❓ A parliamentary question regarding the use of sodium hypochlorite as a biological agent in a desalination plant and its potential impact on marine life in Cockburn Sound. The response clarifies the agent's use, neutralization process, and lack of discharge into the Sound, along with ongoing effluent toxicity testing.
AnsweredQoN 66Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(b) what is the nature of this biological agent; (c) what marine life will this biological agent target; (d) what effect will it have on the marine life; (e) will the biological agent be released back into the marine environment; (f) has the Water Authority or the Environmental Protection Agency done any analysis of what effect the biological agent will have upon marine life in Cockburn Sound; (g) if so, what did the analysis focus upon, and what were the results; (h) if not, why not; (i) has the Water Authority or the Environmental Protection done any analysis of the potential affects of this biological agent upon the biodiversity of the marine environment, industries that operate out of Cockburn Sound, such as Mussel farming, commercial fishing, and tourism and recreational fishing; and (j) if not, why not?
(c) what marine life will this biological agent target; (d) what effect will it have on the marine life; (e) will the biological agent be released back into the marine environment; (f) has the Water Authority or the Environmental Protection Agency done any analysis of what effect the biological agent will have upon marine life in Cockburn Sound; (g) if so, what did the analysis focus upon, and what were the results; (h) if not, why not; (i) has the Water Authority or the Environmental Protection done any analysis of the potential affects of this biological agent upon the biodiversity of the marine environment, industries that operate out of Cockburn Sound, such as Mussel farming, commercial fishing, and tourism and recreational fishing; and (j) if not, why not?
(d) what effect will it have on the marine life; (e) will the biological agent be released back into the marine environment; (f) has the Water Authority or the Environmental Protection Agency done any analysis of what effect the biological agent will have upon marine life in Cockburn Sound; (g) if so, what did the analysis focus upon, and what were the results; (h) if not, why not; (i) has the Water Authority or the Environmental Protection done any analysis of the potential affects of this biological agent upon the biodiversity of the marine environment, industries that operate out of Cockburn Sound, such as Mussel farming, commercial fishing, and tourism and recreational fishing; and (j) if not, why not?
(e) will the biological agent be released back into the marine environment; (f) has the Water Authority or the Environmental Protection Agency done any analysis of what effect the biological agent will have upon marine life in Cockburn Sound; (g) if so, what did the analysis focus upon, and what were the results; (h) if not, why not; (i) has the Water Authority or the Environmental Protection done any analysis of the potential affects of this biological agent upon the biodiversity of the marine environment, industries that operate out of Cockburn Sound, such as Mussel farming, commercial fishing, and tourism and recreational fishing; and (j) if not, why not?
(f) has the Water Authority or the Environmental Protection Agency done any analysis of what effect the biological agent will have upon marine life in Cockburn Sound; (g) if so, what did the analysis focus upon, and what were the results; (h) if not, why not; (i) has the Water Authority or the Environmental Protection done any analysis of the potential affects of this biological agent upon the biodiversity of the marine environment, industries that operate out of Cockburn Sound, such as Mussel farming, commercial fishing, and tourism and recreational fishing; and (j) if not, why not?
(g) if so, what did the analysis focus upon, and what were the results; (h) if not, why not; (i) has the Water Authority or the Environmental Protection done any analysis of the potential affects of this biological agent upon the biodiversity of the marine environment, industries that operate out of Cockburn Sound, such as Mussel farming, commercial fishing, and tourism and recreational fishing; and (j) if not, why not?
(h) if not, why not; (i) has the Water Authority or the Environmental Protection done any analysis of the potential affects of this biological agent upon the biodiversity of the marine environment, industries that operate out of Cockburn Sound, such as Mussel farming, commercial fishing, and tourism and recreational fishing; and (j) if not, why not?
(i) has the Water Authority or the Environmental Protection done any analysis of the potential affects of this biological agent upon the biodiversity of the marine environment, industries that operate out of Cockburn Sound, such as Mussel farming, commercial fishing, and tourism and recreational fishing; and (j) if not, why not?
