Dinner Plain

Background

Aerobic sludge digestion tank

Dinner Plain Village resort wastewater treatment plant was originally

operated by the Omeo Shire, later by the Mitchell Water Board and
now by East Gippsland Region Water Authority. The wastewater
treatment plant was upgraded during 2002.

Micro-organisms accomplish the aerobic biological digestion

process. The mass of solids for disposal is thus reduced. Sludge is
typically left in the Aerobic Sludge Digestion tank between 20 and
30 days, then pumped to one of two storage tanks. Digested
sludge is trucked by tanker to Bairnsdale WWTP.

Wastewater treatment process

Dinner Plain WWTP treats seasonally fluctuating sewage loads from
the resort village. The operation is conducted in accordance with an
Environment Protection Authority licence. Pumping from residential
sites is not required as the system is gravity operated.
In simple terms, the WWTP removes solids, facilitates digestion of
organic matter and treats the effluent to secondary standard.
After sewage enters the WWTP, several processes screen, separate
and remove solids or sludge for stabilisation via aerobic digestion.
The reclaimed water is used to irrigate alpine woodland.

The screening process includes washing and storage of

screened material.

Primary sedimentation tank to remove settleable solids.

On-site sludge management is achieved by aerobic

sludge digestion (and storage). It includes odour control
facilities for all tanks within the WWTP plant building.

Lagoons for secondary treatment provide disinfection and

storage of effluent - located some distance away from Dinner
Plain Village. After treatment, reclaimed water is pumped to
irrigation.

Digested sludge is trucked to Bairnsdale wastewater

treatment plant.

Screening
Sewage is screened as it enters the plant to remove matter such
as rags, grit, or other solid objects. The process is automatic and
augmented by a Washpactor - a mechanism for washing,
compacting and separating non-putrescible screenings for direct
discharge to a skip, for later disposal to landfill.

Wastewater treatment plant

Scrubbers End Dinner Plain

Odour control
Covering all tanks where odour may occur and then venting to
the carbon filter achieves primary odour control.

Reclaimed water
Effluent (reclaimed water) is then stored in lagoons 2,3 and 5
(4 currently not in use). After sufficient detention time it is pumped
either from lagoons 2, 3 or 5 directly to alpine woodland irrigation.

Laboratory testing
Testing is carried out in the laboratory at the WWTP to provide
information necessary to manage the treatment process. An
approved independent National Association of Testing Authority
(NATA) laboratory undertakes further testing to ensure the plant
complies with Environment Protection Authority (EPA) licence
standards.

EPA effluent discharge licence

Pond 5 Maximum B.O.D. = 50 mg/l
Pond 5 Maximum Suspended Solids = 50 mg/l
B.O.D. = Biological Oxygen Demand
mg/l = milligrams per litre

OMEO OFFICE:
Day Avenue, Omeo, 3898
Ph: (03) 5159 1548

Primary sedimentation

For further information:

The primary sedimentation tank provides quiescent (quiet and

inactive) conditions to allow solids to settle to the floor of the
tanks. The settled solids (primary sludge) are then mechanically
raked to a hopper at the inlet end of the tank for removal.

Ph: (03) 5150 4444

24 Hour Emergency: 1300 134 202
Fax: (03) 5150 4477
E-mail: egw@egwater.vic.gov.au
Visit our website:
www.egwater.vic.gov.au

HEAD OFFICE:
133 Macleod Street, Bairnsdale, 3875
Ph: (03) 5150 4444
24 Hour Emergency: 1300 134 202

RWS2

Dinner Plain wastewater treatment plant

wastewater

Schematic diagram

EAST GIPPSLAND WATER

1
2
3
4
MP1
WS2
IP

Dinner Plain Village

SOME FACTS AND FIGURES

Peak Winter Inflow = 0.23 Ml/day
Average Daily Dry Weather Flow = 0.06 Ml/day
Raw Sewage B.O.D. = 350 mg/l
Raw Sewage Suspended Solids = 300 mg/l
Pond 5 Final Effluent Average B.O.D. = 15 mg/l
Pond 5 Final Effluent Av. Susp. Solids = 20 mg/l

4
3
4
WS
5

Wastewater Treatment Plant

MP1

WS
2

WS
3

WS 4
Not in use

Irrigation to alpine woodland

Storage lagoons

Wastewater Treatment Plant Screen

Primary Sedimentation Tank
Aerobic Sludge Digestion Tank
Sludge Storage Tanks
Maturation Pond
Winter Storage Lagoons
Irrigation Pump

IP