Overview
Wundowie Wastewater Treatment Plant in Western Australia provides secondary treatment for a small community of 2,285 people, discharging treated effluent inland.
The Wundowie Wastewater Treatment Plant is located on Coates Road in Wundowie, a small town in the Shire of Northam, Western Australia. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,285 residents and operates under Australia's regulatory framework for wastewater management. The facility provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment process required for municipal wastewater in Australia. With a discharge volume of 591.35 megalitres per year, the plant is designed to meet the needs of this small agglomeration. Australian wastewater treatment plants are regulated under state and national guidelines, including the National Water Quality Management Strategy. The treated effluent is discharged to an inland receiving environment, likely contributing to local groundwater or a nearby watercourse. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water resources and supporting the ecological health of the surrounding area.
Environmental context
The plant discharges treated wastewater to an inland environment in the Avon River basin, which flows westward to the Swan River and ultimately into the Indian Ocean at Fremantle. The region supports diverse aquatic life and is important for migratory waterbirds. Proper treatment helps maintain water quality in this semi-arid agricultural area.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located on Coates Road in Wundowie, a town in the Shire of Northam, Western Australia, approximately 80 km east of Perth.
The plant serves a population of about 2,285 people, making it a small-scale municipal treatment facility.
The plant provides secondary treatment, which involves biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids before discharge.
The plant operates under Australia's National Water Quality Management Strategy and state-level guidelines from the Western Australian Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, which set standards for effluent quality and environmental protection.
For small communities of this size, secondary treatment is standard, often using technologies like activated sludge or aerated lagoons, with disinfection where required to protect receiving waters.
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