Technology comparison and recommendation

Maryborough Water Quality Enhancement

As a result of the 1997 to 2010 drought, the Maryborough and District water supply system experienced a long sequence of low surface water inflows. The deteriorating surface water quality and reduced supply across the system challenged Central Highlands Water’s ability to supply good quality drinking water to their customers.

The solution? Supplementing the water supply with additional new groundwater sources. Naturally, this comes with challenges—raw groundwater is high in dissolved solids such as sodium and chloride and isn’t aesthetically pleasing for drinking purposes.

Our job? Helping Central Highlands Water determine the best possible solution for water treatment. We assessed technologies used in similar applications worldwide as well as alternative concentrated brine management strategies. The winning technology? Reverse osmosis, which was then implemented through a salt reduction plant by the design build and operate (DBO) contractor. We provided ongoing contract administration and technical support during the detailed design and construction phase.

With this water quality enhancement in place, the Maryborough water supply was more secure, and residents can enjoy high quality drinking water.