Apr
30
Coliban Water digs trenchless technology

Blog Co-ordinator

Coliban Water has been utilising trenchless technology for its major pipeline projects and routine main renewals program.

Trenchless methods have been used in the Bendigo Creek Sewer Duplication and Back Creek Siphon projects, and for the routine renewal of water and sewer mains.

The benefits of trenchless methods of pipeline construction and renewal include the prevention of damage to trees and root systems caused by excavation and the protection of local wildlife and fauna.

Less construction machinery is needed for excavation and reinstatement work, which means substantially less carbon emissions: on average 90 per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than open cut excavations.

Road closures and disruption to residents and businesses around construction sites are also reduced.

Some of our trenchless projects and methods for main renewal include:

Bendigo Creek Sewer Duplication
The construction of 6.1km of pipeline for Stage 2 of the Bendigo Creek Sewer Duplication project comprised of 30 per cent trenchless work.

The pipeline passed through environmentally sensitive areas, such as the Bendigo Creek, and through residential streets and high traffic areas.

Laser boring techniques were used to minimise the impact on wildlife and vegetation, customers’ properties and traffic flow, as well as avoiding damaging telecommunication and power cables.

About 1.3 km of the sewer main was located within Bendigo Creek, where heritage-listed features, such as the blue stone channel, were not disturbed.

Stage 2 of the project was completed four months ahead of schedule and under budget.

Back Creek Siphon
The 90-year-old Back Creek Siphon, located near Malmsbury, is an historic and important piece of infrastructure, connecting two sections of the Coliban Main Channel across a 37-metre deep valley and under the weir across Back Creek.

The pipeline had exceeded its useful life but it was important that the upgrade kept the historical integrity of the pipeline intact.

By installing  the new 1.3 metre diameter pipe inside the existing 1.5 metre diameter pipe, the historical integrity of the pipeline was retained and the excavation of the surrounding countryside was kept to a minimum.

Pipe bursting
Replacing water mains by pipe bursting is part of our routine renewal program and has an annual budget of around $1 million.

The process involves bursting the existing main by pulling a cone through the pipe with the new polyethylene pipe attached. A temporary service is put in place to ensure there is no disruption to customers.

Studies show that compared to open cut trenching, pipe bursting can cut the time it takes to replace a main by more than 50 per cent.

To see pipe bursting in action view the video below or > click here

Cured In Place Pipe (CIPP)
CIPP is a trenchless method for repairing sewer pipelines and has been used to reline a sewer close to Bendigo’s historic Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Existing sewer maintenance holes can be used as access points for this work so there is less excavation of footpaths and nature strip, and no damage to trees.

CIPP technology is based on the principle of a liner being inserted directly into the existing pipe and then thermally cured. Once hardened it can handle high loads under pressure even without the old pipe in place.

Rib-Loc relining
Another trenchless technology we currently use to renew sewer mains is Rib-Loc relining.

This technique involves spiral winding a continuous plastic strip directly into a deteriorated sewer pipe.

The edges of the strip interlock as it is spirally wound to form a continuous watertight liner inside the pipe restoring the structural integrity of the aging main.

For more information on other methods of trenchless techniques we use visit the Water and Sewer Main Renewal project page on our website.

Bookmark and Share

Feb
23
Water security and meeting our region’s demand

Blog Co-ordinator

Bendigo’s urban water demand is expected to more than double in the next 50 years and according to the CSIRO a 2°C rise in temperature by 2060 would reduce rainfall in our region by around 14% and reduce inflows by 20% to 30%.

What are the actions needed to augment our system to address population growth and potential climate variability?

How do we maintain a balance between the demand for water and the available supply?

We’re planning for the future and welcome your feedback and comments on our draft water security plans.

Every five years water corporations in Victoria review their 50 year Water Supply Demand Strategies for urban supply systems.

In our region we have 49 towns across nine different water supply areas and each area has its own Water Supply Demand Strategy.

The official feedback period for the draft strategies is up to Monday 27 February, but we welcome your comments at any time.

Final versions will be submitted to the Department of Sustainability and Environment at the end of March 2012.

Each document includes a mix of water security measures to maintain a balance between customer demand and water availability.

The documents for each supply area can be found the Water Supply Demand Strategy page on our website > click here

We launched our last water security strategy in 2006 – Waterplan 2055 and you can find a  five year progress report is on the Water Supply Demand Strategy page.

