Upgrades to the outdated Orford sewerage system that will help prevent the network from spilling out onto the street when it rains are on track to be completed by October.
The $17 million project involves the construction of a new pressurised main and upgrades to five sewage pumping stations.
TasWater Project Manager Janitha Senavirathna said the upgrades will modernise a system designed and built decades ago for a “much smaller township”.
“These upgrades will minimise the volume and frequency of overflow events and future-proof the network for generations to come,” he said.
“Currently, all of Orford’s sewage is pumped through one ‘daisy chain’ to the Orford Sewage Treatment Plant, via a sewer rising main near West Shelly Road.”
“Our upgrades will split the network in two to reduce these loads.”
TasWater is optimistic that the system will effectively trap unpleasant odours, admitting that the height of some of Orford’s old vent stacks mean they “have not been effective”.
“Our new vent stacks will be nine metres tall, releasing any odour well above head height. Each will also have a new stainless steel ‘whirly bird’ fitted to draw and disperse air from the system,” TasWater says.
“TasWater is confident that by venting the sewer at nine metres above ground, from new SPS with effective seals, we will provide a better odour management solution than anything currently in Orford.”
