: News Article

$6 Million Water Treatment Plan Upgrade Comes on Line

10/3/2000

The ability of the Townsville region to supply quality treated water to meet the demands of population growth has been enhanced, with commissioning today of a $6 million upgrade of the Douglas Water Treatment Plant.

The upgrade centred on construction of a fourth water treatment module and is part of a $9 million program, which includes provision of greater pumping power at the plant's Ross River Dam pump station, at a cost of $3 million.

NQ Water Chairman Ian Hamilton, the Premier's Representative in North Queensland Mike Reynolds, and Mayor Tony Mooney inspected the treatment plant today, as water surged through the new module for the first time.

The handling capacity of the plant has increased from a previous maximum 152 megalitres of treated water daily, to a new maximum of 232 megalitres per day, at a rate of 3000 litres per second.

Mr Hamilton said NQ Water is investing over $6 million and the Queensland Government $2.4 million to meet the cost of the combined treatment plant/pump station upgrade. Work on the pump station is continuing.

"Prior to construction, NQ Water's treatment plant operator, Citiwater, carried out extensive pilot studies to ensure that design of the latest plant module would meet present and future Australian drinking water quality standards.

"In fact the module, built by John Holland Construction, can produce water that is better than required under national guidelines," Mr Hamilton said.

The treatment process involves water passing through a duel media filter comprising 1.7 metres of anthracite (coal-like substance) and 30 centimetres of sand.

Water reaches the plant for treatment via the pump station at Ross River Dam. Treated water is then pumped to the Douglas reservoir system that distributes water to much of Townsville and Thuringowa, including through the recently built Douglas/Mount Louisa trunk main that supplies water to the northern suburbs.

Mr Hamilton said the water treatment plant upgrade is a vital cog in NQ Water strategy, to ensure abundant quality bulk water supplies are maintained in present and future years.

More information:
Ian Hamilton
Telephone: 4772 1166
Mobile: 0418 777 284

Media contact:
Harry Landman
Telephone: 4779 6619
Mobile: 0418 743 37

© 2004 NQ Water