A simple invention helping wastewater management in Broome
The Water Corporation has commissioned a project aimed at reducing the amount of rainwater entering Broome's wastewater system during the wet season by installing pop-up wastewater outlet covers to disconnector gullies on Broome properties.
"Properties that are connected to Water Corporation sewerage systems have an outside ground level outlet fitted to their waste plumbing to protect the house from internal flooding should a blockage or overflow event occur," said North West Regional Manager, Terry Hambleton.
Characterised traditionally by a black grid, the pipe disperses excess wastewater into the garden beds avoiding overflows inside the home. The plastic pop-up covers are designed to let water out in an overflow event, but stop stormwater from getting in.
"The pop-up covers worked exceptionally well in Karratha this year during Cyclone Monty where 300mm of rain was received in one single day," said Mr Hambleton.
"Historically, this amount of rain would have caused wastewater overflows within many customer backyards due to the town's wastewater scheme quickly reaching capacity from the enormous inflow.
"However, due to the fact the inflow was largely kept out, the town's wastewater scheme coped very well under extreme circumstances," said Mr Hambleton. "We are hoping to now do the same in Broome which already has a wastewater scheme under pressure."
The outlet covers are installed to the disconnector gullies of all new properties and eventually it is hoped this special initiative will be expanded to fit all existing properties in the North West with the new devices.
The Water Corporation will commence installing the pop-up covers next week in the high risk areas of Broome and will eventually roll this out to the remainder of the town. |
