Aquatec in collaboration with Icon Water and Diona, wins AWA’s ACT Innovation Award for its groundbreaking odour control technology that prioritises operator safety, efficiency, and sustainability. This new approach is set to become the industry standard, revolutionising how activated carbon media replacement is conducted in the water sector.
A Game-Changer for Operator Safety
The Belconnen Trunk Sewer (BTS), originally constructed in the 1960s, has undergone a major upgrade to meet modern regulatory and community expectations. This project replaced and consolidated existing ventilation structures with four fan-forced activated carbon units (ACUs), significantly enhancing odour mitigation while ensuring safer and more efficient maintenance operations.
Traditionally, ACU maintenance involves high-risk tasks such as confined space entry, manual handling, working at heights, and exposure to biohazards. Recognising these dangers, Icon Water and Aquatec have introduced an innovative ACU design featuring modular, stainless-steel cassettes for the carbon media. These cassettes can be safely removed and replaced via forklift, eliminating hazardous manual handling and reducing downtime from days to hours.
Pictured: Ivan Reolon | Executive Strategy & Growth at Aquatec (L), Ms Suzanne Orr MLA Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water (C), Andrew Fleming | Senior Technical Consultant at Aquatec (R)
Andrew Fleming, Aquatec’s Senior Technical Consultant, says:
“We are truly honoured to receive this recognition from the Australian Water Association. This achievement reflects the dedication, collaboration, and expertise of many talented individuals from Icon Water and Aquatec over the past four years. Their combined technical knowledge and experience have set a new standard for odour control solutions, protecting community health and well-being. This recognition reinforces our commitment to ongoing research and innovation, driving innovative solutions for the Australian and worldwide wastewater industry.”
The new ACU design eliminates key safety hazards:
- Confined space entry: Maintenance personnel no longer need to enter vessels, reducing exposure to hazardous atmospheres.
- Biohazard exposure: Operators avoid direct contact with spent carbon media, which can contain harmful contaminants.
- Noise exposure: The removal of vacuuming processes significantly reduces high noise levels.
- Manual handling: Forklift operations replace manual lifting, enhancing worker safety.
- Working at heights and suspended loads: Eliminating crane operations and overhead lifting reduces the risk of falls and accidents.
- Slips and falls: The streamlined process prevents media spills, further minimising workplace hazards.
An efficient and scalable solution
When carbon media reaches the end of its lifecycle, prefilled cassettes are transported to the site, allowing seamless replacement with minimal disruption. The spent cassettes are returned to a central depot for safe disposal and recharging, eliminating the need for on-site handling of hazardous materials. This scalable and modular design allows for flexible adaptation to varying airflows and odour levels across different sites.
A new standard for the industry
ACUs are widely used in the Australian water industry, with odour control being a critical concern for water utilities. Traditional maintenance methods pose significant risks, but Aquatec and Icon Water’s innovative solution presents a new benchmark for safety and efficiency. Given the scale of Australia’s activated carbon market—valued at $227M in 2023 and projected to reach $292M by 2030—this innovation is poised for widespread adoption across the industry.
Since the BTS upgrade, an additional four ACUs have been implemented along the Molonglo Valley Interceptor Sewer (MVIS), demonstrating its adaptability and effectiveness. With other water authorities already considering this approach for future projects, this revolutionary method is expected to become the standard practice for odour control worldwide.
Enhancing community and environmental impact
Beyond safety and efficiency, this project also considered community and environmental factors. The ACUs are housed in visually appealing buildings, with local artists contributing murals reflecting the natural environment. This approach reduces noise pollution and fosters community engagement, making this infrastructure an integrated part of the landscape. One of the four sites also involved consultation with a local primary school and has a water cycle themed design that aligned with the students’ curriculum. These four ACUs can now be found on numerous public art and silo-art trail websites, encouraging people to visit them.
Join the future of odour management
By prioritising safety, efficiency, and sustainability, Icon Water and Aquatec are redefining odour management practices for the industry. This cutting-edge technology sets a new precedent for maintenance operations, significantly reducing risks while improving performance and downtime.
For more information about this industry-leading innovation and its potential applications, visit the Odour Control page or contact Andrew Fleming at afleming@aquatecenviro.com.
