PROJECT: Royal Hobart Hospital
STATE: TAS
PARTNERS: John Holland, Planet Plumbing
SCOPE: Design, supply, installation, commissioning, preventative maintenance, water testing

TECHNOLOGY: Reverse Osmosis
APPLICATION: CSSD Sterilisation, Laboratory
WATER ISSUES: Micro-organisms, water compliance (ADWG)
PRODUCTS / SOLUTION: PuROtherm, MediaPRO

BACKGROUND
The Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH) has been a cornerstone of healthcare on its current site for nearly 200 years. Recently, the RHH Redevelopment Project marked the largest health infrastructure upgrade in Tasmania, transforming the facility into a state-of-the-art trauma, teaching, and referral hospital.

OBJECTIVES
Southland Filtration Pty Ltd was commissioned to design and supply a purified water system for the new Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD) at RHH. The primary objective was to ensure the water system delivered pure water compliance to AS/NZS 5369:2023 standards, (formerly AS/NZS 4187:2014) specifically for the final rinse cycles in the reprocessing of Reusable Medical Devices (RMDs).

CHALLENGES
The project faced several challenges, including:

  • Ensuring the purified water system met stringent AS/NZS 5369:2023 standards
  • Educating maintenance teams and sterilising operators on the new system’s operation and functionality.
  • Implementing a robust preventative maintenance program to maintain water quality and minimize downtime.

SOLUTION
To address these challenges, our team designed a comprehensive water treatment plant using a multi-barrier approach. Key components included:

  • Screen Pre-Filter – A JUDO pressure differential-controlled screen filter to remove coarse suspended solids and protect the UF filters.
  • Ultrafiltration (UF) – This stage removed solids as small as 0.01 micron, including bacteria, protozoa, and viruses, ensuring microbiological safety.
  • Chlorine Dosing – Sodium hypochlorite dosing for microbiological disinfection, with a recirculation system to maintain a chlorine residual throughout the network.
  • Polishing Filters and UV Disinfection – Absolute rated filter cartridges and UV disinfection provided final barriers to inactivate protozoa and ensure the treated water met ADWG standards.

The entire plant, including interconnecting pipework, valving, and wiring, was housed in a shipping container to minimize site disturbance. Major plant items were skid-mounted and delivered to the site as complete packages to expedite the construction process.

OUTCOME
The newly installed purified water system successfully delivers AS/NZS 5369:2023 compliant water to the CSSD at RHH. The comprehensive training and preventative maintenance programs have ensured that the water quality and quantity requirements are consistently met, significantly reducing the risk of department downtime.

IN SUMMARY
The design and supply of the purified water system by Southland Filtration Pty Ltd have enabled the Royal Hobart Hospital’s CSSD to operate efficiently and in compliance with AS/NZS 5369:2023 standards.

For a detailed guide on achieving long-term, pure water compliance to AS/NZS 5369:2023 at your facility, contact Dr. Surani McCaw [HUBSPOT CTA Surani.m@southlandfiltration.com.au ] or Freecall 1800 656 771.