(j) if not, why not?
(b) Sodium hypochlorite is a colourless, transparent liquid. (c) Sodium hypochlorite solution is used to stop the growth of organisms that seek to attach to the intake pipe and/or the seawater intake pump station. (d) There will be no impact on the marine environment as the agent is injected into the water entering the desalination plant (e) No. (f)-(h) There will be no impact on the marine environment of Cockburn Sound as the biocide is not returned to the marine environment. Sodium hypochlorite will be dosed intermittently (approx once per week for three hours) into the seawater intake pipeline to control growth of organisms on the internals of the pipeline, seawater intake pump station and on-shore seawater pipelines. Sodium metabisulphite will be dosed into the seawater pipeline prior to the reverse osmosis plant, to neutralise the sodium hypochlorite. The hypochlorite ion is reduced to the chloride ion and the metabisulphite ion is oxidised to the sulphate ion, both ions are naturally present in seawater. As a result of this, there will be no discharge of sodium hypochlorite to the ocean and no impact on the marine environment. (i)& (j) The biological agent is not discharged to Cockburn Sound as it is neutralised prior to the reverse osmosis process, as described above. Environmental approval requires that the Water Corporation undertake effluent toxicity testing of the seawater concentrate returned to Cockburn Sound. This testing is currently being carried out. Seawater concentrate is not expected to have any impact on the marine environment.
(c) Sodium hypochlorite solution is used to stop the growth of organisms that seek to attach to the intake pipe and/or the seawater intake pump station. (d) There will be no impact on the marine environment as the agent is injected into the water entering the desalination plant (e) No. (f)-(h) There will be no impact on the marine environment of Cockburn Sound as the biocide is not returned to the marine environment. Sodium hypochlorite will be dosed intermittently (approx once per week for three hours) into the seawater intake pipeline to control growth of organisms on the internals of the pipeline, seawater intake pump station and on-shore seawater pipelines. Sodium metabisulphite will be dosed into the seawater pipeline prior to the reverse osmosis plant, to neutralise the sodium hypochlorite. The hypochlorite ion is reduced to the chloride ion and the metabisulphite ion is oxidised to the sulphate ion, both ions are naturally present in seawater. As a result of this, there will be no discharge of sodium hypochlorite to the ocean and no impact on the marine environment. (i)& (j) The biological agent is not discharged to Cockburn Sound as it is neutralised prior to the reverse osmosis process, as described above. Environmental approval requires that the Water Corporation undertake effluent toxicity testing of the seawater concentrate returned to Cockburn Sound. This testing is currently being carried out. Seawater concentrate is not expected to have any impact on the marine environment.
(d) There will be no impact on the marine environment as the agent is injected into the water entering the desalination plant (e) No. (f)-(h) There will be no impact on the marine environment of Cockburn Sound as the biocide is not returned to the marine environment. Sodium hypochlorite will be dosed intermittently (approx once per week for three hours) into the seawater intake pipeline to control growth of organisms on the internals of the pipeline, seawater intake pump station and on-shore seawater pipelines. Sodium metabisulphite will be dosed into the seawater pipeline prior to the reverse osmosis plant, to neutralise the sodium hypochlorite. The hypochlorite ion is reduced to the chloride ion and the metabisulphite ion is oxidised to the sulphate ion, both ions are naturally present in seawater. As a result of this, there will be no discharge of sodium hypochlorite to the ocean and no impact on the marine environment. (i)& (j) The biological agent is not discharged to Cockburn Sound as it is neutralised prior to the reverse osmosis process, as described above. Environmental approval requires that the Water Corporation undertake effluent toxicity testing of the seawater concentrate returned to Cockburn Sound. This testing is currently being carried out. Seawater concentrate is not expected to have any impact on the marine environment.
