Project Name:
Lake Canobolas Sewer Pump Station
Client:
Orange City Council
Location:
Lake Canobolas Recreational Area, NSW
Year Completed:
2026
Project Overview
QMAX Pumping Systems was awarded the council tender to design and construct a new sewer pump station at the Lake Canobolas recreational area, providing a permanent wastewater management solution for the site’s kiosk and public amenities.
Previously, sewage was collected in a storage tank that required regular emptying by pumper trucks, creating an ongoing operational burden for Council. The new pump station provides a permanent solution, connecting to an existing sewer rising main approximately 6 km long.
The project presented several engineering and construction challenges, including significant static head, potential septicity and surge issues, extensive basalt rock and the need to integrate the infrastructure into the surrounding natural parkland.
The Challenges
Hydraulic Requirements and Septicity Management
The existing sewer rising main extended approximately 6 km, with around 70 m of static head to overcome. These conditions required careful hydraulic assessment to manage potential surge issues and ensure the system operated within the pipeline’s safe working limits.
The length of the rising main also presented a risk of sewage septicity, which can contribute to hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) formation and odour issues at the discharge point.
Difficult Ground Conditions
The site contained extensive basalt rock, creating challenging excavation conditions. A key tender requirement was that conventional rock hammering was not permitted, requiring an alternative excavation methodology.
Civil Design and Environmental Integration
The pump station required suitable driveway access and a turning area for Council service vehicles, while minimising differences between natural ground levels and the finished surface.
The visual impact of the infrastructure was also important, as the pump station needed to complement its surroundings within the Lake Canobolas recreational area.
The Solution
QMAX designed and constructed a complete sewer pump station tailored to the site’s hydraulic, civil and environmental requirements.
To address the hydraulic challenges, QMAX undertook a surge analysis of the existing rising main and developed an operational methodology to support safe and reliable system operation.
A 1,500 L ferric chloride chemical dosing system was incorporated into the design to help manage septicity and minimise hydrogen sulphide formation within the rising main. The installation also included a Muffin Monster™ sewer grinder.
To overcome the difficult ground conditions, QMAX adopted a drill-and-split excavation methodology, allowing the team to excavate the basalt without conventional rock hammering.
The civil design incorporated practical access and turning areas for Council service vehicles, with careful consideration given to finished levels and the surrounding parkland.
QMAX also managed the project delivery, coordinating installation works with Hinchcliffe Plumbing, which assisted with the hydraulic installation, pumps, wet well, grinder, pump-out system and civil works.
Throughout construction, QMAX provided project and site management, technical support and equipment coordination to support the delivery of the completed installation.
Conclusion
The completed Lake Canobolas Sewer Pump Station provides Orange City Council with a permanent wastewater management solution, removing the previous reliance on regular storage tank pump-outs.
The project demonstrates QMAX’s ability to deliver engineered pumping solutions that address complex hydraulic requirements, challenging ground conditions and site-specific construction constraints.
Despite the technical and environmental challenges, the finished pump station meets Council’s operational requirements while integrating into the surrounding recreational environment. Council operators were pleased with the final appearance and how well the infrastructure complemented the parkland.
The Lake Canobolas project reflects QMAX’s commitment to practical engineering, coordinated project delivery and quality pumping solutions designed to meet the requirements of each site.
