Crookwell Wastewater Treatment Plant, New South Wales | Secondary Treatment for 2,808 People

Crookwell wastewater treatment plant is located on McIntosh Road in Crookwell, New South Wales, within the Upper Lachlan Shire Council area. The plant serves a population of around 2,808 and operates as a secondary treatment facility, providing biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. As a secondary treatment plant, Crookwell meets the standard requirements for inland wastewater treatment in Australia. The plant's discharge volume of 726.66 megalitres per year is managed under the regulatory framework of the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority, which issues environment protection licences to ensure compliance with water quality objectives. The treated effluent is discharged into the local catchment, which ultimately drains into the Lachlan River system, part of the Murray-Darling Basin. This basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is a critical water resource for agriculture and communities. The plant's operation helps protect downstream water quality and ecological health.

The plant discharges into the Lachlan River catchment, which flows into the Murrumbidgee River and eventually the Murray River, reaching the Southern Ocean. The Murray-Darling Basin is a vital ecological corridor supporting native fish species, waterbirds, and riparian vegetation. The plant's secondary treatment reduces nutrient loads, helping to mitigate algal blooms and maintain water quality in this sensitive inland river system.