Penola Wastewater Treatment Plant | South Australia Inland Facility

Penola Wastewater Treatment Plant is located on the Penola Southern Bypass in the town of Penola, within the Wattle Range Council area of South Australia. The plant serves a population of around 1,743 people, treating municipal wastewater to secondary treatment standards. As a small inland facility, it plays a key role in managing local wastewater in this rural region. The plant operates under Australia's national regulatory framework, which requires secondary treatment for inland discharges to protect water quality. With a discharge volume of 451.02 megaliters per year, the facility ensures treated effluent meets environmental standards before release. The treatment process is designed to reduce organic matter and nutrients, safeguarding the local environment. The treated wastewater is discharged into the local catchment, which ultimately drains into the Southern Ocean via the Glenelg River system. The plant's operations help protect the region's waterways, supporting aquatic ecosystems and downstream water quality in this agriculturally important area.

The plant discharges into the local catchment that feeds into the Glenelg River, which flows to the Southern Ocean. This region supports diverse aquatic life and is important for local agriculture. The secondary treatment process helps reduce nutrient loads, protecting downstream water quality and ecological health.