Overview
Northam wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 7,200 people in Western Australia. Located along Great Eastern Highway, it operates under Australian state and federal water quality regulations.
Northam wastewater treatment plant is located in the Shire of Northam, Western Australia, along Great Eastern Highway in the suburb of Burlong. The plant serves a population of around 7,200 residents and is part of the region's municipal wastewater infrastructure. As an operational facility in Australia, the plant is subject to the national water quality management framework and state-level environmental regulations. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local environment, contributing to the protection of the Avon River catchment and the broader Swan-Avon system. This river system flows westward to the Swan River and eventually into the Indian Ocean at Fremantle, supporting diverse aquatic habitats along its course.
Environmental context
The plant's discharge enters the Avon River catchment, part of the Swan-Avon system that drains into the Indian Ocean via the Swan River estuary. This watershed supports a range of freshwater and estuarine species, including migratory fish and waterbirds. The region experiences a Mediterranean climate with seasonal rainfall, making careful water management important for maintaining downstream water quality and ecological health.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located on Great Eastern Highway in Burlong, within the Shire of Northam, Western Australia, approximately 100 kilometers east of Perth.
The plant serves a population of about 7,188 people in the Northam area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the local environment, likely into the Avon River catchment, which flows into the Swan River and eventually the Indian Ocean.
The plant operates under Australian water quality guidelines and Western Australian environmental regulations, which set standards for effluent quality to protect receiving waters.
For a community of this size, Australian plants commonly use secondary treatment (e.g., activated sludge) followed by disinfection, with some employing tertiary treatment for nutrient removal to meet local discharge limits.
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