Industrial wastewater treatment and water reuse

Requirement overview

Regional water stress has put serious limits on the complex’s freshwater withdrawal. This call seeks a system that treats process effluent to a quality that can be returned to the cooling loop, reducing the complex’s dependence on local water sources.

Background and rationale

The existing treatment plant was designed only to bring effluent to discharge limits and cannot support reuse. The client aims to recycle at least 60% of the outgoing effluent within a three-year horizon.

Project objectives

• Recycle at least 60% of the outgoing effluent
• Bring the recovered water to cooling-tower make-up quality
• Achieve a measurable cut in freshwater withdrawal
• Sustainable management of sludge and concentrated brine

Scope of work

• Effluent characterisation and a treatability pilot study
• Basic and detailed design of the advanced treatment unit
• Construction, installation and commissioning of the system
• Trial operation and guaranteed quality handover

Expected deliverables

• Effluent characterisation report and pilot results
• Complete engineering package for the treatment unit
• Operational treatment unit at the agreed nominal capacity
• Recovered-water quality monitoring report for the first six months

Applicant requirements

• Experience delivering advanced treatment units in the chemical industry
• Able to run an on-site pilot study
• Willing to guarantee effluent quality
• Compliance with Department of Environment regulations

Evaluation criteria

• Quality and consistency of the recovered water35%
• Capital and operating cost25%
• Track record and industrial references25%
• Sludge and brine management approach15%

Call timeline

1. 1

   Call published

   2025-06-29

   The requirement document and the current effluent analysis were published.

2. 2

   Site visit and sampling

   2025-07-16

   Applicants are given the opportunity to sample the effluent.

3. 3

   Proposal deadline

   2025-08-06

   Final deadline for uploading the technical and financial proposal.

4. 4

   Evaluation result

   2025-08-21

   Results are announced and contract negotiation begins.