FILTEC to Deliver Resilient Membrane System for Cambridge’s Water Future
FILTEC is pleased to announce that we will be undertaking the contract to supply advanced membrane filtration equipment and peripherals for the Alpha Street Water Treatment Plant.
Building Resilience for Cambridge’s Water Future
The Alpha Street Water Treatment Plant (WTP) upgrade is designed to boost treatment capacity, replace aging infrastructure, and support the future growth of Cambridge. Once complete, the upgraded facility will maintain supply during high demand, strengthen network resilience, and support firefighting readiness.
Engineered for Waikato River Conditions
The Waikato River presents several challenges for membrane-based treatment systems, including high turbidity events (often exceeding 10 NTU), variable arsenic levels, and the potential presence of freshwater gold clams near the intake point. FILTEC’s membrane-based solution delivers stable performance without heavy reliance on pre-treatment or complex chemical dosing, ensuring reliability even in challenging conditions.
Toray Pressurised Ultrafiltration
At the heart of the upgrade is the Toray HFUG-2020AN pressurised ultrafiltration (PUF) membrane. Following a detailed evaluation, the Toray membrane was chosen for its proven durability, high filtration efficiency, and low operational cost.
Key benefits of the Toray membrane technology include:
90m² of filtration area per module, enabling a compact, efficient WTP footprint
High fibre strength and fouling resistance to reduce breakage and extend life
Lower chemical use due and easy cleaning due to surface fouling design
10-year pro-rata warranty for long-term assurance
Supports future virus reduction credit requirements
A pressurised membrane system was selected over a submerged option for its higher solids loading capacity, reduced building height requirements, and lower capital and operating costs. The plant’s modular 3+1 train design will improve backwash efficiency, reduce the ancillary system footprint, and simplify future expansion or upgrades.
Designed for Maintainability and Future Growth
The resilient membrane system has been designed for operator usability and long-term maintainability. Each Toray module includes a clear viewing pipe for rapid fibre inspection and in situ repair in under 30 minutes, minimising downtime and maintenance costs. FILTEC’s universal rack design allows for future membrane system upgrades or replacements, ensuring long-term flexibility.
Proven Delivery Framework
The Alpha Street project will be delivered using FILTEC’s proven staged construction methodology, developed on large-scale upgrades across New Zealand. This approach maintains water supply during live tie-ins and complex integration, ensuring safety, quality, and programme certainty.
FILTEC’s national network, including 11 qualified service technicians and $3M of spare parts in local warehouses provides long term operational support. The Alpha Street plant will be incorporated into FILTEC’s existing service schedule across the Waipā network.
Proven Experience in Membrane Water Treatment
FILTEC has delivered resilient membrane-based treatment systems across New Zealand and Australia, with recent pressurised ultrafiltration projects in both municipal and industrial settings. This breadth of experience demonstrates capability not only for localised solutions but also for the largest drinking water infrastructure projects in the country.
Fairlie WTP – Mackenzie District Council
Ōwhango WTP – Ruapehu District Council
Wairau Valley WTP – Marlborough District Council
Seddon WTP – Marlborough District Council
Cardrona WTP – Cardrona Valley Development
Pahiatua WTP – Tararua District Council
Containerised UF Plant - Fonterra Tirau
Puckapunyal WTP – Australian Defence Force
Duaringa WTP – Central Highlands Regional Council
This track record demonstrates FILTEC’s ability to deliver plants that address site-specific raw water challenges through considered design and local service support.
Supporting Positive Outcomes for Waipā
FILTEC’s relationship with Waipā District Council spans over a decade, including the Karāpiro WTP upgrade and ongoing service support across the district. The Alpha Street project builds on this trust, delivering an advanced treatment system that is resilient, cost-effective, and future-ready. We thank Waipā District Council for the opportunity and look forward to supporting the successful delivery and ongoing performance of the Alpha Street Water Treatment Plant.