(e) No. (f)-(h) There will be no impact on the marine environment of Cockburn Sound as the biocide is not returned to the marine environment. Sodium hypochlorite will be dosed intermittently (approx once per week for three hours) into the seawater intake pipeline to control growth of organisms on the internals of the pipeline, seawater intake pump station and on-shore seawater pipelines. Sodium metabisulphite will be dosed into the seawater pipeline prior to the reverse osmosis plant, to neutralise the sodium hypochlorite. The hypochlorite ion is reduced to the chloride ion and the metabisulphite ion is oxidised to the sulphate ion, both ions are naturally present in seawater. As a result of this, there will be no discharge of sodium hypochlorite to the ocean and no impact on the marine environment. (i)& (j) The biological agent is not discharged to Cockburn Sound as it is neutralised prior to the reverse osmosis process, as described above. Environmental approval requires that the Water Corporation undertake effluent toxicity testing of the seawater concentrate returned to Cockburn Sound. This testing is currently being carried out. Seawater concentrate is not expected to have any impact on the marine environment.
(f)-(h) There will be no impact on the marine environment of Cockburn Sound as the biocide is not returned to the marine environment. Sodium hypochlorite will be dosed intermittently (approx once per week for three hours) into the seawater intake pipeline to control growth of organisms on the internals of the pipeline, seawater intake pump station and on-shore seawater pipelines. Sodium metabisulphite will be dosed into the seawater pipeline prior to the reverse osmosis plant, to neutralise the sodium hypochlorite. The hypochlorite ion is reduced to the chloride ion and the metabisulphite ion is oxidised to the sulphate ion, both ions are naturally present in seawater. As a result of this, there will be no discharge of sodium hypochlorite to the ocean and no impact on the marine environment. (i)& (j) The biological agent is not discharged to Cockburn Sound as it is neutralised prior to the reverse osmosis process, as described above. Environmental approval requires that the Water Corporation undertake effluent toxicity testing of the seawater concentrate returned to Cockburn Sound. This testing is currently being carried out. Seawater concentrate is not expected to have any impact on the marine environment.
Sodium metabisulphite will be dosed into the seawater pipeline prior to the reverse osmosis plant, to neutralise the sodium hypochlorite. The hypochlorite ion is reduced to the chloride ion and the metabisulphite ion is oxidised to the sulphate ion, both ions are naturally present in seawater. As a result of this, there will be no discharge of sodium hypochlorite to the ocean and no impact on the marine environment. (i)& (j) The biological agent is not discharged to Cockburn Sound as it is neutralised prior to the reverse osmosis process, as described above. Environmental approval requires that the Water Corporation undertake effluent toxicity testing of the seawater concentrate returned to Cockburn Sound. This testing is currently being carried out. Seawater concentrate is not expected to have any impact on the marine environment.
(i)& (j) The biological agent is not discharged to Cockburn Sound as it is neutralised prior to the reverse osmosis process, as described above. Environmental approval requires that the Water Corporation undertake effluent toxicity testing of the seawater concentrate returned to Cockburn Sound. This testing is currently being carried out. Seawater concentrate is not expected to have any impact on the marine environment.
Environmental approval requires that the Water Corporation undertake effluent toxicity testing of the seawater concentrate returned to Cockburn Sound. This testing is currently being carried out. Seawater concentrate is not expected to have any impact on the marine environment.
(c) what marine life will this biological agent target; (d) what effect will it have on the marine life; (e) will the biological agent be released back into the marine environment; (f) has the Water Authority or the Environmental Protection Agency done any analysis of what effect the biological agent will have upon marine life in Cockburn Sound; (g) if so, what did the analysis focus upon, and what were the results; (h) if not, why not; (i) has the Water Authority or the Environmental Protection done any analysis of the potential affects of this biological agent upon the biodiversity of the marine environment, industries that operate out of Cockburn Sound, such as Mussel farming, commercial fishing, and tourism and recreational fishing; and (j) if not, why not?
(d) what effect will it have on the marine life; (e) will the biological agent be released back into the marine environment; (f) has the Water Authority or the Environmental Protection Agency done any analysis of what effect the biological agent will have upon marine life in Cockburn Sound; (g) if so, what did the analysis focus upon, and what were the results; (h) if not, why not; (i) has the Water Authority or the Environmental Protection done any analysis of the potential affects of this biological agent upon the biodiversity of the marine environment, industries that operate out of Cockburn Sound, such as Mussel farming, commercial fishing, and tourism and recreational fishing; and (j) if not, why not?
