Rehabilitation works for the Finger Point Wastewater Treatment Plant’s outfall pipe are set to begin before the end of February, with SA Water’s bypass pipework set to keep the facility operating while construction takes place.
Operating reliably for more than 50 years, the plant’s 400mm-diameter pipe will be relined with a PVC liner to create a new internal surface and restore the pipe’s structural integrity.
In 2023, SA Water’s inspections confirmed relining as the optimal solution based on minor cracks and leaks found on the outfall pipe – which discharges cleaned and treated wastewater 100m off Finger Point Beach into the ocean.
SA Water’s Senior Manager of Capital Delivery, Peter Seltsikas, said the first stage of work involves isolating the existing pipe, before activating the plant’s temporary bypass system.
“Our plant plays a vital role in protecting public health by taking wastewater away from Mount Gambier for treatment, and through our temporary system, we’re able to keep this facility operational during our crucial work on the outfall pipe,” Mr Seltsikas said.
“After reviewing CCTV footage of the pipe, we’ve plotted the precise location of the cracks and developed a remediation methodology underpinned by relining it with a structural PVC liner.”
Featured image: An aerial view of the Finger Point Wastewater Treatment Plant. Image credit: SA Water.
