Dungog Wastewater Treatment Plant, Alison, New South Wales

The Dungog wastewater treatment plant is located in Alison, within the Dungog Shire Council area of New South Wales, Australia. It serves a population of approximately 3,077 residents, making it a small-scale municipal facility. The plant is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, and operates under Australia's national water quality management framework. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. This high level of treatment is appropriate for protecting sensitive receiving environments. The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Hunter River catchment and then to the Tasman Sea. The advanced treatment ensures minimal environmental impact on the downstream ecosystem, which supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional biodiversity.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Hunter River system, which flows into the Tasman Sea near Newcastle. The Hunter River catchment supports diverse aquatic habitats and is ecologically sensitive, with areas important for migratory birds and native fish species. Advanced treatment helps protect water quality in this coastal drainage basin.