Riverstone Wastewater Treatment Plant, Sydney, New South Wales

Riverstone wastewater treatment plant is located in the suburb of Riverstone, part of the Blacktown City Council area in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The plant serves a population of around 10,979 people, making it a medium-sized facility within the Sydney metropolitan region. It is situated inland, more than 50 kilometers from the coast, and discharges into local waterways. As an Australian wastewater treatment facility, Riverstone operates under the regulatory framework of the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and the Australian government's National Water Quality Management Strategy. For a plant serving approximately 11,000 people, secondary treatment is typically required to meet environmental standards. The plant's designed capacity of 1.00 million liters per day indicates its scale relative to the population served. The treated effluent from Riverstone likely discharges into a local creek or river that flows into the Hawkesbury-Nepean River system, which ultimately drains into the Tasman Sea. This river system supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in the region. The plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment.

The plant's discharge enters the Hawkesbury-Nepean River system, which flows into the Tasman Sea near Broken Bay. This catchment supports a variety of native fish, birds, and vegetation, and is a vital water source for agriculture and urban areas. The river system is subject to periodic flooding and drought, making consistent wastewater treatment essential for maintaining ecological balance and downstream water quality.