NUBIAN GT600 V1.3
Domestic Greywater Treatment System
Owners Manual
(Australian Edition)
A service agreement is recommended by Nubian Water Systems and is typically a
requirement of the local approving authority. Nubian Water Systems offers a service
agreement undertaken by authorised service technicians.
SERVICE CONTRACTOR CONTACT DETAILS RECORDED ON INSIDE OF BACK COVER
NUBIAN GT600 Owners Manual
Nubian Water Systems Pty Ltd
Version 1.3 – June 2009
Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Safety Notice
1
Regulatory and Standards Requirements
1
Introduction
2
2.1
Purpose of the manual
2
2.2
NUBIAN Greywater Treatment System
2
2.3
Guide for Treated Water Reuse
5
2.4
Symbols
6
NUBIAN Operational Guide
7
3.1
Dos and Don’ts
7
3.2
NUBIAN System Start Up Procedure
8
3.3
Normal Operation
8
3.4
Treatment Unit Bypass
9
3.5
Alarm Procedure
10
3.6
Away Mode
10
3.7
Decommissioning
12
Trouble Shooting
14
4.1
User Checks
15
Warranty and Service
17
5.1
Warranty
17
5.2
Service Requirements
17
Appendices
Appendix A: Acceptable Chemicals
19
Appendix B: NUBIAN Installation Record
20
Appendix C: Contact Information
21
SAFETY NOTICE
1.
Safety Notice
Be aware of the following potential risks to health and safety while installing or maintaining the
NUBIAN GT600 system.
Electrocution
Electricity is supplied to the NUBIAN controller and a number of
operating components at 240 V AC. The cover to the Processor must
only be removed by an approved service technician or by a qualified
electrician.
Bio-hazard
Untreated grey-water, particularly if it is old, presents a potential source
of infection. Always practice good hygiene and hand washing. Use
barrier gloves if there is damage to skin on hands. Wear safety glasses
where there is a risk of splash into eyes.
Regulatory and Standards Requirements
In order to conform to state regulations and validate the NUBIAN GT600 warranty:
•
Any electrical wiring must be completed by a qualified electrician to AS/NZS 3000
•
All plumbing connections must be completed by a fully licensed plumber to AS 3500
National Plumbing and Drainage Code
•
It is the owner’s responsibility to obtain installation / operating approvals from the
relevant local Council, as specified in the NUBIAN GT600 accreditation certificate in
each state.
There are no user serviceable parts in the NUBIAN GT600 Domestic Grey Water
Treatment System (DGTS). Only a Nubian trained technician should open any of the three
modules comprising the NUBIAN GT600 system, unless specifically instructed
authorised in writing by Nubian Water Systems.
Page 1 of 23
OPERATIONAL GUIDE
2.
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the NUBIAN Greywater Treatment System. The NUBIAN offers the
latest technology in greywater recycling in a compact, low maintenance appliance. The system
can be installed beside your house avoiding disruption to your garden. It treats water from
baths, showers, hand basins and your washing machine to produce recycled water of excellent
quality. Recycled water from the NUBIAN may be used safely for clothes washing, toilet
flushing, washing machines, and for above ground irrigation. The NUBIAN is fully automated
and requires no user intervention. The system can also be remotely monitored (where offered)
which, extends the routine maintenance period (eg. in New South Wales, from 4 to 6 months).
2.1
Purpose of the manual
This user manual will be presented to the householder at the completion of the GT600 unit’s
installation. The installer will go through the manual with the householder identifying relevant
components of the unit and demonstrating the operation of the alarm panel.
The installer will make users aware of their obligations under the service and maintenance
warranty and shall provide service contact details and instructions on what to do in the case of
an alarm fault.
The Installer shall make the owner aware of the Do’s and Don’ts section of the manual in
particular to chemical processing limitations of the unit.
2.2
NUBIAN Greywater Treatment System
The NUBIAN GT600 Domestic Greywater Treatment System (DGTS) is typically contained in
three lightweight, slimline units;
•
The Greywater Tank – captures the household greywater for processing;
•
The Processor– contains the treatment system;
•
The Recycled Water Storage Tank – stores the recycled water for use in applications as
listed below.
