❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice from 2002 regarding the Subiaco Waste Treatment Plant's sewage outfall at Swanbourne beach, covering license conditions, discharge details, monitoring, and public complaints. The response indicates upgrades have improved treatment and monitoring is in place.
AnsweredQoN 96Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
With regards to the sewage outfall from the Subiaco Waste Treatment Plant at the northern end of Swanbourne beach, I ask -
(1) What are the license conditions on this sewage outfall?
(2) Will you provide a copy of these license conditions?
(3) How far offshore does the outfall discharge the waste?
(4) Has sewage that has not completed the required secondary treatment ever been released from this outfall?
(5) If yes to (4), will you provide details of these incidents over the last five years including -
(a) volume of waste;
(b) composition of waste;
(c) duration of any incident; and
(d) extent and/or distribution of any plume?
(6) Please provide details of the monitoring programme for this outfall including -
(a) how often does monitoring occur;
(b) who carries out the monitoring; and
(c) what criteria are monitored?
(7) Have there been any public complaints regarding visible sewage slicks?
(8) If yes to (7), please give details?
(9) Has the incidence of disposal of incompletely treated sewage increased following the progress of infill sewage in the Subiaco Waste Water Treatment catchment?
(10) What action will you take to ensure -
(a) there are no further discharges of inadequately treated sewage;
(b) public health is protected on Swanbourne and City Beaches; and
(c) that monitoring is carried out regularly by a body or authority independent of the Water Corporation?
(1) What are the license conditions on this sewage outfall?
(2) Will you provide a copy of these license conditions?
(3) How far offshore does the outfall discharge the waste?
(4) Has sewage that has not completed the required secondary treatment ever been released from this outfall?
(5) If yes to (4), will you provide details of these incidents over the last five years including -
(a) volume of waste;
(b) composition of waste;
(c) duration of any incident; and
(d) extent and/or distribution of any plume?
(6) Please provide details of the monitoring programme for this outfall including -
(a) how often does monitoring occur;
(b) who carries out the monitoring; and
(c) what criteria are monitored?
(7) Have there been any public complaints regarding visible sewage slicks?
(8) If yes to (7), please give details?
(9) Has the incidence of disposal of incompletely treated sewage increased following the progress of infill sewage in the Subiaco Waste Water Treatment catchment?
(10) What action will you take to ensure -
(a) there are no further discharges of inadequately treated sewage;
(b) public health is protected on Swanbourne and City Beaches; and
(c) that monitoring is carried out regularly by a body or authority independent of the Water Corporation?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 September 2002
Responded by
Minister for Government Enterprises
Response time
14 days
(b) composition of waste; (c) duration of any incident; and (d) extent and/or distribution of any plume?
(c) duration of any incident; and (d) extent and/or distribution of any plume?
(d) extent and/or distribution of any plume?
(b) who carries out the monitoring; and (c) what criteria are monitored?
(c) what criteria are monitored?
(b) public health is protected on Swanbourne and City Beaches; and (c) that monitoring is carried out regularly by a body or authority independent of the Water Corporation?
(c) that monitoring is carried out regularly by a body or authority independent of the Water Corporation?
(2) Yes. See tabled paper. (3) The treated wastewater is discharged 1000m offshore. (4) Yes. Following completion in 1963, various mixtures of primary and secondary treated effluent were discharged through the outfall up to 1988. After the upgrading of the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant to full secondary treatment in 1988, all wastewater has been treated to secondary standard. (5) Not applicable (6) A monitoring program is undertaken in accordance with the current DEWCP licence. Furthermore, additional monitoring and testing is undertaken as part of the Perth Long-Term Ocean Outlet Monitoring (PLOOM) 19952002 including periphyton monitoring, (Diatoms and small turf like algae< 1mm that attach to biological substrates eg. seagrass leaves. Encouraged by nutrient enrichment they block sunlight to the leaf surface) hydrodynamic modelling ( Modelling of the movement or mixing of water as a response to applied forcing, such as wind stress at the water surface) and nutrient effects monitoring. (7) The Water Corporation is not aware of any complaints. (8) Not applicable. (9) No. (10) (a) Wastewater at the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant is treated to a secondary standard and will continue to be treated to this standard. (b) The Water Corporation's ongoing monitoring program will continue to ensure that the outfall will not have an adverse affect on the beaches. (c) The monitoring program is carried out in accordance with the requirements of DEWCP. The microbiological water quality of metropolitan beaches is regularly monitored by the Health Department of WA.
