Improving water use efficiency of grapevine production in the Great Western region using effluent water and soil amelioration practices. Irrigation of vineyards with municipal wastewater is a desirable option for the viticulturists of the Great Western region of Victoria, but only if vineyard soil structure is not adversely affected. This project will (1) study the impact of dissolved chemicals in the waste water on the structure of the local sandy soils; (2) model the data to enhance understand ....Improving water use efficiency of grapevine production in the Great Western region using effluent water and soil amelioration practices. Irrigation of vineyards with municipal wastewater is a desirable option for the viticulturists of the Great Western region of Victoria, but only if vineyard soil structure is not adversely affected. This project will (1) study the impact of dissolved chemicals in the waste water on the structure of the local sandy soils; (2) model the data to enhance understanding of the key chemical and physical mechanisms controlling grey water impact in heterogeneous environments. The resulting predictive tools will have direct application in the Great Western region's vineyards, and for irrigation of grey water in vineyards across Ausralia.Read moreRead less
Synthesis of Activated Carbon Supported Zero Valent Iron Nanoparticles and Application to Contaminant Degradation in Benthic Sediments. Sediment contamination is a major problem in harbours and estuaries around Australia. For example, in Sydney Harbour, a total fishing ban has been implemented as a result of excessive levels of dioxins and benzofurans in fish tissues. There is also concern at the possibility of large scale contamination of Botany Bay as a result of historic industrial activity a ....Synthesis of Activated Carbon Supported Zero Valent Iron Nanoparticles and Application to Contaminant Degradation in Benthic Sediments. Sediment contamination is a major problem in harbours and estuaries around Australia. For example, in Sydney Harbour, a total fishing ban has been implemented as a result of excessive levels of dioxins and benzofurans in fish tissues. There is also concern at the possibility of large scale contamination of Botany Bay as a result of historic industrial activity around the Bay. While dredging and on-land treatment of sediments is being adopted at the most severely contaminated sites, the cost of this approach is exorbitant. For sites where removal of contaminated sediments cannot be justified, the approach proposed in this study of a technology that entraps contaminants and enhances their in situ biodegradation is potentially a way forward.Read moreRead less
Optimal management of corrosion and odour problems in sewer systems. Pollutants in wastewater undergo complex changes in sewers, leading to the production and release of odorous and corrosive compounds. Despite major efforts and expenditure by water utilities to mitigate these problems, odorous emissions from sewers are still commonly occurring in urban areas. Furthermore, the value of public assets is significantly diminished due to sewer corrosion, costing hundreds of millions of dollars a yea ....Optimal management of corrosion and odour problems in sewer systems. Pollutants in wastewater undergo complex changes in sewers, leading to the production and release of odorous and corrosive compounds. Despite major efforts and expenditure by water utilities to mitigate these problems, odorous emissions from sewers are still commonly occurring in urban areas. Furthermore, the value of public assets is significantly diminished due to sewer corrosion, costing hundreds of millions of dollars a year in Australia alone. This project is a major joint effort by the Australian water industry and world-leading scientists to generate advanced knowledge and develop effective technologies for optimal odour and corrosion management in sewers, delivering large social, environmental and economic benefits.Read moreRead less
Understanding and mitigating nitrous oxide emission from wastewater treatment plants. Climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions is one of the most serious challenges that mankind is facing. Substantial reduction in emissions must be achieved, with responsibility to be shared by all industrial sectors. Wastewater systems contribute to greenhouse gas emissions through not only energy consumptions but also direct emissions of fugitive greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide. This project aim ....Understanding and mitigating nitrous oxide emission from wastewater treatment plants. Climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions is one of the most serious challenges that mankind is facing. Substantial reduction in emissions must be achieved, with responsibility to be shared by all industrial sectors. Wastewater systems contribute to greenhouse gas emissions through not only energy consumptions but also direct emissions of fugitive greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide. This project aims to provide knowledge and technology support to the Australian wastewater industry to minimize the emission of nitrous oxide during biological nitrogen removal from wastewater. This is critically important for this industry to achieve greenhouse gas neutral wastewater management.Read moreRead less
Development of in Ground and on Site Technologies for Low Cost Metal Remediation of Remote Contaminated Sites. Australia has taken a leading role internationally in promoting environmental awareness and is committed to both tackling existing pollution and mitigating future hazards. The clean-up of contaminated Australian, Antarctic and sub-Antarctic sites is seen as a national priority and research into in-situ technologies is central to meeting established remediation goals. Successful developm ....Development of in Ground and on Site Technologies for Low Cost Metal Remediation of Remote Contaminated Sites. Australia has taken a leading role internationally in promoting environmental awareness and is committed to both tackling existing pollution and mitigating future hazards. The clean-up of contaminated Australian, Antarctic and sub-Antarctic sites is seen as a national priority and research into in-situ technologies is central to meeting established remediation goals. Successful development of a low-cost in-ground remediation scheme will provide vital protection for remote Australian, Antarctic and sub-Antarctic areas. It will also do much to cement Australia as a global leader in environmental protection, offering as it does a generic remote regions metal contamination remediation solution.Read moreRead less
