoided the significant costs of extending the nearshore outfall.

Related Perspectives

Achieving NetZero: Leakage reduction = carbon reduction

Achieving NetZero: Leakage reduction = carbon reduction

Water is the first industrial sector in the UK to commit to a carbon zero future by 2030. In the nearer term water companies in England and Wales need to achieve a 16 percent cut in leakage by 2025. Historically leakage reduction has not been considered as a viable carbon reduction tool. With the combination of NetZero commitments and AMP7 leakage targets, however, this may be about to change.
Read more
Water hero image teaser
How are the Largest U.S. Cities Managing Rising Costs for Water and Sewer Services?
Resiliency, Redundancy Propel Push to Water Storage teaser
Resiliency, Redundancy Propel Push to Water Storage
Reducing Water Loss In Hong Kong
Reducing Water Loss In Hong Kong
Conveying Flows of Water and Information
Conveying Flows of Water and Information

Related Projects

Biosolids and Energy Recovery Facility
Biosolids facility expands sustainable reuse of embedded resources at the Michelson Water Recycling Plant

The Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) has been recycling wastewater for non‐drinking uses since the 1960s. Not one to waste resources, IRWD advanced its recycling story with a new Biosolids and Energy Recovery Facility designed by Black & Veatch.

EchoWater BNR Project
BNR complex strengthens the sustainability and resilience of a vital California environmental and water supply resource

Protecting California’s livelihood means protecting its water.

In 2010, the state mandated strict new water quality requirements in the discharge permit of the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (Regional San). The utility operates the Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (SRWTP), serving the sanitation needs of 1.6 million customers. The new regulations prompted Regional San to implement the EchoWater project, a $1.7 billion upgrade of the SRWTP.

Atlanta Water Supply Program
Black & Veatch steps in to help city complete a deep 5-mile-tunnel tunnel to a critical water supply reservoir.
To the public, the marquee feature of Atlanta’s $320 million Water Supply Program is a former rock quarry that had become a location for shooting movies and television shows.
Reedy River Basin Sewer Tunnel – Dig Greenville Teaser
Sewer Capacity Needed: A City’s Underlying Solution
A deep wastewater conveyance tunnel helps Greenville stay ahead of its growth while protecting its water quality and environment
Meet Black & Veatch

We seek partners in innovation. Let's start the conversation.

Contact Us Work with Us Stay in the Know
Industries
Services
Solutions
Company
Careers
Experience