Overview
Jigalong wastewater treatment plant in Western Australia serves 362 people with secondary treatment. It discharges 93.70 ML/year into the local environment, supporting the remote community's sanitation needs.
Jigalong wastewater treatment plant is located in the remote community of Jigalong, Western Australia, within the Shire of East Pilbara. The plant serves a small population of 362 residents, providing essential wastewater management for this isolated settlement in the arid Pilbara region. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is appropriate for its small scale. Under Australian regulatory frameworks, smaller communities typically employ secondary treatment to meet environmental standards before discharge. The plant's discharge volume is 93.70 ML/year, reflecting the modest demand of the local population. The treated effluent is released into the local environment, likely into a dry creek bed or ephemeral watercourse that feeds into the broader drainage system of the Pilbara region. The area is characterized by arid conditions and seasonal rainfall, making water quality management important for sustaining local ecosystems and groundwater resources.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the arid Pilbara region, where surface water is scarce and ephemeral. The treated effluent may infiltrate into local aquifers or flow into seasonal watercourses that eventually drain to the Indian Ocean via the De Grey River system. The surrounding environment supports unique arid-zone flora and fauna, and careful management of nutrient and pathogen levels is essential to protect groundwater quality and downstream ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located on Kaili Street in Jigalong, within the Shire of East Pilbara, Western Australia, Australia.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the local environment, likely into ephemeral watercourses or through infiltration, given the arid climate of the Pilbara region.
The plant helps protect local groundwater and seasonal watercourses that may drain to the De Grey River system, which flows to the Indian Ocean.
The plant operates under Australian state and federal guidelines, including the National Water Quality Management Strategy, which sets standards for treatment and discharge appropriate for small remote communities.
For small remote communities in Australia, secondary treatment is typical, often using lagoon systems or package plants, to meet environmental and health standards before discharge.
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