Overview
Tailem Bend wastewater treatment plant in South Australia serves 1,909 people with secondary treatment. It discharges treated effluent near the coast, supporting local environmental health.
Tailem Bend wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Tailem Bend, South Australia, within the Coorong District Council area. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,909 residents and operates under secondary treatment, which is standard for small communities in Australia. As a coastal facility within 10 km of the coast, it plays a key role in protecting nearby marine and estuarine environments. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. Australian wastewater facilities are regulated under state and national guidelines, including the National Water Quality Management Strategy, which sets standards for effluent quality to safeguard receiving waters. For a plant of this scale, compliance with discharge limits is essential to minimize environmental impact. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Southern Ocean via the Murray River system and the Coorong lagoon. The Coorong is an ecologically sensitive area that supports diverse aquatic life, including migratory birds and fish species. The plant's operation helps maintain water quality in this important downstream ecosystem.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Murray-Darling Basin, which flows into the Coorong, a coastal lagoon system, and then to the Southern Ocean. The Coorong is a vital habitat for waterbirds and fish, and its health depends on adequate freshwater inflows and low nutrient loads. The plant's secondary treatment reduces pollutants before discharge, supporting the ecological balance of this sensitive downstream environment.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located on Old Racecourse Road in Tailem Bend, South Australia, within the Coorong District Council area.
The plant serves approximately 1,909 residents of Tailem Bend and surrounding areas.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which flows into the Murray River system and eventually reaches the Coorong lagoon and the Southern Ocean.
The plant provides secondary treatment, which typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge.
The plant operates under Australian state and national guidelines, including the National Water Quality Management Strategy, which sets effluent quality standards to protect receiving waters and downstream ecosystems.
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