(e) will the biological agent be released back into the marine environment; (f) has the Water Authority or the Environmental Protection Agency done any analysis of what effect the biological agent will have upon marine life in Cockburn Sound; (g) if so, what did the analysis focus upon, and what were the results; (h) if not, why not; (i) has the Water Authority or the Environmental Protection done any analysis of the potential affects of this biological agent upon the biodiversity of the marine environment, industries that operate out of Cockburn Sound, such as Mussel farming, commercial fishing, and tourism and recreational fishing; and (j) if not, why not?
(f) has the Water Authority or the Environmental Protection Agency done any analysis of what effect the biological agent will have upon marine life in Cockburn Sound; (g) if so, what did the analysis focus upon, and what were the results; (h) if not, why not; (i) has the Water Authority or the Environmental Protection done any analysis of the potential affects of this biological agent upon the biodiversity of the marine environment, industries that operate out of Cockburn Sound, such as Mussel farming, commercial fishing, and tourism and recreational fishing; and (j) if not, why not?
(g) if so, what did the analysis focus upon, and what were the results; (h) if not, why not; (i) has the Water Authority or the Environmental Protection done any analysis of the potential affects of this biological agent upon the biodiversity of the marine environment, industries that operate out of Cockburn Sound, such as Mussel farming, commercial fishing, and tourism and recreational fishing; and (j) if not, why not?
(h) if not, why not; (i) has the Water Authority or the Environmental Protection done any analysis of the potential affects of this biological agent upon the biodiversity of the marine environment, industries that operate out of Cockburn Sound, such as Mussel farming, commercial fishing, and tourism and recreational fishing; and (j) if not, why not?
(i) has the Water Authority or the Environmental Protection done any analysis of the potential affects of this biological agent upon the biodiversity of the marine environment, industries that operate out of Cockburn Sound, such as Mussel farming, commercial fishing, and tourism and recreational fishing; and (j) if not, why not?
(j) if not, why not?
(b) Sodium hypochlorite is a colourless, transparent liquid. (c) Sodium hypochlorite solution is used to stop the growth of organisms that seek to attach to the intake pipe and/or the seawater intake pump station. (d) There will be no impact on the marine environment as the agent is injected into the water entering the desalination plant (e) No. (f)-(h) There will be no impact on the marine environment of Cockburn Sound as the biocide is not returned to the marine environment. Sodium hypochlorite will be dosed intermittently (approx once per week for three hours) into the seawater intake pipeline to control growth of organisms on the internals of the pipeline, seawater intake pump station and on-shore seawater pipelines. Sodium metabisulphite will be dosed into the seawater pipeline prior to the reverse osmosis plant, to neutralise the sodium hypochlorite. The hypochlorite ion is reduced to the chloride ion and the metabisulphite ion is oxidised to the sulphate ion, both ions are naturally present in seawater. As a result of this, there will be no discharge of sodium hypochlorite to the ocean and no impact on the marine environment. (i)& (j) The biological agent is not discharged to Cockburn Sound as it is neutralised prior to the reverse osmosis process, as described above. Environmental approval requires that the Water Corporation undertake effluent toxicity testing of the seawater concentrate returned to Cockburn Sound. This testing is currently being carried out. Seawater concentrate is not expected to have any impact on the marine environment.
