The treatment process
Treated wastewater that reaches the Advanced Water Recycling Plant undergoes further multiple treatment processes which include ultra filtration, reverse osmosis and ultra-violet disinfection. The treatment process removes chemicals and microorganisms to levels in accordance with World Health Organisation standards and Australian guidelines for drinking water.
Step One: Ultra filtration
Ultra filtration separates out all the large molecules and dissolved materials from the water that are larger 0.1 of a micron, which is the equivalent to 1/300th of a human hair.
Step Two: Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis places water under pressure as it passes through tubes containing tightly wound membranes with tiny pores, 100 times smaller than ultra filtration. Water molecules are forced through the membrane, leaving other dissolved materials behind. Reverse osmosis is also used to desalinate seawater at the Perth Seawater Desalination Plant and at the Kwinana Water Recycling Plant where recycled water is treated for industrial use.
Step Three: Ultra-Violet Disinfection
The water is subjected to ultra-violet light as a final disinfection step to destroy any trace levels of micro organisms that may remain.
|
Water quality monitoring before recharge
Continuous monitoring of the recycled water quality inside the Advanced Water Recycling Plant ensures the treatment process is treating water to the required standards.
There are several water quality checkpoints (critical control points) throughout the treatment process to ensure each stage of the plant is working at optimum levels.
If water is not of the required standard when it reaches each check point, then an appropriate action is triggered. For example, the recycled water may be diverted back to the Beenyup Wastewater Treatment Plant or the Advanced Water Recycling Plant shuts down.
For more information on water quality monitoring view the latest Water Quality Report.
