Charters Towers sources its drinking water from the Burdekin River via Charters Towers Weir. Aquatec Maxcon was engaged in 2018 by Charters Towers Regional Council to deliver a $13 million upgrade of the FEJ Butcher Water Treatment Plant, boosting capacity to 22 ML/day and enhancing resilience to high-turbidity raw water (up to 10,000 NTU) during wet-season events.
The Challenge
Charters Towers Regional Council needed to:
- Increase treatment capacity to meet future growth
- Improve reliability and operational flexibility
- Treat raw water turbidities up to 10,000 NTU seamlessly
- Minimise disruption to continuous water supply
Key Works
1. Clarification & Filtration Trains
- Two concrete clarifier basins, each with dual-stage flocculation tanks
- Two 316 stainless steel lamella plate clarifiers with launders, sludge removal and VSD-controlled mixers
- Four concrete dual-media gravity filter tanks featuring stainless steel plenum floors, inlet distributors, backwash launders, nozzles and media
- Air-scour blower and backwash pump station
- Intermediate filtered-water tank with submersible pumps
- Chemical dosing pipework for coagulant, pH correction, settling aids and chlorine, complete with in-line mixers and instrumentation
- Access stairs, platforms, walk-downs and wash-down facilities
2. Electrical & Control Systems
- New low-voltage switchroom: switchgear, MCCs, variable speed drives and PLC/SCADA hardware
- Local motor control centres and remote I/O panels
- PLC, SCADA and HMI development, integration and commissioning
3. Refurbishment Works
- Structural repairs and recoating of the Clear Water Storage Tank
- Replacement and enhancement of chlorine, sulphuric acid and coagulant (ACH) dosing facilities, bunds and unloading bays
- Refurbishment of existing chemical building: new storage tanks, pumps, pipework and instrumentation for coagulant aids and settling aids
- Upgrade of treated-water pump, surge vessel, valves and instrumentation
- Electrical overhaul of weir and booster pump stations, adding VSDs to raw-water pumps
- Replacement of air compressors, dryers and piping for site-wide compressed air and service water systems
Outcomes
- Achieved a daily capacity of 22 ML, with reliable treatment under turbid conditions up to 10,000 NTU
- Enhanced plant flexibility and operational uptime
- Seamless upgrade with uninterrupted water delivery to the community
- Full compliance with modern water-quality standards
Contact Us
Discover how Aquatec Maxcon can elevate your water infrastructure. Reach out today for a tailored solution.
