After helping Oceania Dairy obtain resource consent for discharge to ocean, Apex Water was engaged to design and construct a new membrane bioreactor for wastewater treatment prior to discharge into the ocean.

Wastewater from existing DAF units is treated in anoxic and aeration tanks as well as an MBR to suitable quality water for direct discharge into the ocean meeting Resource Consent requirements. Solids are dewatered and taken offsite. Previous discharge from the DAFs went to land irrigation, Apex delivered this new turn-key plant allowing discharge to ocean in addition to irrigation.

Services to the plant include compressed air via new blowers, recycled water used within the new treatment plant and various chemicals for pH adjustment, supplementing food for biomass sustainability, CIP of the membranes, management of phosphate in the discharge and polymer addition during dewatering.  A range of in-line analysers, flowmeters and an autosampler ensure continuous compliance.  

The plant was designed to meet all Oceania Dairy Ltd (ODL) engineering standards as well as local regulations and is now being operated by ODL staff with remote access by Apex staff when required, for maintaining continued operational efficiency.