Case Study: How Water Treatment Kept a 52-Lot Halswell Subdivision on Track

The Challenge 

When South East Earthworks Ltd began work on Wolfbrook Construction's 52-lot residential subdivision in Halswell, they faced a critical challenge that threatened to halt the entire project. 

With water tables sitting just 500mm below existing ground level and sensitive wetlands surrounding the site, the team needed to continuously dewater the site while maintaining strict environmental compliance. Any failure in water treatment would bring civil construction and earthworks to an immediate standstill. 

"Essentially, without the ability to get water off-site, the site stops. Civil construction stops, earthworks stop," - Adam from South East Earthworks Ltd. 

The development, spanning two stages of 26 lots each, required a robust solution that could: 

• Handle continuous high-volume pumping operations 

• Reduce turbidity to compliant levels 

• Provide real-time monitoring for council and consulting engineers 

• Protect the surrounding wetland environment 

• Operate reliably 24/7 without interruption 

The Water Treatment Solution 

Condor was selected to supply and install a comprehensive water treatment system, including our Water Treatment System (link) with lamella filtering and integrated floc dosing system. This combination provided the multi-stage treatment necessary to meet the project's demanding requirements. 

The integrated monitoring system provides real-time turbidity readings, ensuring continuous compliance and gives the team, including consulting engineers and council, complete confidence in the water quality being discharged. 

The Results 

The water treatment system has proven essential to keeping this development project moving forward:

• Continuous Operation: Two to three pumps running 24 hours a day, seven days a week 

• Compliance Achieved: Turbidity levels consistently below regulatory requirements 

• Environmental Protection: Sensitive wetlands protected throughout construction 

• Zero Downtime: Construction progressing without water management delays 

"It has been successful. It's allowed us to get our water turbidity below what's compliant, and it's allowed us to get water off-site," says Adam. "Without it, there's no way the job can continue." 

 Client Feedback 

For Adam and the South East Earthworks team, this project marked their first experience using a Lamella tank with an integrated dosing system. The results exceeded expectations. 

"This is the first time for me using a lamella tank with dosing system, and it's been very successful and I would happily use them again." 

He particularly highlighted Condor's responsive support: 

"Response time is almost instant. You know, it's a phone call away. Within half an hour, normally there's somebody on site or on their way. They're all local, so and they're keen to help. They understand ground conditions, understand what works. Would 100% recommend them." 

If your project is dealing with high water tables, strict environmental compliance requirements, or sensitive surrounding environments, Condor can help design a water treatment solution that keeps your work moving forward.