July 2023 -   Works Update : Regulated water discharge at Mount Barker Creek

Recent scheduled works required the discharge of water directly into the Mount Barker Creek.
Environmental approvals were received prior to the activity commencing and safety protocols were in place during the water discharge. The released water was tested to ensure appropriate standards were met.

June 2023 - Discharging to Mount Barker Creek

The Mount Barker Wastewater Treatment Plant continues to operate at capacity particularly during times of high inflows exacerbated by stormwater intruding into the system either from private properties or stormwater networks.

To assist in managing the  flows, the Laratinga Wetlands bypass will be in temporary operation until further notice.

This means treated wastewater (membrane-filtered and UV treated) will bypass the wetland 'polishing' process and be discharged into Mount Barker Creek.

This temporary process change will prevent uncontrolled overflow through the Laratinga wetland and mitigate environmental and public safety risks.

May 2023 - Too Wet for Construction

Council is currently constructing a new wastewater pump station and balancing storage facility within the grounds of the existing treatment plant adjacent to the Laratinga Trail.

Due to unexpected higher early winter rainfall in June and potential for more inclement periods, productivity for earthworks has reduced and subject to ongoing rainfall, surface water and conditions, Councils construction team may from time to time, switch to a ‘stand-by’ mode during the months of July-Aug.

During these periods, you may notice very little and at times no activity on site however this is normal construction planning to maximise construction resource efficiencies and to mitigate construction safety risks.

October 2022 - Lagoon Desluding Activities

There is a lagoon desludging project currently underway at Council’s WWTP on Springs Road. This process involves the use of a dredge that traverses up and down the lagoons to extract the layer of biosolids that forms on the bottom of the lagoons.

Dredging creates odours due to stirring up the layer of biosolids at the bottom of the lagoon. Ordinarily these odours go unnoticed and are short lived, however due to the ever increasing volumes of sewer discharging into the lagoons the amount of odours has increased. An odour control system has been deployed at the WWTP to help minimise odour from the desludging activities.

The desludging works are on track for completion in December 2022, it is anticipated that the odour levels will decrease as the dredge moves through the lagoon with odour levels returning to normal on completion of the works.

Odours of this nature due to this type of work are very difficult to control despite measures taken to minimise them. It is also important to note that these odours, while sometimes offensive are not a risk to the public’s health. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are aware of the current desludging works and the odours they are generating. These works are essential to maintain the current Wastewater Treatment Plant’s ability to treat inflows to a satisfactory level until the new WWTP is completed sometime in 2025.

Council is currently planning the complete replacement of the existing Wastewater Treatment Plant with a new purpose built Treatment Plant that does not require a lagoon as part of the process. This means that the current lagoon may require one more round of desludging prior to being taken off line.

October 2022 - Water Quality Data

March 2022 - Water Quality Data

13 October 2021 - Improved trade waste approach to deliver environmental benefits

An improved approach to managing waste from businesses across the Mount Barker district is expected to deliver both environmental and cost benefits for the local community.

The Mount Barker District Council has strengthened its Trade Waste Policy to minimise the amount of harmful waste entering the wastewater network and potentially flowing on to the local environment.

The updated Trade Waste Policy came into effect on 1 July 2021 and Council’s wastewater and compliance teams are now working with local businesses to improve onsite pre-treatment and reduce non-compliant trade waste discharges into its wastewater network.

Under the Water Industry Act 2012, individuals or businesses cannot discharge anything other than domestic wastewater into sewerage infrastructure without a formal approval from the water entity - in this case Council. Penalties of up to $25,000 can apply.

Council is taking a proactive approach to address the problem over the next 12 months, launching a new education campaign and encouraging business owners to collaborate with Council to increase their compliance.

It will give businesses time to seek the necessary approvals for their discharges, and install any onsite pre-treatment equipment required to meet their responsibilities under the Water Industry Act 2012.

Businesses which continue to discharge non-compliant trade waste will face higher discharge fees to cover the higher costs associated with treating the waste and – in extreme cases – could have their access to Council’s wastewater network cut off.

The measures aim to reduce the risk of damage to Council’s wastewater infrastructure, improve safety for staff and the public, and minimise environmental harm.

Businesses can find out more about the updated Trade Waste Policy on Council’s website - www.mountbarker.sa.gov.au/infrastructure/water/trade-waste - or contact our Trade Waste Team at tradewaste@mountbarker.sa.gov.au.

8 October 2021 - Recycled water bypass to improve health of Laratinga Wetland and Mount Barker Creek

The long-term health of the Laratinga Wetland will be enhanced through a new bypass pipeline that allows the Mount Barker District Council to effectively manage water flows.

Environmental analysis conducted in 2019 showed volumes of water flowing into the wetland needed to be reduced to improve the wetland environment.

