The $3.5 million project involves the replacement of Powder Activated Carbon (PAC) dosing infrastructure at the Image Flat Water Treatment Plant, which supplies water to suburbs including Nambour, Yandina, Eumundi and other communities north of the Maroochy River.

Seqwater Chief Operating Officer, Stuart Cassie said during the treatment process, the use of PAC was effective in absorbing and removing taste and odour compounds in the water that had the potential to give drinking water an earthy taste. 

“While these naturally-occurring, compounds are safe to drink and are not harmful, when at high enough levels, they can produce a taste and odour that can be unpleasant for some people, which is why we have a method for treating it,” Mr Cassie said. 

Mr Cassie said the upgrade would include a new PAC plant as well as dosing points to be built in the raw water pipelines that fed into the Image Flat plant.

“Our treatment plants are long-life assets and require continual monitoring, maintenance and improvements,” Mr Cassie said.

“This multi-million-dollar upgrade will improve the way Image Flat safely operates, minimise the risk of taste and odour issues occurring and ultimately improve the reliability and security of water supply for the growing Sunshine Coast area.”

Mr Cassie said while the upgrade was being delivered, drinking water produced by the Image Flat Treatment Plant continued to be safe and of a high standard.

“The water supply is constantly monitored and tested and it continues to meet the stringent health requirements of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines,” Mr Cassie said.

Construction work for the project is expected to take six months to complete. No changes to the local water supply as a result of this work are anticipated.