|
     
| | The water treatment system at GWS is different to some scours,
because we have two water streams - rinsewater, which is recycled, and wastewater, which is
treated then utilised in irrigation.
Pretreatment of the Rinsewater and Wastewater streams
- Wedge wire screen - removes large organic contaminants, from both rinsewater and
wastewater streams.
Rinsewater Recycling
- Activated Algal Lagoon - Natural algae consume nutrients from the water stream,
as the first step in the recycling process
- Biofilter - algae and bacteria aerobically remove nutrients from the
water stream. Water trickles over plastic media in the tower, this media acts
as a physical base for the bacteria and algae to grow upon
- Clarifier - Allows solids (algae from the treatment process etc) to
settle out of the liquid stream
- Filters - Capture any last contaminants prior to the return of rinse
water to the scour. After filtering, rinsewater is returned to the scour
bowls in the woolscour.
Wastewater Treatment
- Decanter - Removes heavy solids (i.e. mud) from the water stream
- Centrifuges - Remove liquefied woolgrease from the water
stream, by using centrifugal force to effectively separate oil (woolgrease)
from water
- Anaerobic Lagoon - Consumes organic matter inherent in wool scour wastewater.
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) in the water is a direct result of high organic
matter presence in the water; bacteria consumes the organic matter present for nutrient and
energy, reducing oxygen levels in water in the process. The anaerobic lagoon has a strong population of natural bacteria
that consume organic matter, and reduce BOD in the process - BOD levels are reduced
by over 90%, allowing the treated water to
be safely irrigated onto pasture.
- It is perhaps important to note that no faecal coliforms, Cryptosporidium
or Giardia are present in woolscour wastewater - these
organisms are known for their potential to harm human health.
- Irrigation - The wastewater is applied to pasture, to aid pasture growth.
Natural nutrients inherent in the wastewater promote the development of soil
structure and fertility in deficient soils. The irrigation facility is
designed to ensure that no wastewater escapes from the irrigation fields.
Click on the sheep to go to the next stage: By-Products
|
