Potable Water Disinfection For Defence

Our client was experiencing significant operational challenges due to turbidity spikes in river water extraction during heavy rainfall events. The existing water treatment plant (WTP) was unable to operate under high turbidity conditions, resulting in frequent shutdowns that disrupted site operations. These shutdowns increased operational costs, reduced productivity, and posed compliance and sustainability risks by limiting access to reliable, treated water during critical periods.

The client, a civil construction company delivering works for the Australia Singapore Military Training Initiative (ASMTI), required a reliable potable water solution for the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The ADF needed a consistent supply of potable water that could be safely stored and maintained within specification. Without an onsite solution, the ADF would incur significant ongoing costs transporting potable water to site, while also increasing safety risks associated with vehicle movements during training exercises. MAK Water was selected to design and manufacture a reliable solution to treat the source water, which required additional disinfection. Our team worked closely with the client to design a fit for purpose solution that complies with the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG).

The client required an upgrade to the existing washbay system at Royal Military College, Duntroon (RMC-D) in the ACT. The previous system was not adequately treating heavy and light vehicle washbay water. This resulted in a film forming on vehicles, overdosing of flocculant carrying over into the process, and oil being carried through the system. These issues affected operational efficiency, increased rewash time, raised chemical consumption costs, and risked non‑compliance with environmental and Defence standards.

An industrial client in Queensland generates oily wastewater with variable hydrocarbon loading and needed to meet strict local council and regulatory discharge limits. Although conventional Oil Water Separators (OWS) efficiently eliminate free-floating oil, compliance is usually monitored through periodic grab sampling. This method risks exceeding regulatory limits between samples, resulting in potential environmental violations, fines and increased discharge or disposal costs. MAK Water was engaged to design and deliver a treatment solution to ensure that the discharge met local council limits at all times.

A major defence contractor reached out to MAK Water to discuss options for demineralised water treatment. The client required low conductivity water for to top up battery water on naval vessels. Demineralised water was needed at two different locations and the client had a tight schedule to ensure continuity of service. Following a full consultative review MAK Water designed a containerised Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis – Basic (BWRO-B-010) plant that uses a MAKPAK ion exchange process to treat scheme water to below 5µs/cm conductivity. The plant was delivered on-time, in-budget and producing water well below the conductivity in the design specification. This enabled the client to top up batteries with low conductivity water reducing the risk of the batteries losing capacity and extending battery life. As a result of the success of this project MAK Water has been asked to consult with international allies to produce a similar solution for their own use.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (commonly referred to as PFAS) are pollutants of increasing public health and environmental concern, consisting of a large variety of man-made organic compounds. Among those compounds, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are the two most widely used and studied. PFAS contamination can be found in soil, groundwater, surface water, and sediments. PFAS and related compounds are currently imported into Australia, mainly for use as mist suppressants in the metal plating industry, hydraulic fluid in the aviation and defence industry and in fire suppressants. The toxicity, bioaccumulation potential, and resistance to natural degradation of these chemicals has led to great concern for their adverse effects on human health and the environment. Subsequently, treatment systems for the removal of these compounds are being installed across Australia and internationally. MAK Water was approached by a tier one contractor to manufacture two mobile PFAS removal plants to treat a mixture of contaminated stormwater and secondary effluent for off-site discharge.