❓ A WA parliamentary question raises concerns about effluent from the Point Peron Wastewater Treatment Plant, including odour, water quality, monitoring frequency, and potential links to algal blooms. The Minister's response addresses each concern, citing monitoring data and dilution rates.
AnsweredQoN 365Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(b) whether the resulting effluent smells even some distance offshore and results in an off-white, coagulated substance in the seawater; (c) how often are tests conducted to monitor any toxins going into the ocean outlets from this site; (d) what were the results of the last six monitoring programs; (e) do environmental conditions, such as varying wind, weather, and other oceanic conditions, affect the viability of these results; (f) if such variability is possible, will the Minister increase the frequency of the monitoring programs at these oceanic outlets; and (g) has the Water Corporation assessed whether the high levels of algal bloom being experienced in the marine park off Point Peron Plant could be caused or influenced by nitrogen and phosphorous levels being produced at the Plant; and (i) if not, will the Minister instruct the Water Corporation to undertake such a study, publicise the outcomes to the local community, and undertake to rectify any identified problems?
(c) how often are tests conducted to monitor any toxins going into the ocean outlets from this site; (d) what were the results of the last six monitoring programs; (e) do environmental conditions, such as varying wind, weather, and other oceanic conditions, affect the viability of these results; (f) if such variability is possible, will the Minister increase the frequency of the monitoring programs at these oceanic outlets; and (g) has the Water Corporation assessed whether the high levels of algal bloom being experienced in the marine park off Point Peron Plant could be caused or influenced by nitrogen and phosphorous levels being produced at the Plant; and (i) if not, will the Minister instruct the Water Corporation to undertake such a study, publicise the outcomes to the local community, and undertake to rectify any identified problems?
(d) what were the results of the last six monitoring programs; (e) do environmental conditions, such as varying wind, weather, and other oceanic conditions, affect the viability of these results; (f) if such variability is possible, will the Minister increase the frequency of the monitoring programs at these oceanic outlets; and (g) has the Water Corporation assessed whether the high levels of algal bloom being experienced in the marine park off Point Peron Plant could be caused or influenced by nitrogen and phosphorous levels being produced at the Plant; and (i) if not, will the Minister instruct the Water Corporation to undertake such a study, publicise the outcomes to the local community, and undertake to rectify any identified problems?
(e) do environmental conditions, such as varying wind, weather, and other oceanic conditions, affect the viability of these results; (f) if such variability is possible, will the Minister increase the frequency of the monitoring programs at these oceanic outlets; and (g) has the Water Corporation assessed whether the high levels of algal bloom being experienced in the marine park off Point Peron Plant could be caused or influenced by nitrogen and phosphorous levels being produced at the Plant; and (i) if not, will the Minister instruct the Water Corporation to undertake such a study, publicise the outcomes to the local community, and undertake to rectify any identified problems?
(f) if such variability is possible, will the Minister increase the frequency of the monitoring programs at these oceanic outlets; and (g) has the Water Corporation assessed whether the high levels of algal bloom being experienced in the marine park off Point Peron Plant could be caused or influenced by nitrogen and phosphorous levels being produced at the Plant; and (i) if not, will the Minister instruct the Water Corporation to undertake such a study, publicise the outcomes to the local community, and undertake to rectify any identified problems?
(g) has the Water Corporation assessed whether the high levels of algal bloom being experienced in the marine park off Point Peron Plant could be caused or influenced by nitrogen and phosphorous levels being produced at the Plant; and (i) if not, will the Minister instruct the Water Corporation to undertake such a study, publicise the outcomes to the local community, and undertake to rectify any identified problems?
(b) Under certain conditions it is possible that there may some odour directly above the diffusers, 4.2 kilometres offshore. The effluent does not result in an off-white coagulated substance in seawater and this phenomenon has not been observed by the Water Corporation or its environmental monitoring consultants. (c) Tests for toxins (metals) are carried out every six months on the Point Peron WWTP effluent. (d) See Attachment 1 (e) Yes. These factors are taken into consideration when modelling and assessing the results of the PLOOM Program. (f) No. (g) The Water Corporation is unaware of any persistent algal blooms occurring in the vicinity of the marine park and therefore has not made such an assessment. (i) The PLOOM Program has consistently shown that nutrients are well dispersed and diluted to background levels within 500 metres of the diffuser, therefore there is no need for the Water Corporation to undertake such a study.
(c) Tests for toxins (metals) are carried out every six months on the Point Peron WWTP effluent. (d) See Attachment 1 (e) Yes. These factors are taken into consideration when modelling and assessing the results of the PLOOM Program. (f) No. (g) The Water Corporation is unaware of any persistent algal blooms occurring in the vicinity of the marine park and therefore has not made such an assessment. (i) The PLOOM Program has consistently shown that nutrients are well dispersed and diluted to background levels within 500 metres of the diffuser, therefore there is no need for the Water Corporation to undertake such a study.
