Urban Utilities Supercharged Algae Costs and Emissions Instruction Manual

Urban Utilities Supercharged Algae Costs and Emissions

Product Information

• The product is called SOMERSET and it is a wastewater treatment system. It incorporates a technique called smoke testing to identify defects in home plumbing connections that allow rainwater, stormwater, and groundwater to enter sewer pipes. The system helps combat wet weather overflows and ensures that wastewater is properly treated.
• Additionally, the product features a major research project involving the use of “supercharged” algae at the Helidon Resource Recovery Centre. This algae treatment system purifies wastewater up to five times faster and reduces the cost of future treatment plant upgrades. It allows for the treatment of more wastewater with less infrastructure, making it suitable for rural and regional communities.
• Furthermore, the algae used in the system can be transformed into sustainable products such as bioplastic, running shoes, fertilizers, and even jet fuel.

Product Usage Instructions

1. Ensure that your home plumbing connections are correctly installed to prevent rainwater, stormwater, and groundwater from entering sewer pipes.
2. If you suspect any defects in your plumbing connections, contact the product manufacturer or relevant authorities for assistance.
3. To participate in the smoke testing inspection program, allow non-toxic smoke to be blown into your sewer maintenance holes.
4. If the smoke escapes through your household sewer vent (usually located on the roof or side of your property), it indicates that your sewer pipe is functioning correctly.
5. If a defect is found during the smoke testing, you will receive a letter outlining the issue and the steps to rectify it. Follow the instructions provided to address the problem.
6. To find out more about the smoke testing inspection program and its rollout across South East Queensland (SEQ), visit the website urbanu.com.au/sewerinspection.
7. Stay updated on events in SEQ where the Top Drop Water Cycle Mini Golf course will be available to learn about the water treatment process. Look out for the “Top Drop” exhibit.
8. Understand that the “supercharged” algae treatment system is being used at the Helidon Resource Recovery Centre. It purifies wastewater faster and reduces treatment plant upgrade costs. It helps meet the growing demand for wastewater treatment in rural and regional communities.
9. Realize that algae can be converted into sustainable products like bioplastic, running shoes, fertilizers, and jet fuel. Explore potential future uses of this algae treatment system.

Help us keep wastewater in our network, not in your backyard
Cracks, defects or incorrect connections in your home plumbing can allow rainwater, stormwater and groundwater to enter sewer pipes. Sewers aren’t designed to carry this water, and it can contribute to unwelcome overflows for you or your neighbours.

• These defects can be more common than you might think. In fact, one in ten South East Queensland homes has an incorrect wastewater connection that can overwhelm our sewers in wet weather and cause overflows into neighbouring properties, parks, and waterways.
• It can be difficult to identify these defects, so we use a nifty technique called smoke testing to help us find problems on private properties and in our wastewater infrastructure.
• Smoke testing involves blowing non-toxic smoke into sewer maintenance holes, which will then enter the sewerage pipes connecting to your property.
• If the sewer pipe is functioning correctly, the smoke will escape through the household sewer vent (usually through the roof or up the side of your property).
• If a sewer pipe has an incorrect connection – for example, a down pipe is connected to it – the smoke will escape through the ground or from the roof guttering.

This is a safe and reliable method to help us combat wet weather overflows

• If a defect is found, we’ll send you a letter outlining the issue and how we can work together to rectify it.
• Our smoke testing inspection program is currently rolling out across SEQ. To find out more about it and to see which areas we’re visiting, go to urbanu.com.au/sewerinspection

It’s a Top Drop at this year’s EKKA

• Ekka-goers found out just how far one drop of water can travel at this year’s event by taking on our Top Drop Water Cycle Mini Golf course.
• 7,139 budding golfers putted their way through the water cycle over nine exciting days, taking their drop from a dam, through the water treatment process, into the home and out through the wastewater network.
• Look out for Top Drop at events right across SEQ!

