Overview
Paraburdoo wastewater treatment plant in Western Australia provides secondary treatment for a small inland community, discharging treated effluent into the local environment.
Paraburdoo wastewater treatment plant serves the remote mining town of Paraburdoo in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The facility provides secondary treatment for a population of approximately 1,800 residents, supporting the local community in an arid, inland area. As a secondary treatment plant, Paraburdoo meets the standard required for municipal wastewater in Australia under the National Water Quality Management Strategy. The plant discharges a daily volume of around 464 cubic meters, reflecting the small population served. Treatment processes are designed to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before release. The treated effluent is discharged into the local environment, likely to a nearby watercourse or evaporation basin, given the arid climate. The plant plays a key role in protecting groundwater and surface water quality in the Ashburton River catchment, which drains to the Indian Ocean via the Exmouth Gulf.
Environmental context
The plant is located inland in the Pilbara region, within the Ashburton River basin. Treated wastewater likely discharges to a local creek or evaporation pond, eventually reaching the Ashburton River and then the Indian Ocean at Exmouth Gulf. The arid climate means water resources are scarce, and the plant helps protect local ecosystems from nutrient pollution.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located on Eastern Ranges Access Road in Paraburdoo, Western Australia, within the Shire of Ashburton.
The plant serves approximately 1,793 people in the town of Paraburdoo and surrounding area.
The plant provides secondary treatment, which typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids.
The plant discharges treated effluent at a rate of about 464 cubic meters per day, likely to a local watercourse or evaporation basin in the Ashburton River catchment.
The plant operates under Australian state and national water quality guidelines, including the National Water Quality Management Strategy, with oversight from the Western Australian Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.
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