Facts and figures: Our sewer system
Sewer statistics
In the 2008-2009 financial year, the total inflow to Muswellbrook Sewer Treatment Plant was 1,068,272 kilolitres.
Total rainfall at the site over this period was 722.5mm.
| Financial year | Total inflow (kL) | Rainfall (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| 2007-2008 | 1,038,425 | 730.0 |
| 2006-2007 | 1,062,474 | 716.1 |
| 2005-2006 | 1,161,010 | 419.6 |
| 2004-2005 | 1,173,148 | 709.2 |
| 2003-2004 | 1,176,681 | 583.8 |
| 2002-2003 | 1,249,189 | 471.1 |
| 2001-2002 | 1,145,508 | 584.9 |
Licences
In order for Muswellbrook Shire Council to receive and treat sewerage wastes it must hold an Environment Protection Licence from the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) as set out in Section 55 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997. DECC reviews Council’s licence at least every 5 years.
Such licences form part of a public record, and can be accessed by interested members of the public by following the link to www.environment.nsw.gov.au. Muswellbrook Shire Council currently holds Licence Numbers 1593 for Muswellbrook sewerage and 5059 for the system at Denman. These licences cover the whole sewerage system in each town, not just the treatment plant.
These licences require Council to send DECC an Annual Return, comprising a Statement of Compliance and a summary of the results of any monitoring required by the licence. The return also includes the recording of pollution complaints and an annual system performance report.
The objectives of this licensing scheme are to:
- prevent as far as practicable sewage overflows and sewage treatment plant bypasses;
- ensure proper and efficient management of the system to minimise harm to the environment and public health; and
- ensure practical measures are taken to protect the environment and public health from sewage overflows and sewage treatment plant effluent.
The licences require Council to:
- keep monitoring records,
- monitor concentration of any pollutants discharged,
- use specific testing methods to ensure compliance with set concentration limits,
- record pollution complaints,
- maintain a telephone complaints line
- record any sewage treatment plant bypasses,
- monitor biosolids,
- record overflows
Part 9.5 of the Act requires DECC to keep a public register of details and decisions of the EPA in relation to:
- licence applications
- licence conditions and variations
- statements of compliance
- load based licensing information
- load reduction agreements
Under s320 of the Act, an application can be made to DECC for access to monitoring data which has been submitted to DECC by licensees.
Effluent re-use
Under normal conditions Council achieves 100% reuse of all effluent discharged from both of Council’s two Sewage Treatment Plants, which means that there is no discharge to rivers or streams from these plants.
Treated and disinfected reuse water is pumped from the treatment plant on Skellatar Stock Route to customers via two reuse pumping mains, one along Thomas Mitchell Drive and the other along Skellatar Stock Route and Rutherford Road. This reuse water is sold on the open market via a tender process. Current contracts include the local mining industry, golf clubs and agriculture, where its uses include irrigation coal preparation and dust suppression.
Council has developed a comprehensive effluent reuse strategy which has guided the selection of the best value choices in assessment of tenders for the effluent. This strategy can be viewed at Effluent reuse strategy.
The current effluent reuse contract with Mt Arthur Coal is for 10 years commencing 1st July 2009.
This page last updated 16 February, 2012 12:10 PM
