Environmental Improvements
Water recycling - making use of a valauble water resource
As our population increases, so does the amount of sewage produced, and sewage loads into the plant are increasing by about 1% each year.
Our aim is to recycle water from our treatment plants to conserve a valuable resource and to reduce the amount that is discharged to the marine environment. About 15,034 million litres of treated effluent annually is recycled for use onsite at the Eastern Treatment Plant and for irrigation of market gardens and golf courses, and domestic use for toilet flushing and garden watering in new housing developments.
Melbourne Water aims to achieve the Victorian Government's target of 20% water recycling by 2010. Water recycling reduces the discharge of treated effluent to the ocean and conserves our precious drinking water.
There are a number of recycling initiatives underway in the south-east region and more are being investigated. For more information click here.
In 2004, the State Government announced a two-year study to determine the feasibility of transferring water from the Eastern Treatment Plant for use in Gippsland. If found to be feasible, the Eastern Water Recycling Proposal could lead to an 80% (115,000 million litres per year) reduction in the amount of water discharged at Boags Rocks. For more information visit the Department of Sustainability and Environment at www.dse.vic.gov.au.
Creating green energy from sewage
Since its inception, the Eastern Treatment Plant has used green energy produced from sludge gas as an electrical power source. As part of the $46 million Eastern Green Energy project, the plant is being modernised to improve efficiency and maximise the use of this renewable energy source. Seven highly efficient electrical generators that can run on the methane gas produced from sewage sludge will help power the plant.
This project will significantly reduce Melbourne Water's greenhouse gas emissions by 30,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum when the project is completed.
Plan sets out environment improvements
An Environment Improvement Plan (PDF 1.4MB), developed in conjunction with the Eastern Treatment Plant Community Liaison Committee, aims to ensure the plant's operations continuously improve. The committee also has an important role in monitoring our performance in achieving the actions under the plan.
Some environmental groups and members of the community have expressed concern at the quality of effluent being discharged into the marine environment.
Amended licence will set higher standards
We are working with the community and key stakeholders on a number of projects to upgrade sewage treatment, increase the use of recycled water and to minimise the environmental impact of treated effluent.
A strategy to achieve these objectives was developed on the basis of a major CSRIO study and submitted to EPA Victoria. The EPA has requested that we complete further scientific investigations which will be considered when determining works that need to be undertaken to achieve amended licence requirements.
Downloads
You will need Adobe Acrobat to access the above PDF documents. 