HUNTER WATER

BURWOOD BEACH WASTEWATER TREATMENT WORKS February 2014

Stage 3 Options Summary Report

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 3 Purpose of this report ................................................................................................................................3

Why we are asking for your comments and involvement .........................................................................3

How you can be involved ..........................................................................................................................3

2. Managing the wastewater from our community – the 1900s until now ............................................... 4 Newcastle’s wastewater system ...............................................................................................................4

How wastewater is currently treated at the Burwood Beach WWTW .......................................................4

Licensing and regulation ...........................................................................................................................5

What happens during heavy rain? ............................................................................................................6

The continual improvement process at Burwood Beach WWTW ............................................................7

3. Protecting public health and the marine environment ...................................................................... 8 Beachwatch monitoring ............................................................................................................................8

Health risk assessment .............................................................................................................................8

Marine environment assessment program ...............................................................................................8

4. Managing the wastewater from our community – from 2015 until 2040 ............................................. 9 The need for a long term plan ...................................................................................................................9

The objectives of the plan .........................................................................................................................9

Technical studies, sources of information and expert advice ..................................................................9

Stakeholder and community consultation ..............................................................................................10

Options for reducing releases to the ocean ...........................................................................................12

5. Future options for Burwood Beach WWTW ................................................................................... 12 Option 1 – Current effluent nitrogen concentration maintained, biosolids released to ocean ..............13

Option 2 – Current effluent nitrogen concentration maintained, biosolids reused on land ...................14

Option 3 – Effluent nitrogen concentration reduced, biosolids released to ocean ...............................15

Option 4 –Effluent nitrogen concentration reduced, biosolids reused on land .....................................16

Overview of options being considered ...................................................................................................17

6. Approvals and licensing ............................................................................................................... 18 7. How to provide feedback on this project and report ...................................................................... 18 8. Community involvement in future projects ..................................................................................... 18 9. Glossary ..................................................................................................................................... 19 Appendix a – Opportunities for reducing releases from Burwood Beach WWTW to the ocean .............. 21

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1. INTRODUCTION

Purpose of this report

The Burwood Beach Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) is Hunter Water’s largest wastewater (sewage) treatment facility. It treats the wastewater for approximately 190,000 people from Newcastle and parts of Lake Macquarie.

Hunter Water is developing a long-term plan to ensure the Burwood Beach WWTW is able to continue meeting the needs of our community until 2040. The long-term plan will be developed after considering a number of options for the Burwood Beach WWTW.

The purpose of this report is to present the four options that are being considered in an easy to understand way, together with appropriate background information. The aim is to encourage community members to learn about the project and provide feedback. This will help ensure Hunter Water’s plan aligns with community values.

Why we are asking for your comments and involvement

Hunter Water is seeking community feedback on the four options for Burwood Beach WWTW. All four options address public health concerns, while each has different social, financial and environmental impacts and benefits.

The Burwood Beach WWTW treats the wastewater for approximately one third of Hunter Water’s customers. The decision on the future treatment of wastewater at the Burwood Beach WWTW, however, needs to be considered by all Hunter Water customers. The cost for this project, like all Hunter Water projects located anywhere in the lower Hunter region, will be paid for equally by all customers.

By taking the time to read this summary and let us know your preferred option you are helping to ensure that our decision takes into consideration the values of our community.

How you can be involved

Your comments are valued and will form part of our decision-making process. You are invited to:

• Provide feedback as part of the Public Exhibition period from 24 February to 30 March 2014.

• Take part in the web-based or written community survey from 24 February to 21 March 2014.

• Register to attend the Community Open Day at Burwood Beach WWTW on 15 March 2014.

To be involved visit www.hunterwater.com.au/burwoodconsultation or call our Customer Contact Centre during business hours on 1300 657 657.

View of the ocean floor near the site of the ocean outfall – Burwood Beach.

Photo courtesy of Worley Parsons Ltd.

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2. MANAGING THE WASTEWATER FROM OUR COMMUNITY – THE 1900S UNTIL NOW

Newcastle’s wastewater system

Residential buildings produce wastewater from toilets, showers, sinks, dishwashers and washing machines. Businesses and other organisations also produce wastewater. Wastewater is typically 99.9% water and 0.1% solids.

The Newcastle wastewater system, incorporating Burwood Beach WWTW, is Hunter Water’s largest wastewater system. It treats the wastewater from the Newcastle City area, and suburbs from Dudley in the south, to Wallsend and Elermore Vale in the west and Mayfield in the north. It was constructed in the early 1900s.

Other Hunter Water wastewater treatment works are located at Belmont, Boulder Bay, Branxton, Cessnock, Clarence Town, Dora Creek, Dungog, Edgeworth, Farley, Karuah, Kearsley, Kurri Kurri, Morpeth, Paxton, Raymond Terrace, Shortland, Tanilba Bay and Toronto.

How wastewater is currently treated at the Burwood Beach WWTW

Wastewater at the Burwood Beach WWTW is currently treated in the following way:

• Non-biodegradable material including grit, plastics and other waste is removed by screening and de-gritting (preliminary treatment).

