Works to upgrade Hunter Water’s Newcastle West 1 Wastewater Pump Station in Marketown Shopping Centre have commenced, following preparatory work completed in 2022.
The upgrade will reduce future maintenance, improve the existing pump station fixtures, improve amenity and support population growth in the area.
The site was set up over a number of weeks and construction is scheduled to conclude in early 2024.
Hunter Water is installing a permanent odour control unit (OCU), having had an interim unit in place since last year, as well as remediating existing concrete, and some pipework, covers and hatches at the pump station.
Hunter Water Asset Solutions Group Manager, Justin Watts, said the upgrade will help to protect the pump station and pipework from corrosion and improve community amenity.
“The pump station next to Marketown, Newcastle West 1, is one of our biggest wastewater pump stations. It transfers wastewater to Burwood Beach treatment works from all or parts of 15 inner Newcastle suburbs, extending from New Lambton to the Newcastle CBD,” Mr Watts said.
“During the next six months of the major upgrade we’ll switch out the interim OCU we put in late last year with a large permanent unit. This permanent OCU will continue the greatly improved experience for residents and shoppers by extracting and filtering bad-smelling gases like hydrogen sulphide, known as rotten egg gas.
“The added benefit of dramatically reducing hydrogen sulphide also limits corrosion, extending the sewerage system’s operational life and making network management and maintenance more efficient.”
Featured image: The pumping station at Marketown Shopping Centre car park. Image credit: Hunter Water.