The existing Bird in Hand Wastewater Treatment Plant (BiH WWTP) required upgrading as water quality sampling indicated that the discharged treated effluent contained high nutrient levels causing detrimental impact on the Dawseley Creek receiving environment. The scope of the plant upgrade consisted of a 4 stage Modified Ludzack-Ettinger (MLE) activated sludge treatment process in conjunction with clarifiers, disc filtration, UV disinfection, recycled water storage, recycled water pump station, on site irrigation infrastructure and off site recycled water mains.

The project also included an anaerobic digester as a replacement for the originally proposed sludge lagoons. Nova Systems was engaged to project manage this upgrade and diligently monitored the project budget, scope and proactively engaged stakeholder management to minimise the risk inherent to the detail design and delivery activities. This approach was able to maintain the project budget and the integrity of construction of a fit for purpose asset for SA Water.
This project highlighted the importance of ensuring contractors and subcontractors are aware of wastewater treatment plant processes so that construction issues on interrelated processes can be better understood during construction.