(3) The treated wastewater is discharged 1000m offshore. (4) Yes. Following completion in 1963, various mixtures of primary and secondary treated effluent were discharged through the outfall up to 1988. After the upgrading of the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant to full secondary treatment in 1988, all wastewater has been treated to secondary standard. (5) Not applicable (6) A monitoring program is undertaken in accordance with the current DEWCP licence. Furthermore, additional monitoring and testing is undertaken as part of the Perth Long-Term Ocean Outlet Monitoring (PLOOM) 19952002 including periphyton monitoring, (Diatoms and small turf like algae< 1mm that attach to biological substrates eg. seagrass leaves. Encouraged by nutrient enrichment they block sunlight to the leaf surface) hydrodynamic modelling ( Modelling of the movement or mixing of water as a response to applied forcing, such as wind stress at the water surface) and nutrient effects monitoring. (7) The Water Corporation is not aware of any complaints. (8) Not applicable. (9) No. (10) (a) Wastewater at the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant is treated to a secondary standard and will continue to be treated to this standard. (b) The Water Corporation's ongoing monitoring program will continue to ensure that the outfall will not have an adverse affect on the beaches. (c) The monitoring program is carried out in accordance with the requirements of DEWCP. The microbiological water quality of metropolitan beaches is regularly monitored by the Health Department of WA.
(4) Yes. Following completion in 1963, various mixtures of primary and secondary treated effluent were discharged through the outfall up to 1988. After the upgrading of the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant to full secondary treatment in 1988, all wastewater has been treated to secondary standard. (5) Not applicable (6) A monitoring program is undertaken in accordance with the current DEWCP licence. Furthermore, additional monitoring and testing is undertaken as part of the Perth Long-Term Ocean Outlet Monitoring (PLOOM) 19952002 including periphyton monitoring, (Diatoms and small turf like algae< 1mm that attach to biological substrates eg. seagrass leaves. Encouraged by nutrient enrichment they block sunlight to the leaf surface) hydrodynamic modelling ( Modelling of the movement or mixing of water as a response to applied forcing, such as wind stress at the water surface) and nutrient effects monitoring. (7) The Water Corporation is not aware of any complaints. (8) Not applicable. (9) No. (10) (a) Wastewater at the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant is treated to a secondary standard and will continue to be treated to this standard. (b) The Water Corporation's ongoing monitoring program will continue to ensure that the outfall will not have an adverse affect on the beaches. (c) The monitoring program is carried out in accordance with the requirements of DEWCP. The microbiological water quality of metropolitan beaches is regularly monitored by the Health Department of WA.
(5) Not applicable (6) A monitoring program is undertaken in accordance with the current DEWCP licence. Furthermore, additional monitoring and testing is undertaken as part of the Perth Long-Term Ocean Outlet Monitoring (PLOOM) 19952002 including periphyton monitoring, (Diatoms and small turf like algae< 1mm that attach to biological substrates eg. seagrass leaves. Encouraged by nutrient enrichment they block sunlight to the leaf surface) hydrodynamic modelling ( Modelling of the movement or mixing of water as a response to applied forcing, such as wind stress at the water surface) and nutrient effects monitoring. (7) The Water Corporation is not aware of any complaints. (8) Not applicable. (9) No. (10) (a) Wastewater at the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant is treated to a secondary standard and will continue to be treated to this standard. (b) The Water Corporation's ongoing monitoring program will continue to ensure that the outfall will not have an adverse affect on the beaches. (c) The monitoring program is carried out in accordance with the requirements of DEWCP. The microbiological water quality of metropolitan beaches is regularly monitored by the Health Department of WA.
