Cootamundra
Indicator: Discharge to Waters
Results for this indicator are also available for [an error occurred while processing this directive]
What the results tell us for Cootamundra
Effluent generated in the township of Cootamundra is treated at the Cootamundra sewage treatment plant. Septic tanks and other systems including composting toilets and aerobic septic systems, are also used across the Shire.
The NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) regulates most sewage treatment systems owned by state and local government. DECC has licensed the Cootamundra plant to discharge via a spillway from an 80 ML wet weather storage pond into the Muttama Creek. The plant has a licence to discharge 600 ML/year to the creek.
The Cootamundra plant also recycles treated water that is used at Mitchell Park; Albert Park Reserve; Jubilee Park; Clarke Oval Reserve; Fisher Park; Bradman Oval; Cameron Square Park; Nicholson Park; Country Club Oval; and three schools. Groundwater monitoring is undertaken at all of these sites.
Over the reporting period, pH levels exceeded the DECC licence conditions on two occasions and total suspended solids once.
The sewage treatment plant does not reach the licence limit in any year, due to the recycling of the treated water. The mass load of nitrogen and phosphorus has also decreased over the reporting period (see Table 1).
| Licensed/ unlicensed |
Volume (ML/year) | Type | Estimated volume discharged illegally (L/year) | Estimated volume discharged accidentally (L/year) | Receiving waters | Mass load of nitrogen (kg) | Mass load of phosphorus (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–05 | |||||||
| Licensed | 167 | Effluent Reuse | Nil | Nil | Muttama Creek | 1171 | 158 |
| 2005–06 | |||||||
| Licensed | 141 | Effluent Reuse | Nil | Nil | Muttama Creek | 737 | 191 |
| 2006–07 | |||||||
| Licensed | 59 | Effluent Reuse | Nil | Nil | Muttama Creek | 801 | 77 |
| 2007–08 | |||||||
| Licensed | 133 | Effluent Reuse | Nil | Nil | Muttama Creek | 598 | 80 |
Source: Cootamundra Council
About the data
Information was supplied by Cootamundra Shire Council. Additional information was obtained from the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change’s public register of protection licences.
References
Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW (2008), Public Register for Licences, Applications or Notices, Environment Protect Licence, Section 55 Protection of the Environment Operations Act, viewed at http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/prpoeoapp/searchregister.aspx on 24 September 2008.
