The starting date for the $1.77 million fluoride plant to get up and running has been postponed until late June due to wet weather.However, external construction work at the Wauchope site is complete.
The installation of the fluoridation plant process equipment by Port Macquarie-Hastings Council’s ETS staff is continuing.
The water supply will commence then, subject to final plant testing, commissioning and approval by the NSW Department of Health.
Council is constructing the Rosewood Road Fluoridation Plant, near the Wauchope Water Treatment Plant, following a direction by the NSW Department of Health to fluoridate the region’s reticulated water supply.
Council has been granted $1.77 million in funding from the Department of Health for the construction of the fluoridation facility.
To ensure the standard of the facility is in line with similar Council facilities in terms of operational health and safety and plant operation maintenance and reliability. Council has an additional $300,000 for duty/stand-by dosing pump arrangements and additional site and laboratory facilities.
The recurring running costs for the plant will be $150,000 per annum.
There will not be permanent staff based on-site. However, in accordance with NSW Health requirements, the dosing plant must be attended every day of the year for water sampling/testing of fluoride content.
Two (2) additional water treatment operator positions have been approved in Council’s budget for 2010/11 to cater for both the new fluoridation plants.