(d) See Attachment 1 (e) Yes. These factors are taken into consideration when modelling and assessing the results of the PLOOM Program. (f) No. (g) The Water Corporation is unaware of any persistent algal blooms occurring in the vicinity of the marine park and therefore has not made such an assessment. (i) The PLOOM Program has consistently shown that nutrients are well dispersed and diluted to background levels within 500 metres of the diffuser, therefore there is no need for the Water Corporation to undertake such a study.
(e) Yes. These factors are taken into consideration when modelling and assessing the results of the PLOOM Program. (f) No. (g) The Water Corporation is unaware of any persistent algal blooms occurring in the vicinity of the marine park and therefore has not made such an assessment. (i) The PLOOM Program has consistently shown that nutrients are well dispersed and diluted to background levels within 500 metres of the diffuser, therefore there is no need for the Water Corporation to undertake such a study.
(f) No. (g) The Water Corporation is unaware of any persistent algal blooms occurring in the vicinity of the marine park and therefore has not made such an assessment. (i) The PLOOM Program has consistently shown that nutrients are well dispersed and diluted to background levels within 500 metres of the diffuser, therefore there is no need for the Water Corporation to undertake such a study.
(g) The Water Corporation is unaware of any persistent algal blooms occurring in the vicinity of the marine park and therefore has not made such an assessment. (i) The PLOOM Program has consistently shown that nutrients are well dispersed and diluted to background levels within 500 metres of the diffuser, therefore there is no need for the Water Corporation to undertake such a study.
(i) The PLOOM Program has consistently shown that nutrients are well dispersed and diluted to background levels within 500 metres of the diffuser, therefore there is no need for the Water Corporation to undertake such a study.
(c) how often are tests conducted to monitor any toxins going into the ocean outlets from this site; (d) what were the results of the last six monitoring programs; (e) do environmental conditions, such as varying wind, weather, and other oceanic conditions, affect the viability of these results; (f) if such variability is possible, will the Minister increase the frequency of the monitoring programs at these oceanic outlets; and (g) has the Water Corporation assessed whether the high levels of algal bloom being experienced in the marine park off Point Peron Plant could be caused or influenced by nitrogen and phosphorous levels being produced at the Plant; and (i) if not, will the Minister instruct the Water Corporation to undertake such a study, publicise the outcomes to the local community, and undertake to rectify any identified problems?
(d) what were the results of the last six monitoring programs; (e) do environmental conditions, such as varying wind, weather, and other oceanic conditions, affect the viability of these results; (f) if such variability is possible, will the Minister increase the frequency of the monitoring programs at these oceanic outlets; and (g) has the Water Corporation assessed whether the high levels of algal bloom being experienced in the marine park off Point Peron Plant could be caused or influenced by nitrogen and phosphorous levels being produced at the Plant; and (i) if not, will the Minister instruct the Water Corporation to undertake such a study, publicise the outcomes to the local community, and undertake to rectify any identified problems?
(e) do environmental conditions, such as varying wind, weather, and other oceanic conditions, affect the viability of these results; (f) if such variability is possible, will the Minister increase the frequency of the monitoring programs at these oceanic outlets; and (g) has the Water Corporation assessed whether the high levels of algal bloom being experienced in the marine park off Point Peron Plant could be caused or influenced by nitrogen and phosphorous levels being produced at the Plant; and (i) if not, will the Minister instruct the Water Corporation to undertake such a study, publicise the outcomes to the local community, and undertake to rectify any identified problems?
(f) if such variability is possible, will the Minister increase the frequency of the monitoring programs at these oceanic outlets; and (g) has the Water Corporation assessed whether the high levels of algal bloom being experienced in the marine park off Point Peron Plant could be caused or influenced by nitrogen and phosphorous levels being produced at the Plant; and (i) if not, will the Minister instruct the Water Corporation to undertake such a study, publicise the outcomes to the local community, and undertake to rectify any identified problems?
(g) has the Water Corporation assessed whether the high levels of algal bloom being experienced in the marine park off Point Peron Plant could be caused or influenced by nitrogen and phosphorous levels being produced at the Plant; and (i) if not, will the Minister instruct the Water Corporation to undertake such a study, publicise the outcomes to the local community, and undertake to rectify any identified problems?
(b) Under certain conditions it is possible that there may some odour directly above the diffusers, 4.2 kilometres offshore. The effluent does not result in an off-white coagulated substance in seawater and this phenomenon has not been observed by the Water Corporation or its environmental monitoring consultants. (c) Tests for toxins (metals) are carried out every six months on the Point Peron WWTP effluent. (d) See Attachment 1 (e) Yes. These factors are taken into consideration when modelling and assessing the results of the PLOOM Program. (f) No. (g) The Water Corporation is unaware of any persistent algal blooms occurring in the vicinity of the marine park and therefore has not made such an assessment. (i) The PLOOM Program has consistently shown that nutrients are well dispersed and diluted to background levels within 500 metres of the diffuser, therefore there is no need for the Water Corporation to undertake such a study.
