ANDREW PEACE WINES WATER SECURITY PROJECT

PROBLEM

A winery in Victoria’s Murray Valley needed a reliable, sustainable water treatment solution to address high TDS, fluctuating turbidity, and irrigation compliance challenges.

SOLUTION

Waterform installed a Barrier-FB Bore Water Treatment Plant with advanced filtration, reverse osmosis, and smart automation to deliver high-quality water efficiently.

OUTCOME

The system provides 16ML/day of treated water, ensuring irrigation compliance, operational efficiency, and environmental sustainability.

Murray Valley Winery

Barrier-FB Bore Water Treatment Plant

ultraReuse™ Industrial Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR)Wastewater Treatment Plant and Advanced Water Treatment Plant (AWTP)

Industry

Winery

LOCATION

Murray Valley

Download Case Study

Murray Valley Winery: Barrier-FB Bore Water Treatment Plant

PROBLEM

A prominent winery located in Victoria’s Murray Valley faced significant challenges in securing a sustainable and reliable water supply for its vineyard irrigation and production operations. The winery depended on a local aquifer, which presented several issues:

High Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): Water quality was compromised by elevated TDS levels (~550 ppm), affecting irrigation and plant health.
Fluctuating Turbidity and Organic Matter: The varying levels of turbidity and organic matter complicated the filtration and treatment processes.
High-Capacity Treatment Need: A treatment system capable of supporting the winery’s extensive irrigation demands was crucial.
Regulatory Compliance: The solution had to meet Recycled Water Guidelines for safe irrigation.

To address these challenges, the winery sought an efficient, high-recovery water treatment solution that would deliver high-quality water while minimising operational costs.

SOLUTION

Waterform Technologies was tasked with designing and implementing a comprehensive water treatment system. The solution was a Barrier-FB Bore Water Treatment Plant, tailored to ensure long-term water security and sustainability. The system components included:

Pre-Treatment & Filtration:
- An automatic backwashing screen filter (Filternox 300-micron) was implemented to remove larger particulates.
- A nextSand filtration system effectively handled fine sediments and heavy metal removal, ensuring cleaner water for treatment.
Reverse Osmosis (RO) System:
- A high-recovery reverse osmosis system (Barrier-FB RO plant) was deployed, achieving a 90% recovery rate for desalination.
- The system used a multi-train 3+1 configuration, balancing brine concentration and treatment efficiency.
- Antiscalant dosing was applied inline to optimise membrane performance, enhancing the lifespan of the RO system.
Smart Automation & Monitoring:
- A SCADA-integrated PLC control system was implemented to monitor the system in real-time and automate its functions.
- iSiteControl was used for 24/7 remote monitoring, enabling proactive system adjustments and ensuring optimal performance.
Infrastructure Enhancements:
- The project included 375kL raw water storage tanks to buffer water flow and ensure even distribution.
- Evaporation ponds were created to manage brine disposal in an environmentally responsible manner.

The system was designed with scalability in mind, allowing for modular expansion as the winery’s operational water demands increased over time.

OUTCOME

The commissioning of the Barrier-FB Bore Water Treatment Plant has provided several key benefits to the winery:

Consistently High-Quality Water:
The treated water meets Recycled Water Guidelines, ensuring safe and unrestricted vineyard irrigation. TDS levels and turbidity have been significantly reduced, improving water quality and usability.
Increased Water Security:
The plant now reliably produces up to 16ML/day of treated water, reducing the winery’s reliance on external water sources and ensuring continuity in production during times of water scarcity.
Operational & Cost Efficiency:
The high-recovery RO system minimises water wastage, optimising overall water usage and reducing costs. The fully automated system has also minimised labour requirements and reduced ongoing maintenance efforts.
Environmental Sustainability:
Waterform’s sustainable approach to water management ensures compliance with regulatory standards while aligning with the winery’s commitment to eco-friendly practices. The optimised brine disposal strategy prevents negative environmental impacts.

Through this project, the winery has secured a cost-effective, environmentally sustainable water solution that not only ensures operational continuity but also reinforces its commitment to long-term sustainability and resilience.

PROBLEM

High Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): Water quality was compromised by elevated TDS levels (~550 ppm), affecting irrigation and plant health.
Fluctuating Turbidity and Organic Matter: The varying levels of turbidity and organic matter complicated the filtration and treatment processes.
High-Capacity Treatment Need: A treatment system capable of supporting the winery’s extensive irrigation demands was crucial.
Regulatory Compliance: The solution had to meet Recycled Water Guidelines for safe irrigation.

To address these challenges, the winery sought an efficient, high-recovery water treatment solution that would deliver high-quality water while minimising operational costs.

SOLUTION

Pre-Treatment & Filtration:
- An automatic backwashing screen filter (Filternox 300-micron) was implemented to remove larger particulates.
- A nextSand filtration system effectively handled fine sediments and heavy metal removal, ensuring cleaner water for treatment.
Reverse Osmosis (RO) System:
- A high-recovery reverse osmosis system (Barrier-FB RO plant) was deployed, achieving a 90% recovery rate for desalination.
- The system used a multi-train 3+1 configuration, balancing brine concentration and treatment efficiency.
- Antiscalant dosing was applied inline to optimise membrane performance, enhancing the lifespan of the RO system.
Smart Automation & Monitoring:
- A SCADA-integrated PLC control system was implemented to monitor the system in real-time and automate its functions.
- iSiteControl was used for 24/7 remote monitoring, enabling proactive system adjustments and ensuring optimal performance.
Infrastructure Enhancements:
- The project included 375kL raw water storage tanks to buffer water flow and ensure even distribution.
- Evaporation ponds were created to manage brine disposal in an environmentally responsible manner.

The system was designed with scalability in mind, allowing for modular expansion as the winery’s operational water demands increased over time.

OUTCOME

The commissioning of the Barrier-FB Bore Water Treatment Plant has provided several key benefits to the winery:

Consistently High-Quality Water:
The treated water meets Recycled Water Guidelines, ensuring safe and unrestricted vineyard irrigation. TDS levels and turbidity have been significantly reduced, improving water quality and usability.
Increased Water Security:
The plant now reliably produces up to 16ML/day of treated water, reducing the winery’s reliance on external water sources and ensuring continuity in production during times of water scarcity.
Operational & Cost Efficiency:
The high-recovery RO system minimises water wastage, optimising overall water usage and reducing costs. The fully automated system has also minimised labour requirements and reduced ongoing maintenance efforts.
Environmental Sustainability:
Waterform’s sustainable approach to water management ensures compliance with regulatory standards while aligning with the winery’s commitment to eco-friendly practices. The optimised brine disposal strategy prevents negative environmental impacts.