Smart pressure sewer collection and transfer : the Flinders Sewerage Project

The Flinders Sewerage Project is an innovative backlog sewerage scheme located on the Mornington Peninsula, south-east of Melbourne, Australia. The scheme is made up of two pressure sewer collection networks within the towns of Flinders and Shoreham, and an 18 kilometre long transfer system from Flinders to Balnarring. From Balnarring sewerage flows through an existing transfer system to the Somers sewage treatment plant.

This paper outlines the Flinders Sewerage Project and the smart pressure sewer technology and networks developed as part of this project. The application of this technology combined with other innovations resulted in: capital savings, reduced operational risk, reduced environmental impact, improved service outcomes, and reduced loading of the downstream transfer systems. Focus is given to the major project innovations, and their benefits, including:

• The introduction of SCADA to pressure sewer systems;
• Pressure based pump and network control;
• Sealed pressure vessel wet wells;
• Dispersed emergency storage within the pressure sewer network and household pumping units;
• Low flow high head progressive cavity sewage pumping;
• Sewage pressure sustaining valves;
• Rapid hydraulic model building and network optimisation; and
• A fast track approvals strategy based on early adoption of trenchless technology and nominated construction impact zones.