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Agencies co-operate to protect groundwater
Release Date: 07 October 2009
The State's key power generation and water utilities have come together in a bid to protect groundwater sources beneath the Kemerton Industrial Park (KIP).
Verve Energy has asked the WA Environmental Protection Authority for permission to discharge treated wastewater from the Kemerton Wastewater Treatment Plant through its Collie Power Station Kemerton Ocean Outfall to prevent excess nutrient input to local groundwater below the plant, while the Water Corporation works towards an industrial water recycling scheme.
“Verve Energy is keen to optimise the sustainable value of the publicly-owned Kemerton Ocean Outfall while a long-term industrial water recycling scheme is developed at Kemerton Industrial Park,” said Verve Energy Manager Engineering Services Andy Wearmouth.
“Dual use of the outfall would maximise its value to the taxpayer while ensuring human and environmental health is protected.”
Water Corporation Regional Business Manager Scott Moorhead said discussions were underway with Kemerton businesses and other prospective KIP tenants to establish an industrial water recycling scheme at the Park.
“The industrial recycling scheme will take time because of the slow uptake of the Kemerton Industrial Park by industry, and the ability for existing tenants to satisfy their current requirements using local groundwater,” he said.
In the interim, under the joint initiative proposed by Verve Energy and the Water Corporation, treated wastewater from the Kemerton Wastewater Treatment Plant would be discharged 750 metres offshore Buffalo Beach, via the existing Collie Power Station Ocean Outfall.
Mr Moorhead said treated wastewater from the plant was currently discharged to a nearby woodlot that did not have sufficient capacity to continue to cater for the area’s wastewater flows. Expansion of the woodlot has been considered, but is environmentally unacceptable in this area.
“Use of the CPS Kemerton outfall will remove the risk of contributing excess nutrients to groundwater systems beneath the woodlot and make sensible use of an existing public asset,” he said.
“Subject to necessary approvals, we hope to implement the proposal by about the end of next year.”
Mr Moorhead said the addition of treated wastewater to existing flows from the Collie Power Station would not impact the marine environment or recreation at Buffalo Beach.
“Marine research undertaken by expert consultants indicates that the addition of treated wastewater from the plant is not expected to impact marine flora and fauna, and monitoring will be undertaken to ensure this is the case,” he said.
“There will be no impacts to recreation at the beach, and no need for major construction works.”
Mr Moorhead said ocean outfall was a common and proven method of wastewater discharge – it is the way that Bunbury’s treated wastewater, and 99 per cent of Perth’s treated wastewater, is returned to the environment.
Verve Energy has made a submission to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for an amendment to the operating license for the outfall to include treated wastewater from the Kemerton plant.
The community will have an opportunity to comment as part of the approvals process.
The Water Corporation will host an information session for interested community members to coincide with this process.
More information about the proposal is available on the Water Corporation’s website.
Media enquiries:
Verve Energy
Peter Winner
9424 1977
Water Corporation
Mick Irving
9791 0409 / 0428 938 847
Any queries from the media are directed to Verve Energy's Corporate Relations branch.
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