CQUniversity staff recently visited South Australia to help inform environmental health officers about various types of on-site wastewater treatment methods.

Staff including Ben Kele and Ted Gardner were involved in a Wisconsin Mound Training Day for the South Australian branch of Environmental Health Australia (EHA).

CQUniversity water specialists Ben Kele and Ted Gardner (second and third from left) with others involved in a training day in South Australia, including Arris Director Jim Kelly (behind Mr Gardner)

A Wisconsin mound is used at sites where heavy clay soils make traditional on-site wastewater trenches unsuitable.

"This was fifth training day that CQUniversity has assisted with in South Australia," Mr Kele said.

"This project is interesting because it enabled CQUniversity to be involved in the field with Arris, the leading recycled water industry consultants with whom we signed an MOU earlier this year."

Mr Kele said over 40 participants travelled from all over South Australia and regional Victoria to attend the training day in the Adelaide Hills.

"Wisconsin Mounds are gaining popularity in Australia due to low operating expenses in terms of power consumption and avoiding the need for disinfection chemicals," he said.

"This can make them a ‘cleantech' technology solution for on-site wastewater treatment.

"This installation used the venturi valve aeration technique pioneered by CQUniversity's oxygation team."

The Wisconsin Mound demonstration