A $73 million upgrade designed to cater to Maitland's booming population is complete.
Decommissioning work will run into next year at Farley's Wastewater Treatment Works after major work on the infrastructure wrapped up. The plant services Rutherford, Lochinvar and Aberglasslyn, Bolwarra, Gillieston Heights, Largs, Lorn, Oakhampton and Telarah.
Minister for Water Melinda Pavey, said the major investment demonstrated Hunter Water's ongoing commitment to tackle population growth.
"The Farley Wastewater Treatment Works upgrade improves the capacity, reliability and performance of the plant to provide high-quality wastewater treatment," Ms Pavey said.
"The NSW government has supported Hunter Water to complete the new, $28 million wastewater treatment works at Dungog earlier this year, and now with the Farley upgrade finished more than $100 million has been invested on these two projects alone."
Managing director Darren Cleary said Hunter Water's approach included combining two processes in a single structure to reduce the size of the plant's footprint.
"The new design replaces the previous oxidation treatment process with a state-of-the-art membrane bioreactor, combined with biological nutrient removal technology," Mr Cleary said.
Further upgrades are planned for Cessnock ($35 million), Raymond Terrace ($11 million), Toronto ($10 million) and Tanilba Bay ($25 million).