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OPERATIONAL GUIDE
Figure 1: NUBIAN GT600, showing left to right; Greywater Tank, Processor, Recycled Water
Storage Tank
Water purification is achieved in three steps (refer to Figure 2: GT600 internal layout showing
the three process steps):
1. Pre-screening to remove lint and other coarse materials to prevent blockages and
fouling of the system. The greywater tank has an aeration system installed to help prevent
the greywater from going septic;
2. Greywater is then pumped to the treatment column, within the Processor, where it flows
down through a bed of proprietary media. Contaminant removal is achieved through filtration,
adsorption and biological treatment followed by disinfection;
3. Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection, which completes the treatment process before water is stored
for reuse in the recycled water storage tank.
The process is fully automated and is self cleaning, thus requiring no user intervention.
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OPERATIONAL GUIDE
2
1
3
Figure 2: GT600 internal layout showing the three process steps
The NUBIAN GT600 is fully accredited in NSW, Victoria and Queensland and may be installed
in the ACT. Local council approval is required prior to installing any on-site wastewater
treatment systems in Australia
2.3
Guide for Treated Water Reuse
The NUBIAN Greywater Treatment System has been rigorously tested and evaluated by NSW
Health. Based on the evaluation, the GT600 is accredited to the highest level of re-use
available from the local regulatory authority. The following table details what the treated water
may be used for (as at June 2009). Contact your Local Council to confirm reuse applications
permitted in your area.
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OPERATIONAL GUIDE
Table 1: Treated greywater re-use options
Re-use
NUBIAN Accredited States
options
NSW
Surface
QLD
ACT
VIC
WA
SA
1
Yes
Yes
3
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
2
Yes
2
Yes
2
Yes
2
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
4
irrigation
Toilet
flushing
Clothes
Yes
washing
Vehicle
washing
Path/wall
hose
down
For
NSW
Department of
ACT Planning and
Environmental
Department of
Department of
further
Department of
Local
Land Authority
Protection
Health
Health
informatio
Health
Government,
Tel: (08) 9388
Tel: (08) 8226
n refer to
Tel: (02) 9816
0373
Planning, Sport
and Recreation
Tel: (02) 6207
1923
Authority
Tel: (03) 9695
4999
7100
2722
Tel: (07) 3237
0368
1
irrigation of a type approved by the local Council
2
cold water supply to washing machine
3
covered surface drip irrigation and surface spray irrigation
4
surface irrigation of a dedicated area in accordance with the Standard for the Construction,
Installation and Operation of Septic Tank Systems in South Australia-Supplement B
The use of treated water for any purpose other than those above may breach local government
regulations. If you are unsure about the use of treated water for a specific purpose, please
contact Nubian Water Systems before use.
Greywater diversion systems currently on the market take hand basin, bath and shower water in
an untreated form for reuse. This water can contain faecal coliforms or stomach microbes such
as Campylobactor and Giardia. These micro-organisms can survive a long time and can be
passed onto others through contact. As such these units are only suitable for sub-surface
irrigation.
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OPERATIONAL GUIDE
Investigations into the potential re-growth of micro-organisms (Escherichia coli) in treated
greywater storage facilities are described in a paper titled ‘Assessing Re-Growth of
Microorganisms in Stored Greywater Effluent’ which utilises results from a study undertaken on
a greywater treatment unit similar to the NUBIAN system. Results, over the 5 month testing
period, indicated that no re-growth occurred in the treated water storage tank.
2.4
Symbols
The following symbols are used throughout the manual to draw the reader’s attention to
information regarding risks to personal safety or damage to equipment. Other important
information is also highlighted.
Important
Note
Safety Notice:
This symbol indicates a danger or risk to health or safety.
Warning:
This symbol indicates a danger or risk of damage to equipment or
incorrect operation of the unit.
Important Note: Important notes or information that may be overlooked is
highlighted in grey.
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OPERATIONAL GUIDE
3.
