At the heart of JWA’s mission lies a deep commitment to environmental stewardship. Recently, we embarked on a significant overhaul of our water treatment system at our headquarters, driven by our dedication to sustainability and continual improvement.
Managing water treatment has always posed challenges, particularly during periods of high demand when we must swiftly clean mats returning from jobs to prepare them for their next assignment.
After nearly a year of rigorous research and testing, we are excited about the outstanding performance of our new water purification system for sewage disposal. We evaluated numerous options and ultimately selected a partnership with PR Water, whose wastewater treatment system perfectly meets all our requirements. Their wastewater treatment system boasts the capacity to manage substantial volumes of contaminated water daily, employing a sophisticated multi-step filtration process.The Lamella Clarifier machine operates on the principle of active treatment, allowing for continuous operation without downtime. Thanks to the use of flocculant chemicals, sediment deposits in the chamber within a matter of minutes.
Throughout our collaboration with PR Water, we conducted extensive tests to determine the best chemical compositions for treating the water after bog mat cleaning. Our mats return from assignments across Australia, each bearing a unique array of soil deposits. While some return relatively clean, others arrive caked in mud or clay. Given the diverse range of soils carried by our mats, different treatment approaches were required due to variations in dirt concentration, soil types, and particle sizes. To achieve this, multiple water samples were taken to the NATA Accredited Lab, where experts identified the most suitable chemical mixes to ensure compliance with UnityWater requirements for discharging into the sewage.
Samples of water with diverse chemical compositions.
Recently, we received over a hundred mats from a rental job spanning four months. These mats played a crucial role in navigating a challenging, wet, and muddy terrain in an environmentally sensitive area. The prolonged duration of the job, combined with the difficult conditions, led to a significant build-up of brown clay and chernozem (black soil) on the mats. Despite the site team's commendable efforts in managing to clean off the bigger lumps of soil for safe transportation purposes, we still received about a quarter of a tonne of dirt, travelling on the mats.
During the pre-tests, we encountered a maximum mud-to-water ratio of approximately 30% to 70%. However, this recent influx saw mud particles exceed 75%, which we know could pose a significant challenge for conventional water treatment systems. Nonetheless, our updated water system coped well with the increased dirt levels, giving us confidence that we can operate at full capacity without downtime for water treatment.
Mat being loaded into the Mat Washing Machine.
With our new water treatment system now operational, we can efficiently separate water from solids and dispose of them in an environmentally conscious and sustainable manner. Purified water is seamlessly directed into the sewage system, while solids are responsibly removed from our premises.
Why do we prioritise bog mat cleaning?
Ensuring thorough mat cleaning extends beyond meeting regulatory standards; it is a vital component in eliminating potential biological hazards to the delicate Australian ecosystem. Many of the projects we send our mats to are located in sensitive environments such as mangroves, farmlands, and national parks, which are highly susceptible to damage from invasive contaminants. The inadvertent transport of invasive seeds from one part of the country to a sensitive site on another side can have profound ecological consequences, disrupting delicate ecosystems and threatening biodiversity. This underscores the importance of thorough mat cleaning in preventing the spread of invasive species and preserving the integrity of Australia's natural habitats.
Dura-Base used as temporary access mats in the sensitive marine mud environment
To address this imperative, our cleaning processes incorporate a series of steps, from prewashing in a machine powered by solar energy and rainwater to a rigorous wash using high-pressure gurneys. Each mat undergoes thorough scrutiny to ensure no trace of dirt, seeds, or contaminants remains, with elevated washing preventing soil adhesion to wet surfaces.
Our commitment to environmental stewardship is further underscored by our ability to provide weed and seed declarations upon request, offering clients assurance of our high cleaning standards.
These measures culminate in the delivery of pristine mats to our clients, reflecting our unwavering dedication to preserving Australia's natural beauty while responsibly managing water and mud on our premises.
JWA team extends our sincere gratitude to the City of Moreton Bay, UNITYWATER, PR WATER Australia Team, Chilton Woodward & Associates (Hydro Consultant), and Daniel Couton (Process and Environmental Chemist) from AQUALL for their invaluable contributions to expediting this project.