Case Study: Containerised Potable Water Treatment Plant
Complete Upgrade of Existing WPP, Western Australia
Background
The existing Water Purification Plant (WPP) was constructed in 1981 and has a design treatment capacity of 1.2 megalitres per day.
Over the decades, the aging infrastructure and outdated treatment processes have led to increased maintenance demands and a high level
of operator intervention to sustain functionality.
To ensure a reliable and consistent supply of potable water while reducing operational inefficiencies, the client has initiated a full replacement of the site WPP.
The upgrade project will involve:
- Complete replacement of all treatment process units at the site to ensure efficient raw water purification.
- Modernisation and standardisation of the instrumentation, control, and automation systems, enabling both local and remote monitoring and operation of the facility.
The Challenge
The raw water sourced from the bore field locations cannot be classified as potable due to elevated iron, turbidity, and colour levels.
These parameters exceed drinking water standards and pose a significant challenge to effective treatment.
Raw Water Quality Summary – Bore Field Locations
| Parameter | UOM | Bore Field #1 | Bore Field #2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min | Max | Median | Min | Max | Median | ||
| Alkalinity-Total | mg CaCO3/L | 4 | 35 | 15.3 | 7 | 13 | 9.8 |
| Aluminum | mg/L | <0.001 | 0.019 | <0.001 | 0.001 | 0.023 | 0.006 |
| Iron- Total | mg/L | 0.804 | 7.89 | 3.2 | 0.459 | 10.1 | 3.2 |
| Manganese Total | mg/L | 0.054 | 0.262 | 0.1 | 0.026 | 0.192 | 0.1 |
| pH | pH Unit | 4.9 | 6.2 | 5.7 | 5.4 | 6 | 5.7 |
| Total Dissolved Solids | mg/L | 334 | 420 | 371.3 | 241 | 327 | 288.3 |
| Total Suspended Solids | ppm | <2.5 | 6 | 4.3 | <2.5 | 14 | <2.5 |
| Turbidity | NTU | 12.3 | 72.3 | 44.6 | 1.48 | 165 | 39.7 |
Treated Water Quality Requirements
| Parameter | Limit | Units/measure |
|---|---|---|
| Treated Water Turbidity Max | <1 | NTU |
| Filtered Water Turbidity | <0.3 | NTU |
| Colour | <5 | HU |
| Aluminium (acid soluble) | <0.1 | mg/L |
| Iron (Total) | <0.3 | mg/L |
The Solution
Amiad designed and supplied a containerised water treatment plant (WTP) with a treatment capacity of 68 m³/hr.
The system is fully integrated and engineered to treat bore water drawn from two 1 megalitre supply water storage tanks.
The plant features a multi-barrier approach to ensure removal of contaminants and pathogens, producing water that meets drinking water standards.
Treatment process includes:
- pH correction
- Pre-chlorination
- DMI-65® media filtration for iron and manganese removal
- UV disinfection for pathogen inactivation
- Post-chlorination for residual protection
About DMI-65® Media
DMI-65® is a catalytic filtration media engineered for efficient removal of dissolved iron and manganese. Its unique micro-porous structure enables:
- Iron removal to below 0.001 ppm
- Manganese removal to below 0.001 ppm
The media acts as an oxidation catalyst, allowing for immediate oxidation and filtration of precipitates without the need for extensive retention time.
*In countries which the trademark is Registered, and TM in countries which it is not formally registered.
The Results
The containerised WTP provided a compact, modular and efficient solution, addressing all key challenges at the site.
The plant now delivers safe, clear, and compliant drinking water, with significantly reduced operational burden and improved automation.
Free chlorine: 1.3 ppm
| Parameter | 16/07/2025 (Feed) | 16/07/2025 (Outlet) | 17/07/2025 (Feed) | 17/07/2025 (Outlet) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.85 | 7.37 | 5.87 | 7.49 |
| Conductivity | 576.3 | 643 | 585.5 | 653 |
| Turbidity (NTU) | 4.02 | 0.59 | 7.76 | 0.52 |
| Iron (Fe) | 2.07 | 0.03 | 1.29 | 0.07 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.22 | 0.001 | 0.21 | 0.001 |
| Aluminium (Al) | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.31 | 0.18 |
