Capacity upgrade

By Melissa Donchi
WOORI Yallock’s sewage pumping station will be dramatically improved with Yarra Valley Water investing over $450,000 to increase its capacity.
Yarra Valley managing director Tony Kelly said the project involved constructing an additional sewage storage tank as a back-up “for when the existing sewage pumping station may not be in operation, such as during a power blackout.”
Mr Kelly described the project as a more sustainable solution for managing sewage making it easier “to protect the environment.”
The pumping station is located on farmland adjacent to the Warburton Rail Trail at Woori Yallock. The rail trail will be available at all times during construction, however, it will be temporarily diverted around the construction site. It will be reinstated to its original position at the end of construction.
Project manager Tanya Pearson said the upgrade will also reduce the chance of sewage overflows.
“On rare occasions, such as when there is a power failure, the pump station may not work and will not be able to push sewage uphill,” Ms Pearson said.
“This means that the pump station and connecting pipes will start to fill up with sewage. In some instances, if they get too full, sewage can overflow into the local environment.”
The sewage pumping station upgrade started in September 2006 and is scheduled for completion by early 2007.