Cohuna Wastewater Treatment Plant, Victoria | Secondary Treatment for 2,800 Residents

Cohuna wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Cohuna, Victoria, Australia, within the Shire of Gannawarra. The plant serves a population of around 2,800 residents and operates under the regulatory framework of the Victorian Environment Protection Authority (EPA), which issues discharge licences under the Environment Protection Act 2017. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small inland communities in Australia. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant's annual discharge volume of 726.21 megalitres reflects its scale and the local demand. Treated effluent from the plant is discharged into the local catchment, which ultimately drains into the Murray River system, a vital waterway for agriculture and ecosystems in the Murray-Darling Basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream water quality and supporting the ecological health of this nationally significant river system.

The plant discharges into the Murray River catchment, part of the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia's largest river system. The basin supports diverse aquatic life, including native fish species and waterbirds, and is a critical water source for agriculture. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads that could otherwise contribute to algal blooms and degrade downstream habitats.