11 December 2023
To reduce odour and improve recycled water quality at the Lakes Entrance Water Recycling Plant, East Gippsland Water (EGW) is commencing desludging works this month.
Sludge is the organic material removed during the wastewater recycling process from sewage generated by the community. These solids then undergo further treatment in the plant’s sludge lagoon.
EGW Executive Manager Sustainability and Infrastructure, Neville Pearce said: “The existing sludge lagoon at the Lakes Entrance Water Recycling Plant is nearing its capacity, so desludging the lagoon is necessary. This will have the benefit of reducing odour and improving recycled water quality.
“Desludging is the process of dewatering, reducing and removing quantities of sludge from the lagoon to increase its efficiency. The sludge is then stored to mature for three years, this then turns into biosolids which, after further treatment, can be applied to land for agricultural purposes.
“We will be removing approximately 1,100 dry tonnes of sludge from the lagoon, where it will then be transported to our storage facilities at Bruces Track near Kalimna and Newmerella towards Corringle. The removal of the sludge will take around three to four months to complete.”
Around two to three truckloads of material will be transported each day, in fully enclosed, sealed, water-tight trailers with waterproof covers by Epsom Environmental Services, who have been contracted to complete the works.
EGW will be working closely with Epsom to minimise disruption to the community as works will need to occur on weekends and finish before winter.
In addition to the desludging works, other improvements are also being undertaken at the Lakes Entrance Water Recycling Plant with the upgrading of two Primary Sedimentation Tanks.
Sedimentation tanks are used in the wastewater recycling treatment process, where sewage is stored for a period of time to remove particles in the water that fall to the bottom of the tank due to gravity.
The works include clarifier upgrades, as well as civil works related to road access to the Primary Sedimentation Tanks and inlet screens general area.
Jaydo, a water infrastructure construction company, is the contractor undertaking these works which are due to be completed in the next few weeks.
For further information regarding the Lakes Entrance Desludging Project, please call 1800 671 841.
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