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Centre Pivot & Treatment System
In the northern suburb of Karama in the Northern Territory, the Shoal Bay Waste Management Facility serves as the central hub for waste management and recycling operations. Shoal Bay processes over 180,000 tonnes of waste every year and operates in a unique tropical climate. To uphold environmental standards and ensure a reliable future supply, the facility has undergone substantial enhancements since 2016.
Due to the decomposition of waste in the landfill, the facility was encountering a challenge with leachate, which is a form of wastewater generated within the landfill. The primary contributor to leachate is a group of synthetic chemical compounds called PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances). These compounds are found in various products, including cleaning agents and personal care items.
Due to the combination of rainfall and limited evaporation, the leachate accumulates within the waste and its vicinity, resulting in a toxic buildup that is harmful to the environment.
With the goal of enhancing its facilities, Shoal Bay set out to repurpose the disposal sites. Their vision was to cultivate a plant called Vetiver on top of the designated waste disposal site. Getting water to the top of the site would be a challenge due to its elevated location, and water quality was also seen as an issue due to potential leachate contamination. Additional considerations included the impact of wind and erosion on the mounds over time.
In order to promote the growth of the Vetiver plant, Think Water Darwin were engaged to assist Water & Carbon, to provide irrigation options to consider for the dispersing of the treated leachate they were engaged to manage for the Darwin City Council.
To facilitate the development of the disposal site, the area required 8mm of daily watering, however, the water quality was poor due to the source of the landfill site and its underground environment. It was necessary to collect and catch the corrosive liquid that filtered through the ground in order to remove any toxins. Working with another supplier on the project, The Water & Carbon Group and their LEEF System foam fractionation technology for PFAS removal, Think Water Darwin’s role was to collect and relocate the water for agricultural use.
With the environmental factors of the site being the steep terrain and the height, Think Water Darwin designed and constructed a complete irrigation system and centre pivot. Retrieving the leachate water from ground level, which is then pumped up onto the top of the disposal site where it was to be used to irrigate the Vetiver plant area.
Due to the significant influence of wind, which could cause uneven water distribution, a custom design centre pivot irrigation system was designed by Think Water Darwin to ensure equitable water distribution, promoting healthy plant growth. The centre pivot was equipped with a sensor that automatically applied treated leachate water to meet the daily water requirement of 8mm, and would land on the Vetiver plant and didn’t not contaminate the outer area and stay within the confined area. Most importantly for maintenance and mowing of the Vetiver area, the centre pivot could be part out of the way when required.
As part of the project, Think Water Darwin supplied and installed a range of 18-20 pumps and piping, including sewerage pump, dosing pumps and transfer pumps, including pressure boosting pumps to effectively and efficiently irrigate the water.
Due to the leachate being a highly toxic and corrosive substance, the irrigation system, including the centre pivot, were designed with PVC lining to prevent corrosion and to ensure longevity.
Delivery on time was important, with the project taking four months to complete; which also included the custom design of the pivot centre and pump upgrades with the P lining. The thoughtfully conceived and skillfully constructed system was a testament to the success of the project overall. It was meticulously designed to stand the test of time and seamlessly integrated into Shoal Bay’s development plans, showcasing a commitment to quality and sustainability.
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