POO-CHEWING ALGAE HELPS CUT COSTS AND EMISSIONS

Algae gets a bad rap for running wild and ruining our lake swims, but did you know it also produces half of the world’s oxygen and consumes more carbon dioxide than trees?

• Now billions of ‘supercharged’ algae are treating wastewater in Helidon as part of a major research project we’re leading to make wastewater treatment more efficient and cost effective.
• Algae has been used to treat wastewater in regional and rural areas for decades, but the traditional process takes a lot of time.
• So, we teamed up with some of the industry’s best and brightest minds to optimise our incredible algae to become speed eaters.
• The resulting system purifies wastewater up to five times faster and reduces the cost of future treatment plant upgrades.
• As populations continue to grow, so too does the volume of wastewater that needs treating safely and sustainably. This innovation allows us to treat more wastewater with less infrastructure and keep pace with growing demand in our rural and regional communities.

Algae can be turned into sustainable products like bioplastic, running shoes, fertiliser or even jet fuel

• Algae can be turned into sustainable products like bioplastic, running shoes, fertiliser or even jet fuel – and we’re looking at how we can utilise ours in the future.
• Innovating with algae is just one of the ways we’re striving to become greener and more cost-efficient as our population grows.
• Mere metres from the algae project sits our seven-hectare koala habitat, irrigated with recycled water from our Helidon Resource Recovery Centre.
• We’ve also doubled the amount of clean, renewable energy we’re generating from wastewater in the past decade as part of our commitment to reaching Net Zero by the time Brisbane hosts the Olympics in 2032.

Our regions’ five top swim spots this spring

When the weather warms up, we cool down at some of our beautiful regions’ top swimming spots. Here are a few of our favourites.

1. Enoggera Reservoir Brisbane
   Enoggera Reservoir was the first of Brisbane’s water supply reservoirs, constructed between 1864 and 1866. Explore on a kayak or simply frolic in the designated swimming area, which is especially refreshing after talking the 5km Araucaria walking track which follows the water’s edge.

2. Savages Crossing Somerset
   A perfect spot for a leisurely paddle and picnic, Savages Crossing is actually part of the Brisbane River. It’s a shallow waterway, perfect for a day out with the kids – and there’s plenty of surrounding nature to be explored on a kayak or canoe.

3. Orion Lagoon Ipswich
   For a fun family day out, head to Orion Lagoon – an oasis in the heart of Springfield Central. Toddlers can paddle in the 0.3m pools, while adults and older kids can explore the rest of the interconnected pools and structures. There’s plenty of shade and ample food options – or bring a picnic to enjoy by the water.

4. Lake Moogerah Scenic Rim
   Campers flock to Moogerah Dam near Boonah for incredible scenery and fantastic facilities – but you might not know that there’s a beautiful spot to swim located at AG Muller Park.
   Be sure to stay within the designated swimming areas as it’s also a popular spot for boaties.

5. Lake Dyer Lockyer Valley

   • Located west of Laidley, Lake Dyer provides water for the Central Lockyer Irrigation Scheme. Its calm waters are great for a leisurely swim – just be sure to stick to the permitted swimming area. It’s also a great spot for water skiing, jet skiing, wakeboarding and tubing. Pack a picnic or bring some goodies to cook at the BBQ area.
   • We’re keen to keep these top spots pristine for decades to come – that’s why we’re committing to some lofty environmental goals including reaching net zero by 2032.

Always here when you need us:
Clean safe water every day, 24/7 crews, local contact centre, supporting vulnerable customers, protecting the environment

• TO REPORT A FAULT OR EMERGENCY CONTACT US 24/7 ON 13 23 64
• FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT URBANUTILITIES.COM.AU
• GENERAL ENQUIRIES FROM 8AM-5PM WEEKDAYS 13 26 57
• Urban Utilities provides water and sewerage services to customers in the Brisbane, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim and Somerset regions. Urban Utilities is the trading name of the Central SEQ Distributor-Retailer Authority.

References

• Sewer Inspection Program - Urban Utilities
• Home - Urban Utilities

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