Australia’s First Titanium-Dioxide Wastewater Reactor Begins Operation in Dubbo

A pioneering wastewater treatment reactor that immobilises a titanium-dioxide catalyst has been switched on at Dubbo’s new advanced wastewater treatment plant, the first deployment of the technology in Australia. Inventor Troy Warry says the design breaks down stubborn contaminants up to 16 times more efficiently than traditional advanced oxidation, while consuming far less power and avoiding the salty waste of membrane systems.

The $7.8 million facility, funded in part by a $3.6 million investment from Squadron Energy, will treat up to 700 megalitres of effluent annually, with the recycled water slated for use in wind-farm construction and possibly sporting fields after university testing. Dubbo mayor Josh Black hailed the project as a boost to regional water security, and academics such as Professor Stuart Khan called the approach a promising alternative for inland communities. Ongoing approvals are expected before year-end, allowing broader human-use applications.