Mt. Buller (Victoria), Australia (Sunday, July 14, 2002) - Mt. Buller Resort management is currently developing a wastewater treatment system that utilizes recycled water for snowmaking.

The project has been in development for two years with the assistance of a $72,220 grant from the Victorian State Government for the trial of an ultra-filtration plant.

The trial, which has the support of both the EPA and the Department of Human Services, will see wastewater treated through a tertiary wastewater treatment plant to reduce nutrient levels then disinfected by passing the water through UV processes and a pilot ultra-filtration plant. The ultra filtration component of the process involves passing the treated water through a membrane capable of removing spores, bacteria and viruses. The final product is crystal clear water.

Mt Buller generates 175 ML of treated effluent per year with around 70% of this produced over winter. Utilizing treated wastewater for snowmaking is estimated to cover around 10% of the resort’s daily snowmaking needs.

Resort Technical Services Manager, David Westphalen, said that “The trial of the ultra-filtration plant has been in progress for two years and is now concluding. The results will be passed to various government departments for sign off and final approvals of the process. Depending on funding, it is envisaged that it will be three to four years before the process is actually put into practice.”

The trail of the ultra-fultration has generated strong interested from international ski resorts.