Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre
Encyclopedia
The Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre is a sewerage
and waste water treatment facility in the Australian Capital Territory
, owned and operated by ACTEW Corporation
.
The Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre (or LMWQCC) is the largest inland treatment facility in Australia
, treating more than 90 million litres of Canberra's wastewater (including sewerage) per day using a combination of physical, chemical, and biological methods.
The centre treats waste to an extent that much of it may be safely released back into the environment by way of the Molonglo River
. Solid Waste is however separated during treatment and incinerated at high temperatures resulting in an ash that is sold to local farmers and gardeners as a fertiliser. Recent water shortages has also seen the treated effluent reused instead of released into the river, with much going into non-potable re-use schemes for the watering of sports grounds and gardens.
, in which the plant was damaged, two hazards were shown to exist regarding the water treatment facility, the first of which was the disastrous consequences of fire impacting such chemicals. It was revealed in testimony by fire officer Dannie Camilleri that had fire impacted and breached tanks storing chlorine
at the centre (as well as other chemicals), it would have caused a disastrous situation, releasing toxic gas and requiring large scale evacuations of the national capital.
The other hazard revealed was the inadequacy of storage at the centre in the event of a failure. The bushfires damaged the plant to such an extent that treatment was halted. Reserve tanks had storage sufficient for only an extra day. Had the plant not been fixed in time, excess waste and untreated effluent would have been expelled into the Molonglo river causing serious ecological and public health consequences.
Sanitary sewer
A sanitary sewer is a separate underground carriage system specifically for transporting sewage from houses and commercial buildings to treatment or disposal. Sanitary sewers serving industrial areas also carry industrial wastewater...
and waste water treatment facility in the Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
, owned and operated by ACTEW Corporation
ACTEW Corporation
ACTEW Corporation Limited is a government-owned company with assets and investments in water, wastewater, electricity, gas and telecommunications. ACTEW is wholly owned by the ACT Government...
.
The Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre (or LMWQCC) is the largest inland treatment facility in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, treating more than 90 million litres of Canberra's wastewater (including sewerage) per day using a combination of physical, chemical, and biological methods.
The centre treats waste to an extent that much of it may be safely released back into the environment by way of the Molonglo River
Molonglo River
The Molonglo River rises on the western side of the Great Dividing Range of eastern Australia in the state of New South Wales. Its source is on the other side of the mountain range from where the Shoalhaven River rises, in Tallaganda state forest at ~1200 metres altitude...
. Solid Waste is however separated during treatment and incinerated at high temperatures resulting in an ash that is sold to local farmers and gardeners as a fertiliser. Recent water shortages has also seen the treated effluent reused instead of released into the river, with much going into non-potable re-use schemes for the watering of sports grounds and gardens.
Certifications
The Centre was Australia's first waste treatment facility to gain two significant international standard certifications :- AS/NZS ISO 9002 - Quality Management Systems
- AS/NZS ISO 14001 - Environmental Management SystemsEnvironmental Management SystemEnvironmental management system refers to the management of an organization's environmental programs in a comprehensive, systematic, planned and documented manner....
Environmental role
Given Canberra's inland location, the centre is vital to ensuring the health of rivers and local eco-systems by reducing pollution and ensuring adaquete water flows, to some extent making up for water taken from rivers and stored in catchments for the national capital.Risks to Canberra
The treatment of waste water involves the use of strong chemicals, many of which are toxic. Following the 2003 Canberra bushfires2003 Canberra bushfires
The Canberra bushfires of 2003 caused severe damage to the outskirts of Canberra, the Australian capital city. Almost 70% of the Australian Capital Territory’s pasture, forests and nature parks were severely damaged, and most of the renowned Mount Stromlo Observatory was destroyed...
, in which the plant was damaged, two hazards were shown to exist regarding the water treatment facility, the first of which was the disastrous consequences of fire impacting such chemicals. It was revealed in testimony by fire officer Dannie Camilleri that had fire impacted and breached tanks storing chlorine
Chlorine
Chlorine is the chemical element with atomic number 17 and symbol Cl. It is the second lightest halogen, found in the periodic table in group 17. The element forms diatomic molecules under standard conditions, called dichlorine...
at the centre (as well as other chemicals), it would have caused a disastrous situation, releasing toxic gas and requiring large scale evacuations of the national capital.
The other hazard revealed was the inadequacy of storage at the centre in the event of a failure. The bushfires damaged the plant to such an extent that treatment was halted. Reserve tanks had storage sufficient for only an extra day. Had the plant not been fixed in time, excess waste and untreated effluent would have been expelled into the Molonglo river causing serious ecological and public health consequences.