(6) A monitoring program is undertaken in accordance with the current DEWCP licence. Furthermore, additional monitoring and testing is undertaken as part of the Perth Long-Term Ocean Outlet Monitoring (PLOOM) 19952002 including periphyton monitoring, (Diatoms and small turf like algae< 1mm that attach to biological substrates eg. seagrass leaves. Encouraged by nutrient enrichment they block sunlight to the leaf surface) hydrodynamic modelling ( Modelling of the movement or mixing of water as a response to applied forcing, such as wind stress at the water surface) and nutrient effects monitoring. (7) The Water Corporation is not aware of any complaints. (8) Not applicable. (9) No. (10) (a) Wastewater at the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant is treated to a secondary standard and will continue to be treated to this standard. (b) The Water Corporation's ongoing monitoring program will continue to ensure that the outfall will not have an adverse affect on the beaches. (c) The monitoring program is carried out in accordance with the requirements of DEWCP. The microbiological water quality of metropolitan beaches is regularly monitored by the Health Department of WA.
(7) The Water Corporation is not aware of any complaints. (8) Not applicable. (9) No. (10) (a) Wastewater at the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant is treated to a secondary standard and will continue to be treated to this standard. (b) The Water Corporation's ongoing monitoring program will continue to ensure that the outfall will not have an adverse affect on the beaches. (c) The monitoring program is carried out in accordance with the requirements of DEWCP. The microbiological water quality of metropolitan beaches is regularly monitored by the Health Department of WA.
(8) Not applicable. (9) No. (10) (a) Wastewater at the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant is treated to a secondary standard and will continue to be treated to this standard. (b) The Water Corporation's ongoing monitoring program will continue to ensure that the outfall will not have an adverse affect on the beaches. (c) The monitoring program is carried out in accordance with the requirements of DEWCP. The microbiological water quality of metropolitan beaches is regularly monitored by the Health Department of WA.
(9) No. (10) (a) Wastewater at the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant is treated to a secondary standard and will continue to be treated to this standard. (b) The Water Corporation's ongoing monitoring program will continue to ensure that the outfall will not have an adverse affect on the beaches. (c) The monitoring program is carried out in accordance with the requirements of DEWCP. The microbiological water quality of metropolitan beaches is regularly monitored by the Health Department of WA.
(10) (a) Wastewater at the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant is treated to a secondary standard and will continue to be treated to this standard. (b) The Water Corporation's ongoing monitoring program will continue to ensure that the outfall will not have an adverse affect on the beaches. (c) The monitoring program is carried out in accordance with the requirements of DEWCP. The microbiological water quality of metropolitan beaches is regularly monitored by the Health Department of WA.
(b) The Water Corporation's ongoing monitoring program will continue to ensure that the outfall will not have an adverse affect on the beaches. (c) The monitoring program is carried out in accordance with the requirements of DEWCP. The microbiological water quality of metropolitan beaches is regularly monitored by the Health Department of WA.
(c) The monitoring program is carried out in accordance with the requirements of DEWCP. The microbiological water quality of metropolitan beaches is regularly monitored by the Health Department of WA.
(c) duration of any incident; and (d) extent and/or distribution of any plume?
(d) extent and/or distribution of any plume?
(b) who carries out the monitoring; and (c) what criteria are monitored?
(c) what criteria are monitored?
(b) public health is protected on Swanbourne and City Beaches; and (c) that monitoring is carried out regularly by a body or authority independent of the Water Corporation?
(c) that monitoring is carried out regularly by a body or authority independent of the Water Corporation?
