Moora trial centralised biosolids storage facility
We completed a 3-year trial of a centralised biosolids storage facility at Annadale Farm, near Moora.
The trial's primary purpose was be to gauge the effectiveness of preventing fly emergence from the sheds to the environment. Monitoring was conducted by entomologists from The University of Western Australia.
Other factors monitored and assessed during the trial included community and social views, odour impacts, leachate control and the facility’s structural durability. The trial aimed to provide us with important information to help future planning for biosolids management.
The trial storage facility received its first full load of biosolids in October 2009. The two 40 metre x 12 metre shade cloth covered storage sheds each contain about 640 wet tonnes of biosolids. The sheds were filled, closed up and emptied an estimated six times over the life of the 18-month trial, with each cycle lasting about 10-12 weeks.
The trial, which ended in mid-2011, found that the fly-proof sheds and associated fly management procedures within the sheds were successful in preventing fly emergance to the environment.
The trial summary report also indicates that odours were not excessive and did not extend more than 500 metres from the sheds. There were no odour complaints reported during the trial. Leachate was not considered excessive and it was contained onsite within a sump. The sheds generally performed well structurally.
Other reports
Further information about the trial