(c) Tests for toxins (metals) are carried out every six months on the Point Peron WWTP effluent. (d) See Attachment 1 (e) Yes. These factors are taken into consideration when modelling and assessing the results of the PLOOM Program. (f) No. (g) The Water Corporation is unaware of any persistent algal blooms occurring in the vicinity of the marine park and therefore has not made such an assessment. (i) The PLOOM Program has consistently shown that nutrients are well dispersed and diluted to background levels within 500 metres of the diffuser, therefore there is no need for the Water Corporation to undertake such a study.
(d) See Attachment 1 (e) Yes. These factors are taken into consideration when modelling and assessing the results of the PLOOM Program. (f) No. (g) The Water Corporation is unaware of any persistent algal blooms occurring in the vicinity of the marine park and therefore has not made such an assessment. (i) The PLOOM Program has consistently shown that nutrients are well dispersed and diluted to background levels within 500 metres of the diffuser, therefore there is no need for the Water Corporation to undertake such a study.
(e) Yes. These factors are taken into consideration when modelling and assessing the results of the PLOOM Program. (f) No. (g) The Water Corporation is unaware of any persistent algal blooms occurring in the vicinity of the marine park and therefore has not made such an assessment. (i) The PLOOM Program has consistently shown that nutrients are well dispersed and diluted to background levels within 500 metres of the diffuser, therefore there is no need for the Water Corporation to undertake such a study.
(f) No. (g) The Water Corporation is unaware of any persistent algal blooms occurring in the vicinity of the marine park and therefore has not made such an assessment. (i) The PLOOM Program has consistently shown that nutrients are well dispersed and diluted to background levels within 500 metres of the diffuser, therefore there is no need for the Water Corporation to undertake such a study.
(g) The Water Corporation is unaware of any persistent algal blooms occurring in the vicinity of the marine park and therefore has not made such an assessment. (i) The PLOOM Program has consistently shown that nutrients are well dispersed and diluted to background levels within 500 metres of the diffuser, therefore there is no need for the Water Corporation to undertake such a study.
(i) The PLOOM Program has consistently shown that nutrients are well dispersed and diluted to background levels within 500 metres of the diffuser, therefore there is no need for the Water Corporation to undertake such a study.
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 September 2005
Responded by
Minister for Water Resources
Response time
27 days
(a) The Point Peron Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is a primary treatment process. The sewage that comes into the WWTP is screened to remove any large objects and then settled in large tanks. The effluent from this process is pumped 4.2 kilometres offshore through the Sepia Depression Ocean Outlet into 20 metre deep water. The effluent is diluted 300 times within 100 metres of the diffuser and the water quality at 500 metres from the diffuser meets the National Health and Medical Research Council guideline of 150cfu/100ml for primary contact recreation, such as swimming. Extensive monitoring as part of the Perth Long Term Ocean Outlet Monitoring (PLOOM) Program confirms this.
(b) Under certain conditions it is possible that there may some odour directly above the diffusers, 4.2 kilometres offshore. The effluent does not result in an off-white coagulated substance in seawater and this phenomenon has not been observed by the Water Corporation or its environmental monitoring consultants.
(c) Tests for toxins (metals) are carried out every six months on the Point Peron WWTP effluent.
(d) See Attachment 1
(e) Yes. These factors are taken into consideration when modelling and assessing the results of the PLOOM Program.
(f) No.
(g) The Water Corporation is unaware of any persistent algal blooms occurring in the vicinity of the marine park and therefore has not made such an assessment.
(i) The PLOOM Program has consistently shown that nutrients are well dispersed and diluted to background levels within 500 metres of the diffuser, therefore there is no need for the Water Corporation to undertake such a study.
(b) Under certain conditions it is possible that there may some odour directly above the diffusers, 4.2 kilometres offshore. The effluent does not result in an off-white coagulated substance in seawater and this phenomenon has not been observed by the Water Corporation or its environmental monitoring consultants.
(c) Tests for toxins (metals) are carried out every six months on the Point Peron WWTP effluent.
(d) See Attachment 1
(e) Yes. These factors are taken into consideration when modelling and assessing the results of the PLOOM Program.
(f) No.
(g) The Water Corporation is unaware of any persistent algal blooms occurring in the vicinity of the marine park and therefore has not made such an assessment.
(i) The PLOOM Program has consistently shown that nutrients are well dispersed and diluted to background levels within 500 metres of the diffuser, therefore there is no need for the Water Corporation to undertake such a study.
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