NUBIAN Operational Guide
The NUBIAN GT600 system is a fully automated greywater processing unit. During operation
and maintenance the user is not required to open any of the modules. Intervention by the user
is only required if the residence will be uninhabited for more than 14 days. Under these
circumstances, the user should place the unit into ‘Away Mode’.
The following information details how the treated water may be used, how to care for the
system, and what to do if the premises are vacated for more than 14 days.
3.1
Dos and Don’ts
Dos
Don’ts
• Only use cleaning products in the bathroom and
laundry that are listed (or similar to) in Appendix A of
this manual
• Reuse the treated water until the startup process has been completed
• Put the unit into away mode if no regular greywater
is expected to flow through the treatment system for
longer than 14 days
• Use harsh cleaning chemicals unless
it is unavoidable and the bypass
procedure has been followed
• Contact Nubian Water Systems agent immediately
if an alarm sounds on the treatment unit
• Open the Processor module. Only an
authorized service technician should
service the NUBIAN system
• Dispose of fat, grease and oil down
the laundry drain or clean kitchen items
in the laundry basin
• Dispose of hazardous chemicals such
as paints, varnishes, thinners, waste
oils, photographic solutions, pesticides
at any time in any volume to the
greywater treatment system.
Table 2: Dos and Don’ts for NUBIAN GT600 System.
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OPERATIONAL GUIDE
3.2
NUBIAN System Start Up Procedure
NUBIAN greywater systems are installed and commissioned by trained service technicians.
Although the technician will set the system into its operational mode, a start-up period of 7 days
is required to activate the biological component of the treatment process. During this time, the
water must not be reused and will drain from the recycled water storage tank into the sewer.
The installation technician will initiate this process and no action is required by the user at this
stage.
After the 7 day start-up period, the drain valve below the recycled water storage tank should be
closed by the user, in consultation with the installation technician, in order to start collecting
treated water. The service technician installing your system will specify the day that collection
may start. If the valve is closed prior to this time, quality of treated greywater will be
compromised and the Warranty voided.
The start-up process is now complete and the NUBIAN System will now begin to store treated
water ready for reuse.
The NUBIAN GT600 is a biological treatment system. It relies on the establishment of
large healthy colonies of micro-organisms to properly treat the incoming greywater
and deliver high quality treated water. Once the biological system has matured, it is
quite robust and can cope with significant variations in incoming greywater flows and
chemical loading. However, during the start up phase, which can take several weeks,
it is important to avoid using products that may compromise the establishment of the
system. We recommend the complete avoidance of products containing antibacterial
components during the first 8 weeks of operation, and the minimal use of such
products on an ongoing base. If used they should be introduced slowly, and the
performance of the NUBIAN system, as measured by recycled water quality,
monitored carefully.
3.3
Normal Operation
The NUBIAN system is fully automated and is designed to operate normally with no intervention
by the user. An electronic control system performs all of the periodic maintenance operations
(e.g. backwashing of the filter media). However, some cleaning products and chemicals can
harm the biological component of the treatment system and therefore should not be used in any
location of the home which discharges to the NUBIAN system.
Use moderate amounts of cleaning products (including bleach) and do not pour/dispose
solvents or other chemicals down the drain. Refer to Appendix A for a guide on products that
are not applicable for discharge to the NUBIAN treatment system.
In the event that the use of non-suitable or large volumes of cleaning agents cannot be avoided,
the treatment system bypass procedure described in section 3.4 below should be followed
before undertaking the cleaning/disposal process. This will divert greywater from the treatment
system to the sewer.
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OPERATIONAL GUIDE
3.4
Treatment Unit Bypass
To avoid any degradation to the media it is advised that any solvents or chemicals (allowable
under local body discharge to sewer regulations) be sent to sewer down stream of the unit. For
greywater recycling systems that include a discharge from the laundry tub, it is recommended
that suitable labelling be placed reminding the user that this is a grey water collection point and
should not be used for chemical or solvent disposal.
In case of an accidental discharge/use of chemicals to fixtures feeding into the NUBIAN GT600
system, it is suggested that he following procedure be followed to reduce or mitigate the effects
to the unit.
