North East Water

Wodonga Rendering is now saving 150 million litres of drinking water a year – enough to supply more than 660 average homes - thanks to the completion of a major wastewater recycling project.

The company is now using high-quality reclaimed water in place of potable water for its cooling towers, yard washdowns and stock watering.

North East Water, Wodonga Rendering and Regional Development Victoria funded the $660,000 project, which saw the company connect to an existing pipe from the West Wodonga wastewater treatment plant.

North East Water’s Executive Manager Operations, Fiona Smith, said the benefits of the project were considerable.

“Not only does this mean that less water is being diverted from the Murray River, it also means that we’re applying a fit-for-purpose philosophy to water management,” she said.

“By using 150 megalitres of reclaimed water rather than drinking water at Wodonga Rendering, we’re ensuring that more of the water we treat to drinking standard is put to its highest value use.”

Wodonga Rendering General Manager, Jon Hayes, said the project aligned with the company’s commitment to saving critical potable water supplies.

“As part of this community, we are as keen as anyone to do our part to save water, and use it in the most efficient way,” he said.

“This project also provides us with a greater degree of certainty in business planning because of the reliability of the water source.”

Ms Smith said the project consisted of three phases: the upgrade of the reuse pump station at the West Wodonga wastewater treatment plant; conversion of a disused clarifying tank at North East Water’s Howard St depot for use as a storage; and the installation a pump station at Wodonga Rendering.

“This significant investment means that the infrastructure is now in place to enable other reclaimed water users to access the water in the future,” she said.