Development of Low Cost In Situ Techniques for Petroleum Remediation in Cold Regions. Internationally, Australia has taken a leading role in promoting environmental awareness and is committed to both the mitigation of future hazards, and the tackling of existing pollution. The clean-up of abandoned Antarctic sites is seen as a priority, and research into low-impact technology is central to meeting established remediation goals. Successful development of a low-cost in-situ remediation scheme wi ....Development of Low Cost In Situ Techniques for Petroleum Remediation in Cold Regions. Internationally, Australia has taken a leading role in promoting environmental awareness and is committed to both the mitigation of future hazards, and the tackling of existing pollution. The clean-up of abandoned Antarctic sites is seen as a priority, and research into low-impact technology is central to meeting established remediation goals. Successful development of a low-cost in-situ remediation scheme will not only serve to protect vulnerable Antarctic habitats in Australian stewardship, but will do much to cement Australia as a global leader in environmental protection offering as it does, a generic cold region hydrocarbon remediation solution.Read moreRead less
Amelioration strategies to reduce environmental deterioration and agricultural production losses in water repellent regions. Millions of hectares of potentially productive agricultural land in Australia are affected by water-repellency. Water repellency causes non-uniform infiltration of water in soils and promotes surface erosion. Consequently, water repellent soils cannot be satisfactorily used for agricultural production, resulting in production losses of millions of dollars annually. This in ....Amelioration strategies to reduce environmental deterioration and agricultural production losses in water repellent regions. Millions of hectares of potentially productive agricultural land in Australia are affected by water-repellency. Water repellency causes non-uniform infiltration of water in soils and promotes surface erosion. Consequently, water repellent soils cannot be satisfactorily used for agricultural production, resulting in production losses of millions of dollars annually. This investigation is part of a genuine international effort that will develop new procedures to ameliorate water-repellent soils. New and improved mathematical models and decision support tools will also be developed to improve water-repellent land management, reduce environmental risk and minimise agriculture production loss.Read moreRead less
The development of low cost sorbents for removal of contaminants in ground water at cold regions contaminated sites. Contamination of soils and waters as a result of industrial and other human activities, is a significant global environmental issue. Both Australia and Japan have a large legacy of hydrocarbon and heavy metals contamination from mining activities and industry. This project aims to address hydrocarbon and heavy metals contamination through investigation of novel, low-cost sorbents ....The development of low cost sorbents for removal of contaminants in ground water at cold regions contaminated sites. Contamination of soils and waters as a result of industrial and other human activities, is a significant global environmental issue. Both Australia and Japan have a large legacy of hydrocarbon and heavy metals contamination from mining activities and industry. This project aims to address hydrocarbon and heavy metals contamination through investigation of novel, low-cost sorbents suitable for implementation in passive in-situ remediation technologies. This will be achieved through the combined efforts of Australian and Japanese scientists who are expert in the fields of water treatment and chemical synthesis of sorbent materials.Read moreRead less
Ecological renovation of constructed wetlands: changing state from algae to macrophyte dominated systems. Mars Confectionary's constructed wastewater treatment wetlands no longer purify its waste waters. Over-burdening has tipped the balance from a plant dominated, clear water system to an algae dominated, turbid system. This project will aid restoration of the Mars wetlands by (1) improving our understanding of alage-macrophyte dynamics in shallow water basins; (2) producing a series of soft en ....Ecological renovation of constructed wetlands: changing state from algae to macrophyte dominated systems. Mars Confectionary's constructed wastewater treatment wetlands no longer purify its waste waters. Over-burdening has tipped the balance from a plant dominated, clear water system to an algae dominated, turbid system. This project will aid restoration of the Mars wetlands by (1) improving our understanding of alage-macrophyte dynamics in shallow water basins; (2) producing a series of soft engineering, ecologically based techniques for the management / rehabilitation of natural and constructed shallow water bodies which receive high nutrient loads; (3) improve decision support tools for the renovation and sustainable management of the Mars Confectionary, and similar food processing industry constructed wetlands.Read moreRead less
Mineral transformation and oxidant production in subsurface environments. Sporadic influx of oxygen-rich rainwater / groundwater into subsurface waste sites induces dramatic biogeochemical changes which greatly influence the transport of contaminants present. In this project, fundamental knowledge gaps regarding the impacts of redox oscillations upon contaminant behaviour in these sediments will be addressed through a comprehensive program of field studies at a purpose-constructed experimental f ....Mineral transformation and oxidant production in subsurface environments. Sporadic influx of oxygen-rich rainwater / groundwater into subsurface waste sites induces dramatic biogeochemical changes which greatly influence the transport of contaminants present. In this project, fundamental knowledge gaps regarding the impacts of redox oscillations upon contaminant behaviour in these sediments will be addressed through a comprehensive program of field studies at a purpose-constructed experimental facility in an existing waste site, and complementary laboratory investigations. The intended outcomes are to improve understanding of contaminant mobility at the field-scale in these pervasive sites spread across the globe, and provide critical insight into their remediation using cost-effective techniques.Read moreRead less