Overview
Pirlangimpi wastewater treatment plant is a secondary treatment facility serving 399 people on the Tiwi Islands, Northern Territory, Australia. It discharges treated effluent near the coast of the Timor Sea.
Pirlangimpi wastewater treatment plant serves the small community of Pirlangimpi on Melville Island, part of the Tiwi Islands in Australia's Northern Territory. The facility provides secondary treatment for a population of approximately 400 residents, reflecting its role in managing domestic wastewater for this remote coastal settlement. As a secondary treatment plant, Pirlangimpi meets the standard level of treatment expected for small Australian communities under the National Water Quality Management Strategy. The plant discharges an average of 103.18 megalitres of treated wastewater annually, with no specific capacity or permit details available in public records. The plant's treated effluent ultimately reaches the coastal waters of the Timor Sea, a marine environment that supports diverse aquatic life including sea turtles, dugongs, and migratory seabirds. The Tiwi Islands are ecologically sensitive, with extensive mangrove forests and seagrass beds that benefit from proper wastewater management to maintain water quality.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the coastal waters of the Timor Sea near the Tiwi Islands. This marine environment supports ecologically significant habitats including mangroves, seagrass meadows, and coral reefs that provide nursery grounds for fish and habitat for threatened species. Proper treatment is essential to protect these sensitive coastal ecosystems from nutrient pollution and pathogens.
Frequently asked questions
Pirlangimpi wastewater treatment plant is located in Pirlangimpi on Melville Island, part of the Tiwi Islands, in the Northern Territory, Australia.
The plant serves approximately 399 people, representing the small community of Pirlangimpi on the Tiwi Islands.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the coastal waters of the Timor Sea. As a secondary treatment facility, it removes organic matter and solids before discharge.
The plant operates under Australia's National Water Quality Management Strategy and state-level Northern Territory environmental regulations, which set discharge standards for coastal wastewater treatment plants.
For small remote communities in Australia, secondary treatment is standard to protect sensitive coastal environments. This level effectively reduces biochemical oxygen demand and suspended solids before marine discharge.
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