Overview
Kintore wastewater treatment plant serves the remote community of Kintore in Australia's Northern Territory. The secondary treatment facility discharges 117.20 megalitres annually, supporting local sanitation needs.
Kintore wastewater treatment plant is located in the remote community of Kintore, Northern Territory, Australia, on Tjunarriti Road near Lake Mackay. It serves a population of approximately 453 residents, providing essential wastewater management in this isolated arid region. The plant operates at secondary treatment level, which is appropriate for its small population scale. Under Australian regulatory frameworks, small remote communities often utilize secondary treatment to meet environmental standards. The facility discharges 117.20 megalitres of treated wastewater annually, reflecting the modest demand of the local population. The treated effluent likely drains into the surrounding arid landscape or ephemeral watercourses, ultimately contributing to the Lake Mackay system, a large salt lake in the Tanami Desert. This region supports unique desert-adapted ecosystems, and careful wastewater management helps protect groundwater and surface water quality in this sensitive environment.
Environmental context
The plant is situated in the Tanami Desert region of the Northern Territory, near Lake Mackay, a large ephemeral salt lake. Treated wastewater likely infiltrates into the local groundwater or flows into seasonal creeks that feed the lake. The area supports sparse but ecologically significant desert flora and fauna, including species adapted to arid conditions. Protecting water quality is crucial to maintain the fragile balance of this remote watershed.
Frequently asked questions
Kintore wastewater treatment plant is located on Tjunarriti Road, near Lake Mackay, in the remote community of Kintore, Macdonnell Region, Northern Territory, Australia.
The plant serves a population of approximately 453 residents in the Kintore community.
The plant discharges treated wastewater at a volume of 117.20 megalitres per year. Given its inland desert location, the effluent likely infiltrates into the ground or flows into ephemeral watercourses that drain toward Lake Mackay.
The plant provides secondary treatment, which is standard for small remote communities in Australia. This level of treatment effectively reduces organic matter and suspended solids before discharge.
Australian wastewater treatment plants are regulated under state and territory environmental protection agencies. For remote communities like Kintore, the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority oversees compliance with discharge standards, ensuring treatment meets guidelines for protecting the fragile desert ecosystem.
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