Media Release
February 13 2008
UniSA to lead Torrens filtration review
A
water treatment pilot plant that will evaluate the potential of
biological filtration to improve water quality was installed at Torrens
Lake today and could help to control blue-green algae blooms.
This treatment process will be assessed by UniSA’s Centre for Water Management and Reuse, one of the lead partners in the trial and instrumental in the project management, experimental design and assessment of treatment performances.
Dr John Van Leeuwen said the aim of the trial is to test biological filtration as a treatment option for full-scale application to improve the water quality of the whole lake.
“What the project is trying to do is to identify and optimize treatment technology that will improve water clarity and remove the nutrients that encourage cyanobacterial (blue-green algal) growth. We hope that the application of such technology will reduce or even eliminate toxic algal blooms and improve lake water quality.
“It is the first time that this technology - which is based on filter technology used in the large scale aquariums and fish ponds - is being evaluated for the treatment of the open water environment of the Torrens Lake.”
The filtration system trial is one of the several measures being jointly implemented by the Adelaide City Council and the Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board to address Torrens Lake water quality issues.
The pilot plant will treat Torrens Lake water over the coming months
with a flow capacity of 92 kilolitres per hour.
UniSA and the Centre for Water Management and Reuse will lead a team of collaborative partners to assess the efficiency of the treatment process and analyse improvements in water quality as a result.
Dr Van Leeuwen and the investigation team expect to deliver a report on their findings by August this year.
Contact for interview
- Dr Van Leeuwen office (08) 8302 5497 mobile 0409 395 194 email john.vanleeuwen@unisa.edu.au
Media contact
-
Linda Hein office (08) 8302 0965 mobile 0411 257 029 email
linda.hein@unisa.edu.au