Environments don’t get much more sensitive than picture postcard perfect Queenstown and its iconic Lake Wakatipu. Working on upgrading its wastewater infrastructure, which skirts the lake, required meticulous planning and execution by main contractors HEB Construction, with some help along the way from Prime Pump.
Prime Pump General Manager Glenn Powell says the fast-growing Queenstown area’s single sewage station leaves it vulnerable to potential failure. The ambitious and complex project to protect the area and lake, and provide back-up for the existing station is still ongoing but has already made substantial progress.
Recently, dewatering and water treatment was needed around pipework trenches near the lake. Two Netherlands designed and manufactured BBA BA150 pumps and two English designed, New Zealand made, HL 40 EnviroHub lamella tanks were pressed into service.
The BA150s pumped into the EnviroHub tanks before appropriately treated water was recycled back into the lake. A secure, weatherproof flocculant station adjacent to the tanks regulated treatment according to the water inflow.
For just over three weeks the BA150s pumped 40,000 to 50,000 litres an hour, running 24/7. Quiet, and extremely fuel efficient, they’re also fully-bunded; ideal for use so close to the lake. The pumps had already distinguished themselves on other high stakeholder and public interest projects including Wellington’s Moa Pt sewer interceptor overpump.
Relatively new to New Zealand, the EnviroHubs had previously been deployed very successfully for the critical Jervois Quay overpump project where four tanks were used.
EnviroHub is the brainchild of the originator of lamella plate settlement tanks, who has refined and adjusted the system to achieve the optimal angle for performance and solids separation. Prime Pump General Manager Glenn Powell says this has delivered a new standard in silt management and clean water discharge.
Glenn says Prime Pump’s involvement in the Queenstown project went very smoothly and all the main contractor’s expectations were met or exceeded. “They were absolutely stoked.”
