The Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant has been treating the wastewater from sinks, toilets and drains across Bendigo for more than 100 years.

Funded by the customers it serves, it remains a critical piece of infrastructure for our community's health, and supports our continued growth and success.

But climate change, ageing infrastructure and a growing population mean we are acting now to ensure our sewerage infrastructure can meet community needs for the next 30 years.

About the Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant

About the upgrades

The current planned upgrades to the Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant will be carried out in stages over five years.

The planned upgrades are underpinned by a commitment to reduce our carbon footprint as we target net zero emissions by 2030, and to deliver more recycled water and biosolids for community and environmental benefit.

Stage One

Upgraded Solids Handling Facility

Stage One will see the upgrade of on-site facilities to better manage the final by-product of sewage treatment, biosolids.

In August 2023, our plans were approved by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).

In January 2024, we released the design and construction tender for the solids handling upgrade, with the tender process closing in June 2024. The project team has assessed tender submissions and will announce the successful contractors in early May 2025.

Preparations and detailed design work will be completed in the first half of 2025, with electrical upgrades to follow during the second half of 2025.

When complete in 2028, Stage One work to upgrade the Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant will deliver clear benefits:

  • The capacity to treat 20% more solids on-site, with allowance for future augmentation.
  • Reduced carbon footprint and energy use through more efficient and sustainable technology.
  • Reduced incidence of odour from the sludge and solids treatment process.
  • Readiness for the impacts of climate change and periods of extreme wet or dry weather.
  • Continued compliance with our Environmental Protection Authority operating licence.
  • Increased recycling of nutrient-rich biosolids that can be reused as a sustainable fertiliser on crops, parks and gardens.

During Stage One, we'll upgrade biosolid treatment facilities.

This will include new thickening and dewatering equipment and aerobic digesters.

Upgraded electrical equipment will be installed to support the installation of a major solar facility at a later date.

All work during Stage One will be carried out on-site, adjacent to the existing facility to minimise disruption to the treatment process.

For residents and businesses around the Water Reclamation Plant, Stage One work will reduce the incidence of odour emissions associated with biosolids treatment.

For the broader community, the work is vital to ensure the plant can accommodate population growth and a changing climate in Greater Bendigo.

Our plans have been approved by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).

Preparation and detailed design work is underway.

Electrical upgrades at the plant will be completed in the second half of 2025.

Construction of the the Solids Handling Facility will commence in 2026.

Stage One is due for completion and commissioning in 2028.

When Stage One work begins, residents and businesses in the area around the plant, particularly near Howard Street in Epsom, may notice an increase in truck movements from time-to-time.

There should be no increase in odour from the plant while work is underway.

When complete, the upgraded facilities and greater capacity will reduce the incidence of odour emissions.

Currently, 22 million litres (the equivalent of nine Olympic swimming pools) of sewage enters the Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant each day from across Bendigo and surrounding area.

There is many steps in the complex treatment process that ultimately turns incoming sewage turned into high quality recycled water and biosolids ready for reuse.

Several of the treatment stages are naturally odour-generating. These stages include:

  • The inlet where sewage arrives at the plant.
  • The Autothermal Thermophilic Aerobic Digestion system (ATADs), which turns sewage sludge into biosolids.
  • The centrifuge building where the remaining moisture in biosolids is removed.
  • The brine lagoon which stores concentrated brine that is separated during the production of Class A recycled water.

From time-to-time odours can increase if equipment breaks down or a part of the process is taken offline for maintenance.

Additionally, odours can increase when the weather is hot, before it rains, or when the wind direction changes.

We manage our plant in line with our Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) operating licence.

We have two biofilters onsite which are crucial to our odour management process. These biofilters treat gases from the inlet works and the ATADs.

We’ve recently interconnected the plant’s biofilters providing greater contingency.

Work to minimise odour is ongoing. Recently we finished:

  • Replacing fans around our ATADs to ensure less odour escapes prior to treatment.
  • Sealing leaks discovered within the odour treatment process.

    • Planned work includes:

  • Annual maintenance on sludge tanks and solids processing units.
  • Covering screening bins at the inlet area to minimise odour.
  • Ongoing improvements to our odour extraction and treatment process.
  • Replacing inlet covers.


    • Artists Impression of Stage One Upgrade

    An artist's impression of the soon to be upgraded Solids Handling Facility, Stage One of the Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant Upgrade.

    Fast facts

    From 'waste' to 'great' for community benefit

    One upon a time, the water washed or flushed down Australia's drains and toilets was considered 'wastewater'.

    But in a changing and drying climate, improving how we reclaim and reuse the by-products of our water use is important for future water security.

    At Coliban Water, we haven't just named our wastewater plants Water Reclamation Plants, we've committed to embedding sustainable practices in every part of our business.

    At the Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant, the production of recycled water and biosolids help us contribute to a circular economy and deliver benefits to our customers, communities and the environment.

    • Biosolids

      Biosolids are the organic by-product of the sewage treatment process.

      Rich in nutrients and similar to the look and smell of soil once dried, they can be applied to maintain productive soils, boost crop growth, and fertilise parks and gardens.

      We're looking to boost the beneficial production of biosolids to return nutrients and carbon to local soils, reducing the need for additional fertilisation.

      Biosolids are managed and reused in accordance with regulatory guidelines set out by the EPA.

    • Recycled water

      You'll see recycled water from the Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant at work in Bendigo's beautiful Rosalind Park and Garden for the Future and at a range of other, parks gardens and sporting facilities.

      Recycled water is also released to the Bendigo Creek, boosting environmental flows that contribute to the health and biodiversity of this local waterway.

      Recycled water is also put to good use at neighbouring farms and supports local industry.

    • Thriving biodiversity

      The Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant includes 67 hectares of lagoons and treatment ponds which are home to a range of native flora and fauna.

      The plant provides a local habitat for thousands of birds, many of local and international conservation significance.

      It's also a breeding ground for the nationally threatened species, the Growling Grass Frog.