Swan Reach Wastewater Treatment Plant, South Australia | Secondary Treatment

Swan Reach wastewater treatment plant is located in the small town of Swan Reach, South Australia, along the Stott Highway. It serves a population of approximately 405 residents as part of the Mid Murray Council's municipal infrastructure. The plant is classified as operational and provides secondary treatment, which is appropriate for a small community. As a secondary treatment facility, Swan Reach plant reduces organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant's discharge volume is recorded at 104.92 megalitres per year. Under Australian regulatory frameworks, small wastewater treatment plants like this are typically managed under state environment protection authority licenses, which set discharge quality limits to protect receiving waters. The treated effluent from Swan Reach ultimately enters the Murray River system, part of the vast Murray-Darling Basin, Australia's most significant river system. The basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including native fish species and waterbirds. The plant's discharge contributes to local water balance and must comply with environmental standards to safeguard downstream water quality and ecological health.

Swan Reach is situated near the Murray River, a major waterway in the Murray-Darling Basin. The basin drains into the Southern Ocean via the Murray Mouth in South Australia. The local watershed supports riparian habitats and is an important migratory corridor for birds. The plant's discharge must be managed to prevent nutrient enrichment and maintain water quality for downstream ecosystems, including wetlands and floodplain forests.