Background
Cloncurry Hospital delivers essential care to communities across North-West Queensland. Over time, ageing infrastructure and variable town water quality had started to affect water safety and reliability.
Some risks were identified, including low chlorine levels, high turbidity, discolouration, corrosive water, and the possible growth of Legionella. Failing pipework, limited thermostatic mixing valves, and an unreliable hot water system added to the problem.
To safeguard patient health and meet Queensland’s Public Health Act 2005, a new water treatment plant was designed and installed to deliver clean, reliable, and compliant water across the hospital.
Objectives
The project aimed to:
- Treat incoming and recirculated water to remove solids, reduce corrosion, kill protozoa, and maintain chlorine levels that prevent bacteria such as Legionella.
- Install a dosing plant with automated dose control, return lines, treated water storage, and corrosion monitoring.
- Use materials and components that meet Queensland Health’s Capital Infrastructure Requirements.
Challenges
Cloncurry Hospital sits at the end of the town’s water supply network, where both pressure and water quality can fluctuate. The hospital receives water from multiple regional sources, and by the time it reaches the site, chlorine levels and clarity can vary significantly. The existing setup relied on large storage tanks, ageing hot water units and mixed return systems across the main hospital and Aged Care facility. This made it difficult to maintain stable temperatures and safe chlorine levels throughout the site.
Integrating a new treatment plant into this complex system required careful staging to keep water services operational and compliant during installation.
Solution
We delivered a complete, containerised water treatment system built for reliability, compliance and ease of operation.
Key features include:
- Containerised treatment plant designed for easy transport, secure on-site installation and compatibility with cyclone-rated and weather-protected infrastructure.
- Combination of multimedia filtration, UV disinfection and automated chlorine dosing to meet strict healthcare water quality standards.
- MediaPro filtration units, Healthshield UV sterilisation, and Skan bag and cartridge filters working together for effective sediment removal and pathogen control.
- Automated monitoring and alarm system with real-time data logging to maintain visibility and water safety.
- Remote-ready controls and redundant components to ensure reliability and consistent performance in regional conditions.
- System design compliant with Queensland Health's Capital Infrastructure Requirements and relevant Australian Standards.
Outcome
For hospital staff and patients, the upgrade delivers greater confidence in system performance and fewer disruptions to daily operations. The plant's robust, energy-efficient design also reduces maintenance requirements and ensures long-term water safety across the facility.
Maintaining safe and consistent water throughout the hospital supports positive patient outcomes and safer healthcare delivery, allowing healthcare teams to focus on treatment and patient wellbeing rather than system performance.
In Summary
Through advanced filtration, UV disinfection and precise dosing control, we delivered a tailored solution that strengthens Cloncurry Hospital's commitment to patient wellbeing and regulatory compliance.
The system offers enduring reliability, simplified maintenance and complete control over water quality, supporting the hospital's mission to provide safe, high-standard care for the community.
Get in touch?
Learn more about how our filtration solutions can benefit your operations. Contact us today for a consultation.
Call us to discuss your project at 1800 656 771 or click on the button below to speak to Michael Loomes, Sales Manager – Projects & Service
Southland Filtration is a leading Australian provider of commercial water filtration solutions. We’ve been helping businesses since 1995 with a focus on quality, custom solutions, and reliable service. We work with businesses and organisations in Australia and New Zealand to address their unique water challenges and maintain the highest standards.