(2) Yes. See tabled paper. (3) The treated wastewater is discharged 1000m offshore. (4) Yes. Following completion in 1963, various mixtures of primary and secondary treated effluent were discharged through the outfall up to 1988. After the upgrading of the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant to full secondary treatment in 1988, all wastewater has been treated to secondary standard. (5) Not applicable (6) A monitoring program is undertaken in accordance with the current DEWCP licence. Furthermore, additional monitoring and testing is undertaken as part of the Perth Long-Term Ocean Outlet Monitoring (PLOOM) 19952002 including periphyton monitoring, (Diatoms and small turf like algae< 1mm that attach to biological substrates eg. seagrass leaves. Encouraged by nutrient enrichment they block sunlight to the leaf surface) hydrodynamic modelling ( Modelling of the movement or mixing of water as a response to applied forcing, such as wind stress at the water surface) and nutrient effects monitoring. (7) The Water Corporation is not aware of any complaints. (8) Not applicable. (9) No. (10) (a) Wastewater at the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant is treated to a secondary standard and will continue to be treated to this standard. (b) The Water Corporation's ongoing monitoring program will continue to ensure that the outfall will not have an adverse affect on the beaches. (c) The monitoring program is carried out in accordance with the requirements of DEWCP. The microbiological water quality of metropolitan beaches is regularly monitored by the Health Department of WA.
(3) The treated wastewater is discharged 1000m offshore. (4) Yes. Following completion in 1963, various mixtures of primary and secondary treated effluent were discharged through the outfall up to 1988. After the upgrading of the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant to full secondary treatment in 1988, all wastewater has been treated to secondary standard. (5) Not applicable (6) A monitoring program is undertaken in accordance with the current DEWCP licence. Furthermore, additional monitoring and testing is undertaken as part of the Perth Long-Term Ocean Outlet Monitoring (PLOOM) 19952002 including periphyton monitoring, (Diatoms and small turf like algae< 1mm that attach to biological substrates eg. seagrass leaves. Encouraged by nutrient enrichment they block sunlight to the leaf surface) hydrodynamic modelling ( Modelling of the movement or mixing of water as a response to applied forcing, such as wind stress at the water surface) and nutrient effects monitoring. (7) The Water Corporation is not aware of any complaints. (8) Not applicable. (9) No. (10) (a) Wastewater at the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant is treated to a secondary standard and will continue to be treated to this standard. (b) The Water Corporation's ongoing monitoring program will continue to ensure that the outfall will not have an adverse affect on the beaches. (c) The monitoring program is carried out in accordance with the requirements of DEWCP. The microbiological water quality of metropolitan beaches is regularly monitored by the Health Department of WA.
(4) Yes. Following completion in 1963, various mixtures of primary and secondary treated effluent were discharged through the outfall up to 1988. After the upgrading of the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant to full secondary treatment in 1988, all wastewater has been treated to secondary standard. (5) Not applicable (6) A monitoring program is undertaken in accordance with the current DEWCP licence. Furthermore, additional monitoring and testing is undertaken as part of the Perth Long-Term Ocean Outlet Monitoring (PLOOM) 19952002 including periphyton monitoring, (Diatoms and small turf like algae< 1mm that attach to biological substrates eg. seagrass leaves. Encouraged by nutrient enrichment they block sunlight to the leaf surface) hydrodynamic modelling ( Modelling of the movement or mixing of water as a response to applied forcing, such as wind stress at the water surface) and nutrient effects monitoring. (7) The Water Corporation is not aware of any complaints. (8) Not applicable. (9) No. (10) (a) Wastewater at the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant is treated to a secondary standard and will continue to be treated to this standard. (b) The Water Corporation's ongoing monitoring program will continue to ensure that the outfall will not have an adverse affect on the beaches. (c) The monitoring program is carried out in accordance with the requirements of DEWCP. The microbiological water quality of metropolitan beaches is regularly monitored by the Health Department of WA.
