Under an innovative public private partnering agreement, Onkaparinga Council in South Australia now has access to three million litres of recycled water each day for golf courses and vineyards. Mayor Ray Gilbert said the deal between United Utilities Australia (UUA) and Onkaparinga will deliver both economic and environmental benefits for the community.
Using a modified Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) arrangement, the partners signed a 25 year agreement which involved UUA operating and managing the septic tank effluent disposal systems.
Councillor Gilbert said finding the funds to upgrade ageing sewage treatment schemes and operate them in a manner that continues to meet the increasingly regulatory requirements is a major problem for councils in South Australia.
“The City of Onkaparinga took the lead in engaging the private sector in a water partnership to address the long term needs of our community, enabling the scheme to cope with business, residential and agricultural growth,” he said. “It is a partnership between Local Government and the private sector, delivering economic and environmental benefits through the reuse of wastewater for irrigation.
UUA Managing Director, Graham Dooley, said the model they have adopted here is already proving to be a great success.
“Wide Local Government interest has been shown in the agreement,” he said.“The major breakthrough is to allow a BOOT style agreement for a project under $25 million. UUA is now working on wastewater reuse projects with Beri-Barmera and Loxton Waikerie Councils, and is also involved in a study of STEDS upgrade options for a consortium of councils in the mid-north of South Australia.
The Onkaparinga plant, including ancillary works and pump stations, takes effluent from septic tank effluent disposal schemes serving McLaren Vale, McLaren Flat and Willunga. Following treatment, including nitrogen removal, effluent goes into a storage dam. The treated water is suitable for use in irrigating the local golf course and vineyards.