Further information and requests for hard copies of the Water Supply and Demand Strategy for your area can be made to 1300 363 200 or email coliban@coliban.com.au

Coliban Northern Forecast Demand

Bookmark and Share

Jan
25
Leading edge water treatment process for Gunbower

Blog Co-ordinator

The quality and reliability of drinking water for Coliban Water customers in Gunbower is to be substantially improved by a sustainable, leading-edge water treatment process.

Around 260 customers will benefit from magnetic ion exchange (MIEX®) technology installed as part of our $4.1 million upgrade to the Gunbower Water Treatment Plant.

Developed by Australian company Orica and CSIRO, the MIEX® system is an additional pre-treatment process for the raw water supplied from Taylors Creek.

The quality of the raw water can fluctuate throughout the year and in extreme weather events. The new process will make the plant more robust to cope with the changes.

The process involves MIEX® Resin beads which work similarly to a magnet, attracting dissolved matter in the raw water, such as dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and other common contaminants.

By removing undesirable matter there is less need for larger doses of chlorine, and the water’s clarity, taste and odour can be improved.

Other benefits include improved efficiencies for parts of the plant further down the treatment process, such as reduced contaminants in the membrane filters and low waste volumes.

There are currently five plants in Australia operating the MIEX® system and Gunbower will be the sixth and the third in Victoria.

General Manager Infrastructure Dr Dharma Dharmabalan said:  “We are committed to improving water quality for all our customers.

“The process adopted at Gunbower will be able to cope with fluctuating raw water quality well into the future and will improve the overall efficiency of the plant.

“The upgrade will also give more operational flexibility and address a number of occupational health and safety concerns that have been identified at the site.”

Work on the upgrade commenced in August 2011 and it is planned to be fully operational in April 2012.

Once the upgrade is completed, the Gunbower Water Treatment Plant will be capable of processing around 700,000 litres of water per day.

To view photographs of the upgrade see the slide show below and to visit the Gunbower Water Treatment Plant project page > click here

Bookmark and Share

Dec
23
A happy and safe festive season

Blog Co-ordinator

Coliban Water wishes all our customers a happy and safe festive season.

We thought you might like to see some beautiful aerial photographs of our three major catchment storages near Kyneton: Malmsbury, Lauriston and Upper Coliban.

The photos were taken in December by our Board Director, Noel Harvey.

Our Catchment Storages on 23 December 2011 are at 95.6% (66,522 megalitres). For more information and to visit our Reservoir Levels page > click here

 

 

 

Bookmark and Share

Dec
06
Birdlife booming at Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant

Blog Co-ordinator

Birdlife at the Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant is booming.

The plant treats wastewater for Coliban Water’s 88,000 customers in Bendigo and includes the Bendigo Water Factory, which produces recycled water for use on public gardens, sporting facilities and irrigation in the Bendigo area.

The site’s 67 hectares of lagoons and treatment ponds makes excellent habitat for wildlife and attracts thousands of birds, with 112 species recorded at the site including threatened species such as the Freckled Duck, Blue-billed Duck and the Australasian Shoveler.

The plant is part of the ‘Land for Wildlife’ program, run by the Department of Sustainability and Environment to encourage landholders to provide habitat for wildlife even though the property may be managed for other purposes.

Land for Wildlife has been in operation since 1981. There are now more than 5,900 Victorian Land for Wildlife properties managing over 560,000 hectares as wildlife habitat.

For the past year the birds at the Bendigo plant have been monitored by bird watching enthusiast and photographer Ian Mayo.

Ian visits the plant on a monthly basis and has been able to record a pattern of the birdlife that passes through, visits for food or makes the site its home.

He spots around 35 species of birds on every visit and in his most recent visit with three other birders they spotted 62 species. 

Ian says that every time he visits the plant he sees something new.

“You see the full cycle of life. One time I witnessed a mass hatching of dragonflies, popping out of their cocoons, drying their wings and flying off. Suddenly a family of Rainbow Bee-eaters came swooping down and snapped up the dragonflies,” says Ian.

“I’m a fan of the raptors – Swamp Harriers, Whistling Kites and especially the Black-shouldered Kite. They’re big birds so they are easier to photograph.”

As well as birds, seven frog species have been found at the plant, including the Growling Grass Frog, which is endangered in Victoria.

The site also contains remnant Box Ironbark and Grassy Woodland vegetation.

For a list of birds spottted at the Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant on 5 December 2011 > click here

 To view some of Ian’s photos of birds at the Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant see the slide show below.

 

Bookmark and Share

Oct
18
Proposed changes to Permanent Water Saving Rules – have your say

Blog Co-ordinator

A statewide review of the current Permanent Water Saving Rules (PWSR) is taking place across Victoria and Coliban Water customers can have their say.