(5) Not applicable (6) A monitoring program is undertaken in accordance with the current DEWCP licence. Furthermore, additional monitoring and testing is undertaken as part of the Perth Long-Term Ocean Outlet Monitoring (PLOOM) 19952002 including periphyton monitoring, (Diatoms and small turf like algae< 1mm that attach to biological substrates eg. seagrass leaves. Encouraged by nutrient enrichment they block sunlight to the leaf surface) hydrodynamic modelling ( Modelling of the movement or mixing of water as a response to applied forcing, such as wind stress at the water surface) and nutrient effects monitoring. (7) The Water Corporation is not aware of any complaints. (8) Not applicable. (9) No. (10) (a) Wastewater at the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant is treated to a secondary standard and will continue to be treated to this standard. (b) The Water Corporation's ongoing monitoring program will continue to ensure that the outfall will not have an adverse affect on the beaches. (c) The monitoring program is carried out in accordance with the requirements of DEWCP. The microbiological water quality of metropolitan beaches is regularly monitored by the Health Department of WA.
(6) A monitoring program is undertaken in accordance with the current DEWCP licence. Furthermore, additional monitoring and testing is undertaken as part of the Perth Long-Term Ocean Outlet Monitoring (PLOOM) 19952002 including periphyton monitoring, (Diatoms and small turf like algae< 1mm that attach to biological substrates eg. seagrass leaves. Encouraged by nutrient enrichment they block sunlight to the leaf surface) hydrodynamic modelling ( Modelling of the movement or mixing of water as a response to applied forcing, such as wind stress at the water surface) and nutrient effects monitoring. (7) The Water Corporation is not aware of any complaints. (8) Not applicable. (9) No. (10) (a) Wastewater at the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant is treated to a secondary standard and will continue to be treated to this standard. (b) The Water Corporation's ongoing monitoring program will continue to ensure that the outfall will not have an adverse affect on the beaches. (c) The monitoring program is carried out in accordance with the requirements of DEWCP. The microbiological water quality of metropolitan beaches is regularly monitored by the Health Department of WA.
(7) The Water Corporation is not aware of any complaints. (8) Not applicable. (9) No. (10) (a) Wastewater at the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant is treated to a secondary standard and will continue to be treated to this standard. (b) The Water Corporation's ongoing monitoring program will continue to ensure that the outfall will not have an adverse affect on the beaches. (c) The monitoring program is carried out in accordance with the requirements of DEWCP. The microbiological water quality of metropolitan beaches is regularly monitored by the Health Department of WA.
(8) Not applicable. (9) No. (10) (a) Wastewater at the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant is treated to a secondary standard and will continue to be treated to this standard. (b) The Water Corporation's ongoing monitoring program will continue to ensure that the outfall will not have an adverse affect on the beaches. (c) The monitoring program is carried out in accordance with the requirements of DEWCP. The microbiological water quality of metropolitan beaches is regularly monitored by the Health Department of WA.
(9) No. (10) (a) Wastewater at the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant is treated to a secondary standard and will continue to be treated to this standard. (b) The Water Corporation's ongoing monitoring program will continue to ensure that the outfall will not have an adverse affect on the beaches. (c) The monitoring program is carried out in accordance with the requirements of DEWCP. The microbiological water quality of metropolitan beaches is regularly monitored by the Health Department of WA.
(10) (a) Wastewater at the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant is treated to a secondary standard and will continue to be treated to this standard. (b) The Water Corporation's ongoing monitoring program will continue to ensure that the outfall will not have an adverse affect on the beaches. (c) The monitoring program is carried out in accordance with the requirements of DEWCP. The microbiological water quality of metropolitan beaches is regularly monitored by the Health Department of WA.
(b) The Water Corporation's ongoing monitoring program will continue to ensure that the outfall will not have an adverse affect on the beaches. (c) The monitoring program is carried out in accordance with the requirements of DEWCP. The microbiological water quality of metropolitan beaches is regularly monitored by the Health Department of WA.
(c) The monitoring program is carried out in accordance with the requirements of DEWCP. The microbiological water quality of metropolitan beaches is regularly monitored by the Health Department of WA.
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