Recycled water from the Mount Barker Wastewater Treatment Plant currently flows through the Laratinga Wetland, providing the water that supports an abundance of native plants, birds, animals and reptiles and creates a picturesque and popular recreation area. However, due to Mount Barker’s growth and the rise in the volume of recycled water being produced, inflows into the wetland have increased. This makes it harder for Council to optimally manage the wetland environment, which ideally operates on a wetting and drying cycle, mimicking natural fluctuations in seasonal water levels.

A new bypass pipeline has now been built connecting the recycled water pipeline from the Mount Barker Wastewater Treatment Plant pump station with the existing discharge point for water from the wetland into Mount Barker Creek.

This additional control measure allows Council to bypass the wetland, releasing the safe, clean recycled water directly into Mount Barker Creek as required.

The recycled water is already treated to a high level prior to release. Discharging water directly from the pipeline into the creek, instead of via the wetland, will also reduce the amount of bacteria and suspended solids and algae that flows from the wetland into the creek.

As a priority, the Council is also continuing to investigate new recycled water reuse opportunities throughout the district, which in the long-term will further reduce the amount of water discharged into Mount Barker Creek.

5 October 2021 - Wastewater Report

Checkout the activities that's been happening in the Wastewater and recycled water area.

Wastewater and Recycled Water Report

24 September 2021 - Think before you flush – protect our wastewater network by remembering the 3Ps

Mount Barker district residents are being urged to think before they flush to avoid non-biodegradable items clogging up essential wastewater infrastructure.

The Mount Barker District Council is reminding people to think of the 3Ps – pee, poo and paper (toilet paper only please!).

Other items such as wet wipes (including those branded as ‘flushable’), single-use face masks, sanitary items, facial tissues and paper towel can create major problems if flushed by choking up household septic tanks, clogging pipes and damaging the district’s critical wastewater infrastructure.

The reminder follows a recent sewer blockage in SA Water’s wastewater network in Hahndorf, which was partially caused by a build-up of wet wipes in the sewer system. That led to a sewerage overflow.

Mount Barker District Council’s General Manager of Infrastructure Phil Burton said Council has also seen non-biodegradable items flushed into its own wastewater network.

“For our wastewater network to function optimally, it’s essential that people remember it’s only designed to collect and treat the 3Ps – pee, poo and toilet paper,” Mr Burton says.

“While the problem hasn’t increased, we are still seeing other items flushed into our system, with wet wipes being one of the biggest culprits. The use of so-called ‘flushable’ wipes can create a build-up of these items in septic tanks and pipes.

“The problem is, they just don’t break down and this can cause major problems later on, such as clogging up a home’s septic tank or Council’s wastewater pipes, leading to the risk of sewerage overflows, damaged infrastructure and service disruptions.

“Council is investing significantly in expanding and upgrading its wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure to ensure we continue to provide high levels of service for our growing community. We don’t want to jeopardise that by having the wrong things clogging up our network, which could lead to costly additional maintenance or infrastructure repairs.

“Other items we’re seeing include disposable face masks, facial tissues, sanitary items and paper towel (including paper hand towels) – these also don’t break down over time and can add to the blockage risk.

“It’s important for people to remember to keep their septic or sewer system healthy by only flushing the 3Ps.”

While some wet wipes might be branded ‘flushable’, most brands don’t break down in septic tanks or sewer pipes. This also includes baby wipes, face wipes and disinfectant wipes – all of which must be disposed of in the bin.

Other items to avoid flushing include facial tissues and paper towel including hand towels, sanitary items, cotton buds, dental floss, face masks, kitty litter, band aids, nappies, fats and oils, food scraps and medications.

Facial tissues and paper towels can be composted through Council’s green waste bins, along with food scraps and food grade fats and oils used at home. Sanitary items, cotton buds, dental floss and face masks should go in the general waste bin, while old medications may be disposed of through pharmacy-based programs.

Remembering the 3Ps is especially important for households with an onsite septic tank. In these systems, solids settle in the tank, while liquid waste is drained away via Council’s wastewater network. Septic tanks usually require pumping out once every four years – but flushing non-biodegradable items may put them at risk of filling and blocking earlier than that.

“Many existing homes in Mount Barker and our smaller towns have an onsite septic tank – which can be new to residents moving from city areas where they’ve always had access to sewer,” Mr Burton says.

“If a home’s septic tank fills, or its sewerage pipes clog due to a build-up of wipes or other items, it can cause an overflow of sewerage in the home. If you take care of your septic by following the 3Ps, it will take care of you by ensuring you don’t have to worry about where your wastewater is going to end up.”

Council continually shares the 3Ps message in educational activities such as regular social media posts and through engaging environmental sustainability organisation KESAB to deliver across schools, the Mt Barker Community Centre and library over the past month. Educational posters will soon be placed in public toilets across the district, and Council is also investigating other proactive measures such as dedicated recycling bins for disposable face masks.

Find out more about the 3Ps at https://flush3p.org. Learn more about how to care for your septic tank with a SA Water fact sheet available here: https://bit.ly/39kk9em.