PWSR are common sense rules that apply at all times when water restrictions are not in place.

The proposed changes will make these rules consistent for all Victorians.

The biggest change proposed for Coliban Water customers is the removal of the odds and evens watering system. Under the new proposal watering can take place on any day.

A summary of the proposed PWSR are:
• A hand-held hose must be fitted with a trigger nozzle and can be used to wash your car and water your gardens and lawns at any time.
• Watering systems can only be used to water residential and commercial gardens and lawns between 6 pm – 10 am, any day of the week.
• Watering systems can only be used to water public gardens, lawns and playing surfaces between 6 pm – 10 am any day of the week, and only if fitted with a rain or soil moisture sensor. Public gardens, lawns and playing surfaces can also be watered in accordance with an approved Water Use Plan.
• Water cannot be used in a fountain or a water feature unless it re-circulates the water.
• Hosing down driveways, paths, concrete, timber decking and other paved areas is not permitted except in limited circumstances.

A summary is available on our website, along with the proposed Permanent Water Saving Plan and a form for your feedback. These can also be picked up from our Bendigo office or mailed to you. Call our Customer Contact Centre on 1300 363 200.

All submissions must be in writing and must be received by 5pm on Thursday, 17 November 2011.

As well the review of PWSR, submissions are also being invited by the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) on the proposed Model Water Restriction By-Law.

You can download a copy of the proposed By-Law and a feedback form on the DSE website.

Feedback must be provided in writing by 5pm on Monday 21 November 2011.

Bookmark and Share

Sep
01
Work on the historic Back Creek Siphon nears completion

Blog Co-ordinator

We began work to upgrade the Back Creek Siphon pipeline, located near Malmsbury, in June 2011, almost 90 years after the original concrete pipeline was built.

The original pipeline was constructed in 1921 and is an important piece of infrastructure, connecting two sections of the Coliban Main Channel across a 37-metre deep valley and under the weir across Back Creek.

The upgrade involved installing 600 metres of a new 1.3 metre diameter pipe inside the existing 1.5 metre diameter pipe to retain the historical significance of the pipeline and limit excavation.

After the new pipe was in place, grout was injected between the two pipes to fill the void and prevent movement.

Construction work is now coming to an end, with reinstatement work and preparation for pressure testing already underway, and we plan to have water flowing through the siphon this month.

We hope it will be at least another 90 years before it needs upgrading again.

Blog Co-ordinator

For photos of the original construction from 1921 and the construction work on the upgrade see the slide show below and for more information visit the Back Creek Siphon project page.

Bookmark and Share

Aug
11
What’s ahead – join the conversation

Blog Co-ordinator

GenericBlogIcon_280pxThis Blog was launched in December 2009 as the Managing Director’s Blog with a post about our pricing proposal for the next three years.

Since then we’ve continued to post on pricing and a whole range of other subjects from storages and flooding to projects and pine trees.

It’s been encouraging to see our visitor numbers steadily increase but we value what our customers and communities have to say and want more of your comments, opinions and suggestions.

Our region faces many important challenges with a growing population and changing climate.

Our vision is to be a leader in sustainable water resource management and add to the prosperity of our region.

We will continue to publish our Blog with various contributors writing about a variety of topics.

We hope you will join the conversation.

Blog Co-ordinator

You can also find us on Twitter and Flickr.

Bookmark and Share

Aug
05
Farewell!

Gavin Hanlon

Thanks to everyone who has read and contributed to the MD’s Blog.

I’m leaving Coliban Water to move to Goulburn-Murray Water.

I’m sure this Blog will live on in a new form.

Gavin

Bookmark and Share

Jun
08
Castlemaine Water Reclamation Plant upgrade

Gavin Hanlon

I visited the Castlemaine Water Reclamation Plant with our Chairman, John Brooke, last week for a walk-through of the recently completed upgrade.

The last time I was there it was a construction site so it was impressive to see the transformation to state-of-the-art plant, all carried out with no interruption to customer wastewater services and no impact on the environment.

The upgrade improves efficiency and ensures the plant will continue to cope with population growth in Castlemaine, Maldon and Newstead well into the future.

Another important part of the $6.9 million upgrade was the installation of a tank roof and biofilters to reduce the smell generated by the treatment process.

Looking around it was difficult to tell that you were in a plant that treats up to five megalitres of wastewater every day, which is then reused or safely discharged back to the environment.

Here are some photos of the plant and construction work.

Gavin


Bookmark and Share