(c) Sodium hypochlorite solution is used to stop the growth of organisms that seek to attach to the intake pipe and/or the seawater intake pump station. (d) There will be no impact on the marine environment as the agent is injected into the water entering the desalination plant (e) No. (f)-(h) There will be no impact on the marine environment of Cockburn Sound as the biocide is not returned to the marine environment. Sodium hypochlorite will be dosed intermittently (approx once per week for three hours) into the seawater intake pipeline to control growth of organisms on the internals of the pipeline, seawater intake pump station and on-shore seawater pipelines. Sodium metabisulphite will be dosed into the seawater pipeline prior to the reverse osmosis plant, to neutralise the sodium hypochlorite. The hypochlorite ion is reduced to the chloride ion and the metabisulphite ion is oxidised to the sulphate ion, both ions are naturally present in seawater. As a result of this, there will be no discharge of sodium hypochlorite to the ocean and no impact on the marine environment. (i)& (j) The biological agent is not discharged to Cockburn Sound as it is neutralised prior to the reverse osmosis process, as described above. Environmental approval requires that the Water Corporation undertake effluent toxicity testing of the seawater concentrate returned to Cockburn Sound. This testing is currently being carried out. Seawater concentrate is not expected to have any impact on the marine environment.
(d) There will be no impact on the marine environment as the agent is injected into the water entering the desalination plant (e) No. (f)-(h) There will be no impact on the marine environment of Cockburn Sound as the biocide is not returned to the marine environment. Sodium hypochlorite will be dosed intermittently (approx once per week for three hours) into the seawater intake pipeline to control growth of organisms on the internals of the pipeline, seawater intake pump station and on-shore seawater pipelines. Sodium metabisulphite will be dosed into the seawater pipeline prior to the reverse osmosis plant, to neutralise the sodium hypochlorite. The hypochlorite ion is reduced to the chloride ion and the metabisulphite ion is oxidised to the sulphate ion, both ions are naturally present in seawater. As a result of this, there will be no discharge of sodium hypochlorite to the ocean and no impact on the marine environment. (i)& (j) The biological agent is not discharged to Cockburn Sound as it is neutralised prior to the reverse osmosis process, as described above. Environmental approval requires that the Water Corporation undertake effluent toxicity testing of the seawater concentrate returned to Cockburn Sound. This testing is currently being carried out. Seawater concentrate is not expected to have any impact on the marine environment.
(e) No. (f)-(h) There will be no impact on the marine environment of Cockburn Sound as the biocide is not returned to the marine environment. Sodium hypochlorite will be dosed intermittently (approx once per week for three hours) into the seawater intake pipeline to control growth of organisms on the internals of the pipeline, seawater intake pump station and on-shore seawater pipelines. Sodium metabisulphite will be dosed into the seawater pipeline prior to the reverse osmosis plant, to neutralise the sodium hypochlorite. The hypochlorite ion is reduced to the chloride ion and the metabisulphite ion is oxidised to the sulphate ion, both ions are naturally present in seawater. As a result of this, there will be no discharge of sodium hypochlorite to the ocean and no impact on the marine environment. (i)& (j) The biological agent is not discharged to Cockburn Sound as it is neutralised prior to the reverse osmosis process, as described above. Environmental approval requires that the Water Corporation undertake effluent toxicity testing of the seawater concentrate returned to Cockburn Sound. This testing is currently being carried out. Seawater concentrate is not expected to have any impact on the marine environment.
(f)-(h) There will be no impact on the marine environment of Cockburn Sound as the biocide is not returned to the marine environment. Sodium hypochlorite will be dosed intermittently (approx once per week for three hours) into the seawater intake pipeline to control growth of organisms on the internals of the pipeline, seawater intake pump station and on-shore seawater pipelines. Sodium metabisulphite will be dosed into the seawater pipeline prior to the reverse osmosis plant, to neutralise the sodium hypochlorite. The hypochlorite ion is reduced to the chloride ion and the metabisulphite ion is oxidised to the sulphate ion, both ions are naturally present in seawater. As a result of this, there will be no discharge of sodium hypochlorite to the ocean and no impact on the marine environment. (i)& (j) The biological agent is not discharged to Cockburn Sound as it is neutralised prior to the reverse osmosis process, as described above. Environmental approval requires that the Water Corporation undertake effluent toxicity testing of the seawater concentrate returned to Cockburn Sound. This testing is currently being carried out. Seawater concentrate is not expected to have any impact on the marine environment.
