This award was presented for a three-year collaborative research project that led to the development of a model-based tool that helps achieve better management of odour and corrosion in wastewater systems.
In a world first, it is now possible to accurately predict the spread and concentration of hydrogen sulphide along sewerage networks that have pressure mains, using a kinetics-based, flow dependent model. The project also led to the development of new online monitoring instrumentation.
Project Leader Professor Zhiguo Yuan of the AWMC said “This research has led to the development of a powerful model that characterises the in-sewer biological, chemical and physical processes.
“It provides strong support to the water industry in predicting pipe sections that are most vulnerable to corrosion or odour problems, and in identifying the most cost-effective mitigation strategies.”
Gold Coast City Council’s Water Management Committee Chair, Councillor Daphne McDonald, believes the implementation of this model will deliver significant business improvements. “Using this model has already enhanced Gold Coast water’s management of corrosion and odour issues within our wastewater network.
“Since its inception, we have been able to clearly identify corrosion in our wastewater pipes, allowing us to perform more targeted wastewater network inspections.
“This model has already enabled the optimisation of our existing sulphide control strategy generating savings of $1.3 million. In addition, we estimate further reductions to our future wastewater maintenance costs of up to ten per cent each year which is a significant saving.”
Sydney Water Managing Director Kerry Schott agreed that application of the model by Australian water utilities is expected to yield major cost savings, along with social and environmental benefits.
“Managing hydrogen sulphide given off by wastewater is an involved and costly process. Dissolved hydrogen sulphide and other volatile organic compounds cause corrosion and sometimes odour problems.
“Using this model, and new online monitoring, enables better management of hydrogen sulphide levels in wastewater to improve the reliability of odour abatement. Environmental benefits include fewer hazardous gases and a reduction in chemicals used to prevent sulphide formation.
“Even a conservative one per cent improvement in Sydney Water’s costs of rehabilitation of wastewater pipes spells a minimum cost saving of $A850,000 each year from this project technology,” Dr Schott said.