Frequently Asked Questions

What industries and sectors does Aquatec provide water, wastewater, and odour control solutions for?

Aquatec is Australasia’s leading advisor and innovator in water, wastewater and odour control solutions. We partner with a range of sectors, including local councils, urban and regional water authorities, residential, commercial, and industrial builders and developers and planning authorities throughout Australia and New Zealand’s North Island and South Island.

We design, manufacture, install, and service customised water, wastewater, and odour control solutions designed to comply with Australian standards and address the unique requirements of urban, regional, and rural communities.

Our products include:

Concrete and fibreglass pump station – engineered to the exact site and council specification
Pressure sewer systems – eliminate the need for gravity-dependent pipe slopes, allowing for efficient pumping both uphill and downhill across varied terrain
Fibreglass storage vessels – lightweight chambers, delivered as a one-piece unit to reduce excavation time and costs
Fibreglass maintenance holes – available in a range of diameters, depths, and configurations to suit project-specific hydraulic and spatial requirements
Water supply systems – closed, pressurised systems that reduce contamination risk, ensuring safe, potable water delivery
Wastewater reuse systems – Plug-and-Play design and modules for small-scale developments and large decentralised applications
Stormwater harvesting systems – capture, treat, and store urban runoff for non-potable reuse in irrigation, cooling, and flushing applications
Odour control – solutions targeting the full spectra of odours, from detection to neutralisation
Chemical dosing units – compact, pre-assembled units that are easy to transport, install, and maintain
Modular switchboards – custom-built switchboards for pump stations and pressure sewers, featuring AS3000-compliant power distribution, pump controls, telemetry, and metering sections with pad-lockable safety features

Does Aquatec support water reuse and sustainability initiatives?

Aquatec offers stormwater harvesting products, including raw water pump stations, packaged filtration and UV treatment plants, clearwater storage tanks, recirculation/chlorination dosing systems, booster pumps, submersible offtake pumps in concrete chambers, pole-mounted switchboards, and above-ground steel tanks for non-potable reuse in irrigation, cooling, and flushing.

These turnkey systems integrate with Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) principles for projects like Melbourne Airport, Balmoral Park, and Smiths Lane.

System configurations include low-energy pumps and blowers that significantly reduce operational energy costs, as well as solar power integration to reduce reliance on grid electricity or diesel generators.

What guiding ESG principles does Aquatec follow in its operations and projects?

Aquatec’s Environment Social Governance (ESG) principles emphasise integrating sustainability into operations, projects, and business practices through an embedded strategy that balances economic, environmental, and social factors for the benefit of our clients and the communities they serve.

Environmental focus

ISO 14001 certification drives minimised impact via efficient products, water savings (read about the 1,000+ ML/year saving in the Mitiamo Pipeline Project), and HSEQ systems for proactive environmental risk management.
Commitment to sustainability leadership with clear targets, continuous improvement, and innovative odour control solutions and reuse systems.

Social responsibility

We prioritise community benefits (reliable water, biodiversity), employee well-being, partnerships, and social procurement, including Indigenous engagement.
We foster accountability through training, audits, and transparent reporting of social risks and opportunities, social procurement.

Governance practices

Robust HSEQ framework with ISO 9001/45001 ensures quality, safety, and ethical operations; end-to-end project oversight reduces risks while meeting standards such as the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA).

Which regions and locations does Aquatec operate in?

Aquatec’s headquarters and manufacturing facilities are based in Shepparton, Victoria, with regional offices in all major Australian cities and in New Zealand, and it delivers projects throughout Australia, New Zealand, and the rest of the world.

Who are Aquatec’s main clients?

Some of Aquatec’s partners and long-term collaborators include Yarra Valley Water, Icon Water, SRG Global Utilities (formerly Diona), Max Bright, YVE, Barwon Water, Spiire, Lendlease, Fulton Hogan, Jacobs, Melbourne Water, Urban Utilities, Egis New Zealand, QM Properties, Davis Ogilvie New Zealand and others.

Together with our clients and collaborators, we provide local councils, water authorities, residential, commercial, and industrial developers and builders with customised water, wastewater, and odour control solutions.

Does Aquatec supply as-built drawings for projects?

Aquatec delivers detailed CAD as-built drawings for all installations, covering pump stations, pressure sewers, storage vessels, maintenance holes, odour control units, chemical dosing units, and boundary connection kits to facilitate maintenance and compliance with Australian standards for water authorities and developers.

What ISO standards does Aquatec meet?

Aquatec maintains ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 14001 (Environmental), and ISO 45001 (Health & Safety) certifications across manufacturing and project delivery, with factory-controlled production for storage vessels and odour units.

These standards underpin HSEQ programs, third-party audits, and continuous improvement for risk-managed, compliant infrastructure.

Does Aquatec use Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)?

Aquatec employs MMC via factory-manufactured modular precast concrete chambers, fibreglass pump stations, fibreglass storage vessels, maintenance holes, and switchboards under ISO 9001, with benefits including:

Reduced impact on flora and fauna due to quicker construction times.
Low noise and dust impact on nearby neighbourhoods, homes and businesses, as there is no need for concrete pours, formwork, or vibrating equipment.
Faster reinstatement, due to the quicker backfill and site restoration, which results in returning parks, footpaths, and roads to the public sooner.

Does Aquatec use Design and Construct methodology for water, wastewater and odour control projects?

Yes, Aquatec applies a complete Design and Construct methodology, providing bespoke in-house engineering, hydraulic modelling, manufacturing of modular pump stations/pressure sewers/odour control, on-site construction, testing and commissioning, and lifecycle support for clients like SA Water, Icon Water, and Yarra Valley Water.