Sodium metabisulphite will be dosed into the seawater pipeline prior to the reverse osmosis plant, to neutralise the sodium hypochlorite. The hypochlorite ion is reduced to the chloride ion and the metabisulphite ion is oxidised to the sulphate ion, both ions are naturally present in seawater. As a result of this, there will be no discharge of sodium hypochlorite to the ocean and no impact on the marine environment. (i)& (j) The biological agent is not discharged to Cockburn Sound as it is neutralised prior to the reverse osmosis process, as described above. Environmental approval requires that the Water Corporation undertake effluent toxicity testing of the seawater concentrate returned to Cockburn Sound. This testing is currently being carried out. Seawater concentrate is not expected to have any impact on the marine environment.
(i)& (j) The biological agent is not discharged to Cockburn Sound as it is neutralised prior to the reverse osmosis process, as described above. Environmental approval requires that the Water Corporation undertake effluent toxicity testing of the seawater concentrate returned to Cockburn Sound. This testing is currently being carried out. Seawater concentrate is not expected to have any impact on the marine environment.
Environmental approval requires that the Water Corporation undertake effluent toxicity testing of the seawater concentrate returned to Cockburn Sound. This testing is currently being carried out. Seawater concentrate is not expected to have any impact on the marine environment.
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
21 June 2005
Responded by
Minister for Water Resources
Response time
20 days
(a) The biological agent is sodium hypochlorite solution - used to shock dose the intake pipeline intermittently to prevent any build up of biological material.
(b) Sodium hypochlorite is a colourless, transparent liquid.
(c) Sodium hypochlorite solution is used to stop the growth of organisms that seek to attach to the intake pipe and/or the seawater intake pump station.
(d) There will be no impact on the marine environment as the agent is injected into the water entering the desalination plant
(e) No.
(f)-(h) There will be no impact on the marine environment of Cockburn Sound as the biocide is not returned to the marine environment. Sodium hypochlorite will be dosed intermittently (approx once per week for three hours) into the seawater intake pipeline to control growth of organisms on the internals of the pipeline, seawater intake pump station and on-shore seawater pipelines.
Sodium metabisulphite will be dosed into the seawater pipeline prior to the reverse osmosis plant, to neutralise the sodium hypochlorite. The hypochlorite ion is reduced to the chloride ion and the metabisulphite ion is oxidised to the sulphate ion, both ions are naturally present in seawater. As a result of this, there will be no discharge of sodium hypochlorite to the ocean and no impact on the marine environment.
(i)& (j) The biological agent is not discharged to Cockburn Sound as it is neutralised prior to the reverse osmosis process, as described above.
Environmental approval requires that the Water Corporation undertake effluent toxicity testing of the seawater concentrate returned to Cockburn Sound. This testing is currently being carried out. Seawater concentrate is not expected to have any impact on the marine environment.
(b) Sodium hypochlorite is a colourless, transparent liquid.
(c) Sodium hypochlorite solution is used to stop the growth of organisms that seek to attach to the intake pipe and/or the seawater intake pump station.
(d) There will be no impact on the marine environment as the agent is injected into the water entering the desalination plant
(e) No.
(f)-(h) There will be no impact on the marine environment of Cockburn Sound as the biocide is not returned to the marine environment. Sodium hypochlorite will be dosed intermittently (approx once per week for three hours) into the seawater intake pipeline to control growth of organisms on the internals of the pipeline, seawater intake pump station and on-shore seawater pipelines.
Sodium metabisulphite will be dosed into the seawater pipeline prior to the reverse osmosis plant, to neutralise the sodium hypochlorite. The hypochlorite ion is reduced to the chloride ion and the metabisulphite ion is oxidised to the sulphate ion, both ions are naturally present in seawater. As a result of this, there will be no discharge of sodium hypochlorite to the ocean and no impact on the marine environment.
(i)& (j) The biological agent is not discharged to Cockburn Sound as it is neutralised prior to the reverse osmosis process, as described above.
Environmental approval requires that the Water Corporation undertake effluent toxicity testing of the seawater concentrate returned to Cockburn Sound. This testing is currently being carried out. Seawater concentrate is not expected to have any impact on the marine environment.
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