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CSIRO Media Release |
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22 September 1998 |
Ref 98/222 |
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A revolutionary device which will help shield Australia's rivers from a slow death from oxygen starvation caused by sewage effluent is one of the highlights at the nation's leading high-tech fair, Manufesto 98.
The RACOD meter, designed by CSIRO Molecular Science, is a breakthrough in solving a growing problem, not only in Australia, but worldwide, caused when the microbes that feed on the nutrients in sewage also consume all the oxygen in the water.
When the treated water from sewage works is released into the environment, its lack of oxygen may cause severe damage to natural ecosystems which are no longer able to support aquatic animals and plants. The result can be a "dead" river.
The RACOD meter is a fast, economical, on-site system for rapidly measuring the levels of dissolved oxygen in effluent from sewage treatment works. It helps water managers to plan the discharges safely for the river.
The RACOD meter has attracted international interest. CSIRO recently licensed the technology to Wallace and Tiernan Pacific, part of US Filter, a world leader in specialist equipment for water and wastewater treatment. The company expects soon to be producing 600 meters a year at its Australian manufacturing plant and plans to export them to the UK, USA, South East Asia and Europe.
Market potential is huge; the US alone has 50,000 effluent treatment plants and each one could theoretically use two meters - one for waste coming in (influent) and one for waste going out (effluent).
Like many CSIRO developments, the RACOD meter is a by-product of another project. In 1989 a CSIRO Molecular Science team working on another problem were forced to invent a test instrument to take regular on-site readings in biological nutrient pilot plants because no on-line measurement technique existed.
"We saw that the instrument had significant potential to provide the frequent, consistent, rapid determination of the fundamental parameters for the control of waste water treatment that was so lacking in the industry," says CSIRO's Doug Gale.
The industry agreed. According to Mr Jim Shaw, managing director of Hydramet, the RACOD meter is the "Holy Grail" of water treatment.
"The system offers rapid, real-time results so remedial action can be taken quickly," he says. "It also substantially reduces testing costs. Sending six samples a day to a laboratory might cost over $400, with a five day wait for results.
"The RACOD meter can provide six up-to-date readings in an hour so it will pay for itself very quickly."
The RACOD meter is designed to test the level of organic wastes with a biodegradable content, which means all sewage as well as waste from animal and vegetable sources.
The meter's weatherproof box contains a mini computer for processing measurement data and an electromechanical box containing signal conditioning equipment for temperature, air supply and other measurements. Its heart is a reaction chamber containing millions of micro-organisms whose respiration rate indicates the amount of nutrients in the effluent - and thus how polluted it is.
"The addition of fresh nutrients produces an instant change in the organisms' respiration rate, indicating a change in the strength of the waste stream," says Mr Gale.
This helps sewage managers decide when effluent is safe to discharge to a river system - but the meter can also save money. Sewage treatment works spend 80 per cent of their energy bill on aerating wastes. The meter can indicate when this form of treatment is not necessary - and so lead to energy savings.
Manufesto '98 will showcase more than 100 star technologies drawn from CRC's, CSIRO, Universities and some small companies. The conference will focus on the challenges and opportunities facing Australian researchers and industry as they take research to the global market.
The event is sponsored by CSIRO, Business Victoria and AusIndustry (Department of Industry Science and Tourism) with the support of the Australian Industry Research Group (AIRG) and the Australian Vice Chancellors' Committee (AVCC).
Manufesto '98 will be held at the Melbourne Convention Centre 23-25 September 1998. The exhibition will be open 24 - 25 September.
More information about the RACOD Meter:
Doug Gale CSIRO, 03 9662 7332 or 0417 543 633 or
James Hart (all week) or Paul Miller (Thursday and Friday this
week), Wallace & Tiernan Pacific, 02 9436 0375
Media are welcome to attend Manufesto '98.
More information about Manufesto is available on the Internet at: http://www.manufesto.csiro.au/
For a media pass please contact: Rosie Schmedding 02
6276 6520 or
0418 622 653
(Australia's largest scientific research organisation)
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