Project background and challenges
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Township of Tailem Bend located 100km south east of Adelaide on the eastern side of the River Murray.
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The Tailem Bend CWMS was built in 1982 as a gravity pipe collection network with 10 pump stations transfer wastewater to a treatment lagoon.
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Lagoon was clogged with reed growth.
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Only a remnant of original dividing walls remaining – hence severely compromised treatment performance.
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Evidence of significant soakage through lagoon walls.
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Treatment facilities therefore required upgrade / replacement.
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Wasted resource - lagoon losing all of its water to evaporation and seepage.
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Recent drought raised community awareness of the possibility of using readily available supply of reclaimed water for municipal irrigation.
Scope, solutions and results
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Proposal and resolution to construct new Waste Water Treatment Plant, with reclaimed water available for irrigating the oval and golf course.
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Winter storage pond constructed to maximise available water for summer irrigation.
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Reduced reliance on River Murray for irrigating the town oval and golf course.
