18 | Apex Water T T Karen Phelps New level of wastewater treatment “Because Apex Water has been designing dairy factory wastewater treatment plants for over 15 years, we’ve seen it all and know what to expect and can design around those challenges.” T T to page 20 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Apex Water has just completed a wastewater treatment project that transforms industrial dairy waste into water approaching drinking-quality standards. The recently completed project for Oceania Dairy in Glenavy, South Canterbury, demonstrates how Apex Water’s unique integrated approach to design and construction is delivering superior outcomes for both industry and the environment. “We are quite unique in our industry in that we can do everything in-house – design and build. The norm in our industry is that a company will complete the design then that will be put out to tender for the build,” says Apex Water principal engineer Matt Savage. “The advantage for Apex Water clients is one point of contact and accountability, which mitigates risk and gives confidence.” The Oceania Dairy project presented a significant challenge: the dairy producer needed to expand operations, but its existing wastewater irrigation system had reached capacity. The solution involved installing an ocean outfall, but this required exceptional water-treatment standards to minimise environmental impact. At the heart of the solution is a membrane bioreactor (MBR), a sophisticated biological treatment system that produces remarkably clean water. “The bacteria actually eats the pollution in the water and turns it into carbon dioxide, water, nitrogen gas and more bacteria to treat the next amount of water that comes through,” explains Matt. What sets this system apart is its advanced membrane filtration technology. Unlike traditional treatment plants that rely on settling bacteria out of treated water, the MBR employs microscopic membrane filters smaller than individual bacteria, ensuring consistently superior water quality. Matt says the project’s success reflects Apex Water’s many years of experience in dairy factory wastewater treatment.
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