Overview
Hammond Island wastewater treatment plant in St Josephs, Queensland, Australia, serves 224 people with secondary treatment. The coastal facility discharges treated effluent into the Torres Strait marine environment.
Hammond Island wastewater treatment plant is located in St Josephs on Keriri Island, part of the Torres Strait Island Regional area in Queensland, Australia. This small-scale facility serves a population of 224 residents, providing essential sanitation for this remote island community. The plant employs secondary treatment, which is appropriate for its small population size. Under Australian regulatory frameworks, small coastal communities often require treatment to protect sensitive marine ecosystems. The plant discharges approximately 57.99 megalitres of treated wastewater annually. The treated effluent enters the Torres Strait, a vital marine corridor connecting the Coral Sea to the Arafura Sea. This region supports diverse marine life including sea turtles, dugongs, and numerous fish species. The plant's coastal location necessitates careful management to minimize impacts on the surrounding reef and seagrass habitats.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Torres Strait, a shallow sea between Australia and Papua New Guinea that connects the Coral Sea to the Arafura Sea. This area is ecologically sensitive, supporting extensive seagrass meadows and coral reefs that provide habitat for threatened species such as dugongs and green sea turtles. The strait also serves as an important migratory pathway for marine life.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in St Josephs on Keriri Island, part of the Torres Strait Island Regional area in Queensland, Australia.
The plant serves a population of 224 residents on Hammond Island.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the Torres Strait, a marine environment connecting the Coral Sea and Arafura Sea.
The plant provides secondary treatment, which is standard for small communities in Australia to protect coastal waters.
Australian wastewater treatment plants operate under state and federal guidelines, including the National Water Quality Management Strategy. Small coastal plants like Hammond Island are typically required to meet secondary treatment standards to protect sensitive marine ecosystems.
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