Port Augusta, located at the top of Spencer Gulf in South Australia, is one of the driest cities in Australia. Despite an average annual rainfall of just 220mm, Port Augusta boasts lush green and picturesque parks and gardens that defy its semi arid location.
A number of years ago Port Augusta City Council recognised the need to reduce its reliance on water from the River Murray and began planning to reuse the city’s waste water on its parks and gardens. In October 2005, Council’s Waste Water Treatment Plant began operation and is now watering a number of its parks and gardens using treated waste water through its own plant and infrastructure. The result is far greener parks and gardens using nearly a third less water as with previous watering methods. It has the added advantage of substantially reducing the amount of effluent water pumped into the Spencer Gulf.
The innovative scheme involves treatment of waste water at a plant located near the city centre, monitoring of water use and delivery of water through a computerised central control watering system and installation of sub-surface irrigation systems. The raw sewer waste is mined from a nearby SA Water sewerage pump station and is then pumped to the waste water treatment plant.
Port Augusta City Manager, John Stephens, said the quality of the city’s parks and gardens watered with the treated waste water are vastly improved, and Council plans to expand the water reuse project to more of the city’s ovals and parklands.
“Residents and visitors are enjoying the revitalised parklands, making them a fantastic asset for the community,” he said. “Families are returning to the parks, especially the foreshore, where they can enjoy all the park offers including being located right on the calm waters of the Spencer Gulf.”
The combination of using treated waste water, sub-surface irrigation systems and a computerised central control system is returning great benefits to Port Augusta with lush parklands and ovals where the schemes are operating.