1. If the contaminated water has not yet been discharged into the NUBIAN GT600 system,
open the NUBIAN GT600 system bypass valve located upstream of the greywater tank
before the harmful chemical is discharged. This valve is located external to the system and is
labelled clearly.
2. Leave the valve open until all traces of the chemical have been flushed from the dwelling’s
pipework to sewer.
3. Close the system bypass valve thus redirecting the greywater back to the GT600.
This valve can also be used if the system is to be decommissioned. For the full
decommissioning process see section 3.7.
4. If the chemical has already entered the greywater tank then open the valve below the tank to
release the contents to the sewer. Once empty, close valve and resume use.
There are occasions when homes are subjected to heavy chemical cleaning. This
occurs frequently in new and/or renovated homes, prior to final handover by builders.
If these cleaning materials are disposed of by emptying them into bathroom or
laundry fixtures, which are connected to the NUBIAN system, or if the fixtures are
directly cleaned with these materials, it is crucial that the bypass procedure
described above is followed.
Failure to do so WILL compromise the performance of the NUBIAN system, and may
cause the system to fail completely, resulting in untreated water coming from the
system, and requiring recommissioning at the owner’s cost.
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OPERATIONAL GUIDE
3.5
Alarm Procedure
3.5.1
On-site Alarm
A separate alarm panel monitors the system to detect any electrical, pump, blower or
disinfection system faults. The alarm system consists of an audible and visible alarm with an
audible alarm muting button which resets to audible after 24 hours.
The alarm panel should be located such that it is visible from inside the dwelling. The alarm
system deactivates the treatment unit if any faults are detected and will overflow greywater to
sewer until a service technician has rectified the fault and reset the control unit. This protects
the quality of water stored in the recycled water storage tank and ensures that it is always safe
for re-use.
If the alarm sounds, the owner should contact Nubian Water Systems immediately.
3.5.2
Remote Monitoring
An optional remote monitoring system will soon be available with the NUBIAN GT600 system. If
one is installed on your system, the user is not required to act in response to a system
malfunction. Nubian Water Systems will detect the alarm and contact the user to arrange a visit
in order to rectify the problem. The benefits of remote monitoring are such that fault can be
diagnosed promptly and in NSW the installation of a remote monitoring system will increase the
interval between service calls, required under state regulations, from four (4) months to six (6)
months.
3.6
Away Mode
If the system will not be receiving greywater from the household for approximately 14 days or
more, the greywater and recycled water storage tanks must be placed into away mode by
emptying their contents, thereby avoiding any potential odour or growth of unwanted biological
material. This must be done by following these steps.
1. Open the greywater tank drainage valve located underneath the greywater tank.
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OPERATIONAL GUIDE
Figure 3: Greywater Tank Drainage Valve
Open the valve(s) located underneath the recycled water storage tank (refer to Figure 4:
Recycled Water Tank Valve Assembly).
Figure 4: Recycled Water Tank Valve Assembly
Power to the NUBIAN GT600 should never be switched off. If it is necessary to
switch the power off for extended periods, you must contact your service provider,
as the system will need to be temporarily decommissioned (refer to section 3.7).
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OPERATIONAL GUIDE
In order to redirect the Greywater to the treatment unit, steps outlined below should be followed.
1. Close the valve, located below the Greywater tank (refer to Figure 3: Greywater Tank
Drainage Valve).
2. Close valve(s) located below the recycled water storage tank (refer to Figure 4: Recycled
Water Storage Tank Valve Assembly).
The system will automatically start processing greywater when the water level in the greywater
tank reaches a pre-determined set point. If the system remained idle for longer than 14 days, it
is recommended that the start-up procedure be carried out again to ensure that the treated
water is of the highest quality.
3.7
Decommissioning
This procedure should be followed if decommissioning of the NUBIAN Greywater treatment
system is required.
1. Advise Nubian Water Systems that your system is being decommissioned so that
cancellation of future maintenance and monitoring can be organised. (Nubian contact details
are given in Appendix C)
2. Advise your Local Authority that the greywater treatment system will no longer be operating
on your site.
