November 2005

Water Reuse in the Alice Project Update

The Water Reuse in the Alice project will cease dry weather overflows into the Ilparpa swamp from the Alice Springs waste stabilisation ponds. Instead of letting this precious water resource go to waste, it will be treated so it can be reused for irrigation in horticulture at the Arid Zone Research Institute.

The Water Reuse in the Alice web site has also been updated recently and can be found at www.waterreuse.nt.gov.au

Milestones met

Treatment Plant Prequalification Process Starts
Advertising seeking prequalification of tenders for the supply and installation of process equipment for the Dissolved Air Flotation Plant commenced in late October 2005. The treatment plant will be constructed in 2006 at the waste stabilisation ponds.

Funding Approval for Stage Two of ‘Water Reuse in the Alice’

In September 2005 the Power and Water Corporation Board of Directors approved $4.1 million for the second stage of the Water Reuse in the Alice project that will treat the effluent from the Alice Springs waste stabilisation ponds before it is pumped to the Arid Zone Research Institute. This brings Power and Water’s funding commitment to the project to $10.4 million.

Mosquito Numbers Continue to Drop

Since the start of the ‘Water Reuse in the Alice’ project, mosquito numbers in the Ilparpa swamp have dropped dramatically. The Department of Health and Community Services have been monitoring the figures and stated in the 2003/2004 Alice Springs Vector Surveillance and Control Annual Regional Report that “The drainage scheme in conjunction with the effluent discharge practices, dramatically reduced mosquito breeding in the swamp.”

Public Environment Report Approved

The Minister for the Environment has approved the Public Environment Report that was submitted by Power and Water Corporation and the Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines. The Assessment Report by the Office of Environment and Heritage did direct the proponents to submit environmental management plans that will be regularly monitored and audited throughout the life of the project to further ensure there are no adverse environmental effects as a result of ‘Water Reuse in the Alice’.

New storage tank constructed for project

A three-megalitre storage tank has been constructed at the waste stabilisation ponds. This tank will store the recycled water before it gets pumped down to the Arid Zone Research Institute.

Soil aquifer treatment trials completed

Hyrdogeologists from the Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts, and water recycling experts from the CSIRO conducted extensive tests in 2004 on the suitability of soil aquifer treatment systems for the Water Reuse in the Alice project. Their results found that the proposed site for underground water storage in a natural geological formation at the Arid Zone Research Institute would be ideal. Benefits from storing water underground, as opposed to aboveground in a storage tank include:

• No water loss from evaporation.
• The recycled water is further purified as it is infiltrated into the underground aquifer.
• No mosquito breeding.
• Larger amounts of water can be stored.
• Water can remain underground for many years and pumped out when it is most needed.

Purple pipeline completed

A 6.2 kilometre pipeline from the waste stabilisation ponds to the Arid Zone Research Institute was completed in 2004. The pipeline is coloured purple in accordance with Australian standards to highlight that it contains recycled water.

Power and Water Funds Ilparpa Swamp Rehabilitation

In 2003 Power and Water committed $220,000 to help rehabilitate Ilparpa swamp. The Ilparpa swamp sub-committee was formed to create an action plan and the Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts will use these funds to assist the rehabilitation process.

Power and Water Announces Water Reuse in the Alice

In 2003 Power and Water announced it would fund stage one of the Water Reuse in the Alice project with $6.3 million. This innovative project will stop dry weather overflows into Ilparpa swamp from the Alice Springs waste stabilisation ponds and recycle effluent water so it can be reused as irrigation in horticulture, rather than letting it go to waste. In September 2005 a further $4.1 million was committed to stage two of the project as well by Power and Water, bringing the total to $10.4 million.

Drain constructed to tackle mosquito breeding

In 2001 Power and Water and the Alice Springs Town Council constructed a drain at Ilparpa swamp so a new pumping strategy to interrupt mosquito breeding cycles could be implemented. This has resulted in a large reduction of mosquito numbers in the area.

Project milestones in the pipeline

• Construction of the soil aquifer treatment basins at the Arid Zone Research Institute will commence in 2006.
• The Dissolved Air Flotation treatment plant at the waste stabilisation ponds will also be constructed in 2006.
• Once the Dissolved Air Flotation treatment plant and the soil aquifer treatment basins are constructed, water recycling can commence. The Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines will then commence horticulture projects at the Arid Zone Research Institute that will use the recycled water for irrigation.

Visit www.powerwater.com.au for more information on this project.