Fit-for-purpose water production (Project C1.3)

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Status
Complete – commenced July 2014, completed June 2017
Location

Overview

Decentralised fit-for-purpose water production provides an excellent opportunity to sustainably, reliably and cost-effectively meet growing demands for water of various quality levels, thereby complementing centralised water supply systems. Widespread implementation of such treatment is however currently hindered by a lack of understanding of the risks for some raw water sources; an absence of passive, low-energy consumption technologies that can reliably remove pathogens; and unknown operational and maintenance requirements for emerging technologies.

This project aims to deliver low-cost and low-energy filtration technologies that can produce fit-for-purpose water from a variety of sources including stormwater, greywater and wastewater. The focus is primarily on the required treatment of chemical and microbiological hazards in source waters to enable use in irrigation and potentially for residential water supply in potable and non-potable forms.

Key outcomes

This project addresses the knowledge gaps in understanding the human health risks associated with pathogens and chemicals in untreated stormwater. Information gained in this research will contribute to the improvement of guidelines for stormwater harvesting and the development of stormwater treatment technologies to provide fit-for- purpose water. Researchers have also completed a literature review of current and novel treatment technologies for recycling water treatment to identify benefits and limitations.

Through studies of urban catchments in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales, the project has shown that urban stormwater in some catchments can have characteristics similar to secondary treated wastewater, with remnants of pathogens found. This is an important finding that informs the selection of stormwater treatment technologies to produce fit-for-purpose water supplies. The studies pinpoint a need for continuing research into the public health implications of pathogens, and recommend interim design and water quality guidelines for the use of stormwater for non-drinking purposes.

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Latest Update

Quarter 4, FY2016/17

Monash update

WP 2.4: testing the antibacterial activity of aminomalononitrile (AMN) coated material is almost complete. One test with Staphylococcus remains, to determine the effect on Gram-positive bacteria. Once the test is completed, a paper will  be drafted.
WP 3: Monash City Council (MCC) biofilter monitoring is ongoing beyond the period of the C1.3 project. The first  pathogen test was conducted for the stormwater biofilter. Regular monthly monitoring continues for both greywater and stormwater biofilters as well as the onsite pond and tank. Challenge tests using a stainless chamber are planned  on the third week of July to simulate the biofilter system.

University of Queensland update

WP 2.3: A report on the ECO system has been completed and is under internal revision. It includes (1) a literature  review on the use of electrochemical oxidation systems for the treatment of wastewater; (2) a proof-of-concept study  of the application of a 3D electrochemical oxidation system (i.e., combined adsorption onto granular activated carbon (GAC) and electrochemical oxidation) for the treatment of simulated greywater and real greywater; and (3) an economic analysis of the treatment process. The report will be included as an appendix in the final report of this  project.
WP 4.3: A report of the optimisation of the PMA-NGS method for assessing water treatments is prepared and will be  included as an appendix in the C1.3 final report. In the method DNA sequencing of a marker gene (16S rRNA) is  performed to detect and quantify the different microorganisms in the sample. PMA is used to treat the samples initially  to remove DNA from dead microorganisms. Consequently, the PMA-NGS method is only detecting the living cells in the system.

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Last updated: 13th Jun 2016