This end-to-end Design and Construct approach minimises client risk, ensures compliance with WSAA, and delivers custom solutions on time and on budget through our dedicated project managers.

Are Aquatec water solutions approved by major water authorities?

The company applies stringent quality assurance frameworks and engineering validation processes to maintain full regulatory compliance.

Aquatec systems are WSAA-approved and tailored for authorities such as South East Water, Yarra Valley Water, Greater Western Water, Sydney Water, Goulburn Valley Water, Unitywater.

Does Aquatec provide scalable solutions for housing, commercial, municipal, and industrial developments?

As a trusted industry partner to utilities, councils, developers, and environmental authorities, Aquatec’s systems are engineered for performance, reliability, and compliance across residential developments, commercial infrastructure, and large-scale treatment facilities.

Every solution is tailored to local regulatory standards and operational requirements, ensuring seamless integration from concept through to long-term operation.

Are Aquatec’s water reuse systems plug-and-play?

Yes, Aquatec offers prefabricated, modular water reuse systems with multi-stage filtration (UF, RO, UV) that connect seamlessly to existing networks for immediate operation.

These scalable units support ESG goals by reducing potable water demand through onsite recycling for industrial and municipal reuse.

How does Aquatec manage its project delivery process?

Aquatec’s project delivery follows a comprehensive five-stage approach designed to ensure successful outcomes. The process begins with an in-depth consultation and needs assessment to understand client requirements. This is followed by detailed design and engineering tailored to project specifications.

The manufacturing and construction phases follow this step, adhering to strict industry standards.
Comprehensive testing and commissioning protocols are then conducted to rigorously validate system functionality, performance metrics, and regulatory compliance.
Project closeout includes documented handover with as-built drawings, operator training, and a lifecycle asset management program featuring predictive maintenance and SCADA-enabled remote diagnostics for sustained operational uptime.

What post-installation support does Aquatec provide?

Aquatec delivers comprehensive post-installation support, including customised maintenance contracts, 24/7 technical assistance, remote SCADA monitoring, and performance optimisation to maximise asset lifespan and compliance.

How does Aquatec manage risk and quality control?

Aquatec manages risk and quality control through ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001 certifications, rigorous third-party accreditations (JAZANZ, WSAA), strict manufacturing processes with in-house FAT testing, and an embedded HSEQ (Health, Safety, Environment, Quality) framework prioritising proactive risk identification, audits, training, and continuous improvement.

Certifications and Standards

ISO 9001 for quality management ensures all systems meet project specs and water authority requirements; ISO 14001/45001 cover environmental and OH&S compliance with regular internal audits.
WSAA appraisal for pump stations, storage vessels, and maintenance holes; AS3000 electrical standards for controls (SCADA/PLC).

Manufacturing and Testing

Australian-made products that undergo strict quality controls, hydraulic/electrical/mechanical design reviews, and Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) before delivery to verify performance and reliability.
Modular, plug-and-play designs with self-monitoring PLCs to reduce operational risks via remote data logging, alerts, and predictive maintenance.

Risk Management Practices

End-to-end project methodology with an HSEQ culture that fosters accountability and environmental risk mitigation
Products that are delivered with the Guaranteed Seal of Integrity
Provide training and ongoing support to water authorities for long-term asset performance.

How do Aquatec products integrate into existing infrastructure and systems?

Aquatec can integrate systems into existing infrastructure through custom design-construct services, modular plug-and-play units, and collaborative planning that aligns new components such as pump stations, pressure sewers, storage vessels, maintenance hotels, odour control, and chemical dosing units with current networks, pipelines, and utilities, while minimising disruption.

Integration capabilities

Design wastewater pump stations and storage vessels that seamlessly connect to existing sewer alignments, accommodate capacity constraints, and accommodate community expansion. Project example – Sewage Pumping Station and Storage Vessel – Ballarat.
Install pressure sewer systems pre-construction in residential developments, embedding tanks and reticulation into lots for immediate serviceability and integration with terrain, groundwater, and tidal conditions. Project example – Fibreglass pump station and storage vessel – Lyttelton Harbour, New Zealand.
Provide bespoke odour control like modular activated carbon cassettes for trunk sewers, prioritising operator safety and efficiency in retrofits. Project example – Belconnen Trunk Sewer – Bespoke indoor modular activated carbon cassette system.

Project delivery

Aquatec’s end-to-end methodology integrates HSEQ principles—Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality—through hydraulic modelling, compliance verification, safe transport, installation, and commissioning to ensure risk mitigation.

What are the causes, effects and solutions of wastewater treatment odours?

Wastewater treatment odours are mainly caused by anaerobic decomposition of organic matter under low-oxygen conditions. This process generates gases such as hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, and volatile organic sulphur compounds that smell like rotten eggs or sewage.

Nuisance odour can result in complaints from nearby communities, erosion in pipes and structures, regulatory intervention or constraints on expansion projects.

Aquatec offers a range of odour control solutions for wastewater treatment, focusing on biological, chemical, and ozone-based technologies to target hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) and other foul gases at the source or via air treatment.

What are some of the key considerations for implementing odour control?

Urban encroachment – it increases odour, noise, and traffic challenges.
Emission standards revision by Safe Work Australia.
Stricter Food Organics Green Organics (FOGO) collection, treatment, and composting limits.

What odour control services do you offer?

Gas sampling, testing, and monitoring.
Septicity studies and sampling for new wastewater treatment plants, upgrades, or refurbishment to existing treatment plants.
Dispersion modelling to ensure the solution meets the project’s key emissions drivers. Modelling of BOM (Bureau of Meteorology) wind data using tools such as AERMOD and CALPUFF.
Septicity modelling considers both pressure-flow and gravity-flow pipes.
Odour assessment studies to identify foul air sources & concentrations.