Sydney Water‘s successful trial of innovative air injection technology at West Camden WRRF highlights efficient biosolids handling and sets new standards for sustainable wastewater management.
Sydney Water, Australia’s largest water utility, plays a crucial role in delivering essential water services to over 5.2 million people across Greater Sydney, the Illawarra, and the Blue Mountains. As part of its commitment to sustainable wastewater treatment, the organisation continually seeks innovative solutions to improve efficiency and meet growing demand.
One of its key facilities, the West Camden Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF), has been undergoing significant upgrades to expand its capacity and accommodate up to 72,000 new dwellings by 2046. SEEPEX’s Smart Air Injection (SAI) system was introduced as a temporary but highly effective solution to enhance biosolids handling during these developments.
A strategic opportunity for SAI implementation
SEEPEX has been a longstanding partner of Sydney Water, providing pumps for various wastewater applications, including digested sludge, waste-activated sludge (WAS), and thickened waste-activated sludge (TWAS). While SEEPEX’s SAI technology had not yet been permanently established in Australia, the ongoing upgrades at West Camden created an ideal opportunity to trial its capabilities.
During renovations to the dewatering building, a mobile dewatering system was required to maintain uninterrupted operations. Recognising the potential of SAI, Mark Ziogas, Principal Engineer at Sydney Water, collaborated with Downer’s Robert Elson and their teams to implement the technology in a temporary capacity.
Traditional biosolids handling vs. SAI
Before implementing SAI, biosolids transport at West Camden relied on traditional shaftless screw conveyors. This method involved several steps, including the use of vertical screw conveyors and silos, which required extensive structural support. The complexity and footprint of these conventional systems posed various challenges regarding efficiency, cost, and operational flexibility.
SEEPEX’s SAI technology provides a groundbreaking solution. By integrating progressive cavity pumping and dense-phase pneumatic conveying, SAI facilitates the efficient movement of highly dewatered sludge in short plugs. This approach greatly minimises friction losses, enabling biosolids to be transported over long distances with low energy expenditure. Additionally, the system’s enclosed pipeline removes the necessity for elaborate odour extraction and emission controls, enhancing workplace safety and environmental results.
Proving performance: testing and future applications
The successful trial of SAI at West Camden included rigorous performance evaluations, including odour and stickiness tests conducted at the NATA-accredited West Ryde laboratory. These tests confirmed that the system did not increase odour potential and maintained stable biosolids consistency throughout the process.
Given SAI’s effectiveness in this temporary application, Sydney Water is now exploring opportunities to integrate the technology into permanent facility designs. SAI can also be deployed for other applications, such as digester cleanouts and sludge transportation across diverse site layouts.
Setting a new standard in biosolids handling
The introduction of SEEPEX’s Smart Air Injection at West Camden WRRF represents a key advancement in Sydney Water’s commitment to innovative and sustainable wastewater management. By demonstrating the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental advantages of SAI, this project paves the way for the wider use of advanced biosolids transport technologies within Australia’s municipal water sector.
As Sydney Water continues to improve its wastewater treatment infrastructure, collaborations with industry leaders like SEEPEX will be crucial in providing smarter, more sustainable solutions for the future. The successful integration of SAI at West Camden demonstrates the potential of cutting-edge engineering in transforming biosolids management for years to come.