3. Divert flow from the treatment unit by positioning the bypass valve to direct flow to sewer
4. Empty the greywater and recycled water storage tanks by opening valves as indicated in
Figure 3 and Figure 4 respectively.
5. Empty the treatment column by opening the discharge valve at the base of the treatment
column (refer to Figure 5). To access this valve the cover of the column cabinet must be
removed
Page 12 of 23
OPERATIONAL GUIDE
Figure 5: Treatment Column Drainage Valve.
If the treatment column drainage Valve is opened during normal operation of the
NUBIAN System, the treatment process will cease to function.
Page 13 of 23
TROUBLE SHOOTING
4.
Trouble Shooting
All maintenance of the NUBIAN Grey-water System must be carried out by an authorized
Nubian Water Systems service technician. It is recommended that the user enter into a Service
agreement with Nubian Water Systems at the time of installation.
The following is a brief trouble shooting procedure that will enable the service technician to
identify a potential problem and to reduce unnecessary service calls. Some obvious signs of
system malfunctioning are;
1. Smell- indicates that the greywater inside the Greywater tank or in the treatment column may
not be getting sufficient aeration and could have gone septic.
2. Noise- Either through the audible alarm on the unit indicating a system/equipment failure or
the continuous overflow of water from the greywater tank.
3. Sight- Water accumulation around the units due to system leakage.
Page 15 of 23
TROUBLE SHOOTING
4.1
User Checks
The checks specified in Table 3 should be done as a preliminary assessment by the
householder to avoid any unnecessary service calls.
Table 3: Specific Operational Issues
Area/Symptom
Possible Causes
Actions to Take/Remedies
Greywater Tank
Continuously
overflows
Greywater tank not
retaining water.
Greywater Tank
smells
Pre-screen Blocked
Contact your service provider
Processor unit not working
Check Power supply to unit, check if the
audible alarm has activated.
Excess greywater supply
NUBIAN GT600 system is undersized. Contact
your service provider
Processor feed line blocked
Contact your service provider
Drainage valve open
Close Greywater tank drainage valve
Greywater bypass valve
open
Close Greywater bypass valve.
Leak in Greywater tank or
drainage pipe work
Check for water around the Greywater tank.
Contact your service provider
Water Aeration system not
working
Check power supply and Contact your service
provider
Pipe/component fracture
Contact your service provider
Leak in tank
Check for water around tank base and Contact
your service provider
Drain valve is open
Close drain valve at the bottom of the recycled
water storage tank. Valve handle to be at 90
deg to the valve body
Pre-screen partially blocked
Contact your service provider
By-pass valve not in correct
position
Check and correct if necessary
Processor feed line blocked
Contact your service provider
Processor
Unit leaking
Recycled Water
Storage Tank
Recycled water
storage tank not
retaining water
Reduced recycled
water volume
Page 16 of 23
WARRANTY AND SERVICE
5.
Warranty and Service
5.1
Warranty
The NUBIAN GT600 has a manufacturer’s warranty period of:
•
•
3 years from the date of delivery for all components other than mechanical and
electrical parts; and
1 year from the date of delivery for all mechanical and electrical parts (including pumps
and motors).
Providing that the NUBIAN GT600 has been installed and serviced by Nubian authorised
representatives in accordance with the Installation and Servicing Manuals, and is used in
accordance with the Owner’s Manual (supplied upon delivery), then all labour and materials will
be supplied free of charge by the manufacturer during the warranty period for the purposes of
fixing any equipment or component failures.
Installation and servicing by other than Nubian authorised representatives will cause the
manufacturer’s warranty to become void.
In addition to the manufacturer’s warranty, you may be entitled to certain statutory warranties in
relation to this product.
Service Life
All components of the NUBIAN GT600, other than mechanical and electrical parts, are designed
for a service life of at least 15 years.
All mechanical and electrical parts (including pumps and motors), installed within the NUBIAN
GT600 have an expected life of 5 years.
Servicing
Servicing of the NUBIAN GT600 is the responsibility of the owner; it is not provided free of
charge by the manufacturer.
