Sydney
9.9 Discharge from urban water system
Supporting information
Urban water discharge to surface water
The volume of water discharged from urban wastewater systems during 2011–12 was 92,868 ML.
A breakdown of treated water from wastewater treatment plants and water recycling plants discharged to the streams is provided in the following table. The discharged volume is a decrease to the water distribution system store.
Sydney Water Corporation released 13,362 ML of recycled water from St Marys Water Recycling Plant to Boundary Creek (a tributary of the Nepean River). These releases are intended to replace outflows released for environmental purposes from Lake Burragorang (Warragamba Dam) to the river.
Plant operator and description of wastewater discharge |
Plant |
Discharging to watercourse |
Volume discharged during 2011–12 (ML) |
Goulburn Mulwaree Council—treated wastewater from wastewater treatment plants |
Goulburn and Marulan |
Not applicable |
1,7161 |
Lithgow City Council—treated wastewater from wastewater treatment plants |
Lithgow |
A tributary of the Coxs River |
2,148 |
Wallerawang |
Coxs River |
314 |
|
Palerang Council—treated wastewater from wastewater treatment plants |
Braidwood |
A tributary of the Shoalhaven River |
120 |
Shoalhaven City Council—treated wastewater from wastewater treatment plants
|
Berry |
Broughton Creek |
332 |
Bomaderry |
Abernathys Creek |
844 |
|
Nowra |
Shoalhaven River |
2,150 |
|
Sydney Water Corporation—treated wastewater from water recycling plants
|
Castle Hill |
Cattai Creek |
3,673 |
Glenfield |
Georges River |
645 |
|
Liverpool |
Georges River |
5,160 |
|
Penrith |
Boundary Creek |
2,617 |
|
Picton |
Stonequarry Creek |
666 |
|
Quakers Hill |
Breakfast Creek |
11,153 |
|
Richmond |
Rickabys Creek |
774 |
|
Rouse Hill |
Second Ponds Creek |
5,456 |
|
St Marys |
Boundary Creek |
13,362 |
|
St Marys |
South Creek |
10,315 |
|
West Camden |
Matahil Creek |
4,172 |
|
Sydney Water Corporation—treated wastewater from wastewater treatment plants
|
Brooklyn |
Hawkesbury River |
100 |
Fairfield |
Orphan School Creek |
3,543 |
|
Hornsby Heights |
Calna Creek |
2,990 |
|
North Richmond |
Redbank Creek |
417 |
|
Riverstone |
Eastern Creek |
771 |
|
Wallacia |
Warragamba River |
372 |
|
West Hornsby |
Waitara Creek |
5,554 |
|
Winmalee |
Nepean River |
8,626 |
|
Wingecarribee Shire Council—treated wastewater from wastewater treatment plants
|
Berrima |
Olbury Creek |
128 |
Bowral |
Wingecarribee River |
1,892 |
|
Braemar |
Iron Mines Creek |
1,286 |
|
Bundanoon |
Reedy Creek |
352 |
|
Moss Vale |
Whites Creek |
1,220 |
|
Total |
92,868 |
1Water reported here is for Marulan WTP only, discharge volume from Goulburn was not quantified.
Wallerawang Wastewater Treatment Plant receives wastewater generated from supplies made to the Lithgow City Council's distribution system from the Fish River Water Supply Scheme. Lithgow Wastewater Treatment Plant receives wastewater generated from supplies made to the distribution system from Oakey Park Water Treatment Plant. Wastewater received at these wastewater treatment plants includes inflow and infiltration resulting from stormwater.
Treated water released from some of the wastewater treatment plants included in the above table becomes inflow to downstream storages (counted in line item 9.4 Runoff to surface water) as shown in the following table. The volume of water that has become inflow to downstream storages (9,176 ML) is deducted from 9.4 Rainfall runoff.
Wastewater treatment plants releasing treated water |
Reservoir receiving treated water |
Wastewater treatment plant operator |
Reservoir managing authority |
Lithgow |
Lake Lyell |
Lithgow City Council |
Delta Electricity |
Wallerawang |
Lake Wallace |
Lithgow City Council |
Delta Electricity |
Berrima, Bowral, Braemar and Bundanoon |
Lake Burragorang (Warragamba Dam) |
Wingecarribee Shire Council |
Sydney Catchment Authority |
Moss Vale |
Medway |
Wingecarribee Shire Council |
Wingecarribee Shire Council |
Braidwood |
Lake Yarrunga (Tallowa Dam) |
Palerang Council |
Sydney Catchment Authority |
Quantification approach
Shoalhaven City Council
Data source
Provided by
Method
Outflows from wastewater treatment plants were measured as follows:
- Berry Wastewater Treatment Plant: Vega-type ultrasonic flow meter
- Bomaderry and Nowra wastewater treatment plants: a Parshall flume with a venturi flow meter at each site.
Assumptions, limitations, caveats and approximations
Uncertainty information
The volume is based on measured data. Estimated uncertainty based on meter accuracy is +/– 5%.
Sydney Water Corporation
Data source
Data managed and maintained in an internal data management system by Sydney Water Corporation's Service Delivery Division (Systems Assurance and Monitoring); metered data reported in Sydney Water Corporation's Water Efficiency Report 2011–12.
Provided by
Method
Total metered volume of treated wastewater discharge to surface water from Sydney Water Corporation's wastewater treatment plants and water recycling plants is provided. Details on recycled water discharge including water from St Marys Recycling plant can be found at in the Water Efficiency Report 2011–12.
The flow of wastewater and recycled water from plants was measured using flow meters. These measured data are continually monitored and recorded using the Integrated Instrumentation Control Automation and Telemetry System (IICATS). The data are stored within a complex data management system. Adjustments are made to the data (if necessary) to correct any interruptions, errors and so on. Data have been extracted for 2011–12 from the data management system.
Assumptions, limitations, caveats and approximations
The main difference between treated wastewater and recycled water produced by Sydney Water Corporation is quality, which is determined by the level of treatment. Recycled water is produced by treating water generated from sewage, greywater or stormwater systems to achieve high quality as required. Information on wastewater treatment levels in producing recycled water is available at Sydney Water Corporations website.
Uncertainty information
The volume is based on measured data. Estimated uncertainty based on meter accuracy is +/– 2%.