Overview
Northern wastewater treatment plant serves Cairns, Queensland, Australia, treating wastewater for approximately 31,929 people. The facility is operational and located within 50 km of the coast, discharging into the Coral Sea.
Northern wastewater treatment plant is located in Aeroglen, a suburb of Cairns in Queensland, Australia. The facility serves a population of around 31,929 people and is part of the municipal wastewater infrastructure for the Cairns region. The plant is operational and situated near the coast, reflecting the importance of managing wastewater in a tropical coastal environment. As a plant serving a medium-sized agglomeration, it operates under Australia's national water quality management framework, which includes state-level regulations such as the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Queensland). Treatment standards are expected to meet guidelines for nutrient removal and pathogen reduction to protect sensitive coastal ecosystems. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in megaliters per day or similar unit), indicating its scale. The treated effluent from the plant ultimately discharges into the Coral Sea via local waterways. The receiving environment includes the Great Barrier Reef lagoon, a globally significant marine ecosystem that supports diverse coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and marine life. Effective wastewater treatment is critical to minimize nutrient and pollutant loads that could contribute to algal blooms and degrade water quality in this sensitive area.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Coral Sea via local drainage systems, ultimately reaching the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. This marine environment is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse coral reefs, seagrass beds, and marine species. Nutrient and pathogen removal is critical to prevent eutrophication and protect downstream habitats.
Frequently asked questions
The Northern wastewater treatment plant is located on Greenbank Road in Aeroglen, a suburb of Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
The Northern plant serves approximately 31,929 people in the Cairns region.
The treated effluent from the Northern plant is discharged into local waterways that flow to the Coral Sea, ultimately reaching the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.
The plant operates under Queensland's Environmental Protection Act 1994 and Australia's national water quality guidelines, which require appropriate treatment to protect coastal and marine environments.
For a plant serving about 30,000 people, secondary treatment with nutrient removal is typical to meet discharge standards for sensitive coastal waters, as required by state regulations.
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