Katherine Wastewater Treatment Plant, Town of Katherine, Northern Territory

The Katherine wastewater treatment plant is located on Novis Quarry Road in Cossack, within the Town of Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia. It serves a population of approximately 7,109 people, making it a medium-sized facility for the region. The plant is operational and plays a key role in managing municipal wastewater for this inland community. As an Australian wastewater treatment facility, the plant operates under the national regulatory framework, including the National Water Quality Management Strategy and state-level environmental protection laws. For a plant serving around 7,000 people, secondary treatment is typically required to meet discharge standards that protect receiving water bodies and public health. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Daly River system. The Daly River is a significant waterway in the Northern Territory, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and providing water for agricultural and recreational uses. Proper treatment is essential to maintain water quality and ecological health in this sensitive tropical environment.

The Katherine wastewater treatment plant discharges into the local catchment that feeds the Daly River system, one of the largest river systems in the Northern Territory. The Daly River flows into the Timor Sea via the Anson Bay, supporting important habitats for fish, waterbirds, and other wildlife. The region's tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons means that water quality management is critical to prevent nutrient loading and algal blooms during low-flow periods.