Gippsland Water trials tech to boost efficiency

Gippsland Water has launched an innovative nanobubble oxygenation trial at the Neerim South wastewater treatment plant.

Funded by a $50,000 prize from the Victorian Water Minister’s Climate Innovation Challenge, the trial aims to replace the current mechanical aeration process with the use nanobubble oxygenation technology to reduce electricity use during wastewater treatment.

Managing director Sarah Cumming said if successful, the trial could lead to reduced energy consumption and potential cost reduction.

“Every dollar we can save by making our treatment processes more efficient helps to put downward pressure on customer bills,” Ms Cumming said. 

Nanobubble oxygenation works by creating smaller bubbles, which improves wastewater treatment by reducing the operational time of energy intensive equipment such as pumps and motors.

“This enhances operational efficiency of the treatment process and improves environmental water quality,” Ms Cumming said.

“If our trial results are positive, we plan to permanently install this technology at the Neerim South wastewater treatment plant and explore opportunities for other sites.

“We’ll also share our findings with the broader Victorian water industry and there is potential the technology could be rolled out more broadly around the state.”

The trial will wrap up in October 2025 and will be completed in partnership with the supplier of the nanobubble technology, Custom Fluids.

For more information about the Water Minister’s Climate Innovation Challenge, visit www.climateinnovationchallenge.org.au.