Your NUBIAN GT600 must be serviced in accordance with the requirements of the accrediting
authority in your state, details of which are contained in the Owner’s Manual and/or are
available from your local council.
It is a requirement of the accrediting authority in your state and/or local council, that each owner
of an NUBIAN GT600 enter into an annual servicing agreement with the manufacturer or a
service contractor acceptable to your local council.
To arrange servicing by your manufacturer please contact us on (02) 647 2633 or email
[email protected]
5.2
Service Requirements
Remote monitoring will soon be available for the Nubian NUBIAN GT600 where the unit is
connected to a central base by telephone line and regularly monitored to ensure that optimum
operation of the system is maintained at all times. In NSW, the inclusion of a remote monitoring
system extends the period between scheduled service visits from four (4) to six (6) months.
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WARRANTY AND SERVICE
Servicing of the DGTS is the responsibility of the owner, it is not provided free by the
manufacturer and the owner shall contact Nubian Water Systems in regard to service.
The Nubian NUBIAN GT600 shall be serviced at intervals defined in the individual State
accreditation certificates, currently, these are:
•
NSW – 4 monthly
•
Queensland – 4 monthly
•
Victoria – 6 monthly
•
South Australia – 6 monthly
•
Western Australia – 6 monthly if drip irrigation used or 3 monthly if spray irrigation used.
•
ACT – 4 monthly as, while the ACT may not require accreditation certificates, the ACT
Greywater Use - Guidelines for residential properties in Canberra available from
http://www.health.act.gov.au/c/health?a=sendfile&ft=p&fid=1193295029&sid= requires
that the owner:
o
maintains the system for the life of the system such as regular maintenance,
cleaning, etc; and
o
ensure that the system is maintained and does not compromise public health.
A service technician will contact the owner prior to the service to arrange access to the unit.
Each service shall include a check on all mechanical, electrical and functioning parts of the
system including:
•
Operation of the pre-screen, treatment module and disinfection unit
•
Integrity of plumbing fittings
•
Operation and safety of electrical systems
•
The alarm system
5.2.1
Contact Details
Refer to Appendix C for contact details.
Page 18 of 23
APPENDIX A
Appendix A
Acceptable Chemicals
While Nubian Water Systems does not mandate the use of specific soaps,
detergents or other personal care products, we do encourage the use of
products that have reduced impact on soils, plants and the environment
generally. For further information on this subject, please visit
http://www.lanfaxlabs.com.au/index.html
The following materials should not be introduced into the NUBIAN GT600
system.
•
Cooking oils, fats
•
Food waste
•
Household cleaners, antibacterials/disinfectants, other than moderate
amounts of chlorine or ozone based products
•
Pesticides, insecticides including pet flea washes
•
Paint or paint thinners
•
Kerosene or other petroleum products
•
Waste from babies’ nappies
If in doubt about a particular material, DO NOT allow it to be introduced to the
NUBIAN GT600 system, without checking with Nubian Water Systems Pty Ltd.
Page 19 of 23
APPENDIX B
Appendix B
NUBIAN Installation Record
You must have approval from the local council before your system is installed. Note that if
approval is not obtained, your warranty will be void.
Name of Owner……………………………………………………………………………………………
Contact details:……………………………………………………………………………………………
Installation address:………………………………………………………………………………………
Installer details:..………………………………………………………………………..…………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Date installed: ….………………………
Serial Number: ………………………………
Deviations from standard system: ..……………………………………………………………………...
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Council approval obtained
Warranty card completed and returned
Service agreement signed
Systems operation explained at start up
□
□
□
□
Page 20 of 23
CONTACT NUBIAN
Appendix C
Contact Information
In the case of a system malfunction or for regular maintenance please contact your service
provider.
Head Office:
Nubian Water Systems
Unit 3
Gateway Business Park
63-79 Parramatta Road
Silverwater NSW 2128
AUSTRALIA
Mailing address:
Nubian Water Systems
P.O. Box 7039
Silverwater BC NSW 2128
AUSTRALIA
Phone:
+61 2 9647 2633
Fax:
+61 2 9647 2977
Web Site:
Email:
http://www.nubian.com.au
[email protected]
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