Water clarifier shade

Condobolin residents may have noticed something different about the Condobolin Water Treatment Plant. Lachlan Shire Council would like to advise that a trial is underway, in an attempt to increase the volume of drinking water produced by the Water Treatment Plant. This trial involves the installation of a shade over the clarifier tank and keeping the cloth wet using a small sprinkler installed on top of the clarifier. This is important to keep the shade cloth wet as it increases the effectiveness of what is essentially a large evaporative cooler.

The clarifier currently does not work as efficiently as it could when it is impacted by the heat and the direct afternoon sun. The heat does not allow the fine particles in the untreated water to settling at the bottom of the tank. Instead of settling, the fine particles stay suspended for longer, which increases the number of particles captured by the filters and increases the need for backwashing of the filters. During this backwash, the plant’s filtration process stops until the backwash is complete. This slows the plant down and affects its ability to keep up with the town’s water demand.

The idea to trial the shade cloth came from a Department of Planning Industry Environment (DPIE) Water visit to Wilcannia which has a similar plant to Condobolin. They found that a shade cloth over the clarifier helps to cool it down and enables the fine particles to settle and the plant to operate more efficiently.

This trial has only just commenced and the summer heat has not yet arrived, therefore it is difficult to put a figure on the difference the shade cloth has produced, although initial results are positive. Council staff will continue to monitor the results of the trial.