Download Sydney`s Taronga Zoo Water Reclamation Plant

TARONGA ZOO SAFE
The water reclamation plant at Sydney‘s Taronga Zoo treats storm
and animal cage washdown water to produce recycled water for
toilet flushing, landscape irrigation, animal and ornamental pond
replenishment.
WATER FIT FOR PURPOSE
Even the dirtiest water can to treated to highest quality drinking
standard. However, there are cost, technical and community
acceptance reasons why this is very rare at the present time. The
public health concerns of health authorities mean that treatment must
involve multiple barriers and extensive monitoring. This increases
complexity and cost.
Generally, drinking water is sourced from good quality river or ground
water. Storm and wastewater undergoes biological treatment to
remove BOD, clarification to remove solids that will settle and different
degrees of filtration and disinfection depending on the application.
Non potable water used for toilet flushing and garden irrigation in an
urban environment is given very rigorous treatment. It is treated to
the point where it has the microbiological quality of drinking water but
may contain dissolved nutrients (beneficial for irrigation) and salts
above the acceptable level for safe drinking.
TARONGA ZOO RECLAMATION PLANT
Taronga Zoo undertook to improve storm and wastewater
management by utilising urban, non-potable water. A decision was
made to upgrade the site‘s existing storm and wastewater treatment
facilities. This improved site discharge and treated a significant
proportion of the partially treated water to a standard suitable for
reuse within the site.
PROCESSES USED INCLUDE:
•
•
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Biological treatment & clarification
Microfiltration (CMF)
Ultra-violet (UV) sterilisation
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Application
Effluent polishing / reuse
Market
Tourism, leisure, wastewater
Country
Australia
Client
Sydney Taronga Zoo
Capacity
0.6 MLD (0.16 MGD)
QUALITY MONITORING
As part of the Zoo‘s discharge/reuse licence, NSW
Health and the EPA conducted an intensive 30 day
monitoring of plant performance before the reclaimed
water was used, with regular monitoring thereafter. The
reclaimed water quality meets the NSW Guidelines for
Urban and Residential Use of Reclaimed Water (May
1993).
Infection by Cryptosporidium Parvum can occur from
person to person contact, or from water contaminated
by human or animal faeces. Giardia lamblia is a similar
parasite, inhibiting water, fat and vitamin uptake in the
bowel.
Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts are
universally present in domestic wastewater. They are
remarkably resistant to chemicals, heat, UV radiation and
chlorine disinfection.
CONTAMINANTS IN WATER
In contrast to the treatments for bacteria and viruses,
Contaminants are generally classified as: microbiological, which can be inactivated by chlorine, effective water
suspended solids and dissolved solids.
treatment for protozoa attempts to remove them rather
Micro-biological organisms include bacteria, viruses and than kill them.
Suspended Solids include dust, river sediments and
protozoa:
human and animal wastes. Most solid matter in sewage
Bacteria
is organic. The concentration of both suspended and
Waterborne bacteria include: cholera, faecal coliforms,
dissolved organic material is measured in terms of
salmonella and legionella, to name a few. They are easy
the Biological Oxygen Demand - BOD. Gross solids
to treat when present in water and can be removed by
are removed by screening. Fine solids are removed by
microfiltration, ultra filtration or inactivated by chlorine,
clarification and/or filtration. Fine colloidal solids are
UV , Ozonation or heat.
deceptively dangerous as they shield human pathogens
from the disinfectants.
Viruses
Although they cannot multiply outside the tissues
of infected hosts, some viruses can survive in the
environment and remain infective for long periods.
Viruses can be removed by ultra-filtration and to a
significant extent by micro-filtration.
MEMBRANE SOLUTIONS
MEMCOR membrane systems from Evoqua Water
Technologies represent the broadest range of
lowpressure membrane filtration products - submerged,
pressurised, large capacity or small systems. They
Like bacteria they can be inactivated by chlorine, UV,
continue to be successfully employed in applications
ozone and heat. Viruses are typically 100 times smaller
as diverse as wastewater reuse, potable water, RO
than bacteria and are much more difficult to detect. More
pretreatment, high solids and sand filter retrofits.
waterborne disease outbreaks are caused by viruses
rather than bacteria.
Protozoa
Protozoa are single celled organisms found in moist soil,
fresh water and oceans. The majority pose no significant
health risks. In recent years however, two protozoa,
Cryptosporidium and Giardia have been of great concern
in the community.
885 Mountain Highway, Bayswater, VIC, 3153, Australia
1300 661 809 (Ph) / +61 3 8720 6597 (Int)
1300 661 708 (Fax) / +61 3 8720 6502 (Int)
www.evoqua.com.au
MEMCOR is a trademark of Evoqua, its subsidiaries or affiliates in some countries.
All information presented herein is believed reliable and in accordance with accepted engineering practices. Evoqua makes no
warranties as to the completeness of this information. Users are responsible for evaluating individual product suitability for specific
applications. Evoqua assumes no liability whatsoever for any special, indirect or consequential damages arising from the sale, resale
or misuse of its products.
© 2014 Evoqua Water Technologies Pty Ltd
Subject to change without notice
MC-TARONGA-AU-CS-A4-0714