Using Nature with Activated Sludge Treatment – An Ideal Decentralised Solution for New Zealand

There are over two hundred Waste Stabilisation Ponds (WSP) in New Zealand that are used to treat sewage from towns and small communities. Whilst direct discharge of WSP treated effluent is becoming less common for cultural and water quality reasons, downstream retrofitting processes can significantly improve water quality.

Hydroflux together with Organica provide decentralised solutions that combine natural native plant life with activated sludge treatment systems. This technology can either replace a WSP or be installed downstream of it. The process can also be used for new community developments where an ascetic design would allow the treatment process to blend into the development – all using local native plant life.

Resembling a natural greenhouse or botanical garden, the Organica Food Chain Reactor (FCR) achieves best practice treated water quality and odour treatment, enabling water reuse, but with a pleasant visual that enables the facility to blend into the rural or urban landscape.

Technology Overview

• Combines natural plants with an activated sludge process
• Treatment plant resembles a garden providing that is aesthetically pleasing to the public
• Plant roots provide high surface area to support biomass growth – low footprint
• Modular and relocatable design allows scalability to meet future demands
• Fabrication using transportable stainless steel tanks
• Modular design ranges from 50 to 1500m³/d
• Upgrade capacities from 1000 through to >80000 m³/d
• Over 110 installations worldwide with over 20 years of operating expertise

Community and Social Benefits

• Enhanced community interaction
• Acts as an education centre
• Aesthetically pleasing – blending into the many of New Zealand’s landscapes
• Locally built, local suppliers, local mechanical and electrical works
• Wide range of local plant species can be used, such as Grandiflora, Carex Vigrata and Apodasmia similis 

Applications

• Decentralised treatment
• Post treatment downstream of Waste Stabilisation Ponds
• Housing estates and developments
• Increasing capacity at existing wastewater treatment plants

Contact Hydroflux on 1300 417 697 or visit www.hydrofluxepco.au to learn more about the Hydroflux-Organica botanical garden like wastewater treatment systems.

About the Hydroflux Group

The Hydroflux Group aims to deliver the highest level of engineering and scientific know-how to the emerging issues of sustainability, climate adaptation and environmental protection with a specific focus on water and wastewater.

As part of its vision and mission, Hydroflux has always taken its climate responsibility seriously. In 2022, Hydroflux became Australia’s first water treatment and technology company to achieve Climate Active carbon neutral certification for its organisation and products. It knows that partnering with customers and clients is the most significant impact it can have in its journey. The Group employs over 100 staff and operates throughout Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, with office locations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Auckland, Suva and Portsmouth.