• Odours are extracted and broken down in soil bed biofilters.

• Organic carbon and other contaminants are removed using oxygen and bacteria (secondary biological treatment).

• The treated wastewater is separated into a clear liquid (effluent) and biosolids. Biosolids at Burwood Beach WWTW consists of more than 99% water, and some organic materials from the wastewater treatment process.

• Treated effluent (approximately 48 million litres or 19 Olympic swimming pools per day) is released approximately 1.5 kilometres off the coast, about 22 metres below the ocean surface, via the ocean outfall.

• Biosolids (approximately 2 million litres or one Olympic swimming pool per day) are released approximately 1.5 kilometres off the coast at Burwood Beach via a dedicated diffuser system in the ocean outfall.

Original Burwood Beach shoreline outfall – 1936

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Clarifiers at Burwood Beach WWTW

Biosolids

Excess biosolids generated by the biological process at Burwood Beach WWTW are released to the ocean via the ocean outfall. Additional infrastructure would be required on site to further process and dewater the biosolids for disposal to land.

Nitrogen

Nitrogen is one of a number of components found in wastewater. The treatment process at Burwood Beach WWTW is not designed to remove nitrogen.

Nitrogen is essential to life and comes in a number of forms. In solid form nitrogen can be used as a fertiliser, however, excessive amounts of nitrogen can stimulate unwanted algal and weed growth in waterways.

There are several sources of nitrogen in the ocean environment including stormwater runoff, flows from the Hunter River and natural upwelling from deeper parts of the ocean as well as releases from the Burwood Beach WWTW.

Nitrogen can be removed from wastewater through a biological treatment process and converted to a harmless nitrogen gas. Nitrogen gas makes up about 78% of the air we breathe.

Licensing and regulation

The operation of Hunter Water’s wastewater treatment facilities is licenced by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA).

The EPA licence for the Burwood Beach WWTW includes limits on the amount of nitrogen and other components of wastewater being released through the ocean outfall which is located 1.5 km off shore. The limits set by the EPA are based on levels in the wastewater released during previous years.

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What happens during heavy rain?

During heavy rain, some of the wastewater at Burwood Beach WWTW is treated in a different way. This process complies with the licence issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

During heavy rain the amount of wastewater arriving at the Burwood Beach WWTW can increase by up to ten times the typical amount. The large flows occur because rainwater enters the wastewater system through illegal connections to Hunter Water’s wastewater system or due to the wastewater pipes being damaged, for example by tree roots, which allows rainwater to flow into the system.

Like most wastewater systems in Australia, the Newcastle wastewater catchment and Burwood Beach WWTW are not designed to contain and treat all wet weather flows. Should the WWTW attempt to treat all wastewater in wet weather, the secondary (biological) treatment process would be damaged which could have the effect of taking the system offline for several days. To prevent this occurring at the Burwood Beach WWTW some of the wastewater flow is diverted past the secondary (biological) treatment process. It is then released through the ocean outfall 1.5 km off the coast. All of the wastewater, even during heavy rain, receives preliminary treatment (screening and de-gritting).

Existing Plant

Heavy rainfall in the Newcastle wastewater catchment can result in overflows from the wastewater network to the environment, usually to stormwater channels draining to Cottage, Throsby and Ironbark Creeks. It can also cause customer house connections to the sewer to drain slowly or overflow. In 2012 and 2013, Hunter Water invested $41 million in upgrading the wastewater network in Mayfield, Adamstown and other areas to improve wastewater services and minimise impacts on the environment and the community. Hunter Water is also undertaking programs to reduce illegal stormwater connections including smoke testing, closed circuit television (CCTV) inspection, pipe relining and sewer rehabilitation works.

Releasing preliminary treated (screened and degritted) wastewater 1.5 km offshore during heavy rain helps to prevent wastewater overflows in the catchment, protecting public health.

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After heavy rain you may notice waterways and beaches have lower water quality such as discoloured water or the presence of litter. Urban stormwater flowing through drains into creeks, rivers and to the coast contributes to this reduced water quality and it is generally recommended people not swim or surf following heavy rainfall.

For up to date information on the water quality of Newcastle’s beaches see Beachwatch http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/beachapp/HunterBulletin.aspx

The continual improvement process at Burwood Beach WWTW

Since construction in the early 1900s the Burwood Beach WWTW, along with all of Hunter Water’s treatment plants, has been regularly upgraded to accommodate the demands of our growing community and to take advantage of advances in treatment technology. Two major recent upgrades to the site include:

2009 Odour control upgrade – A new $4 million biofilter was installed to reduce the risk of unpleasant odour escaping from the preliminary treatment plant. The new biofilter is in addition to an existing odour control biofilter for the secondary treatment process.

2011 Stage 2 upgrade – The $43 million Stage 2 Upgrade improved the reliability and performance of the secondary treatment process. This upgrade provided the latest aeration technology and also resulted in substantial energy savings.

Future planned upgrades, in addition to this project, include:

2016 Effluent disinfection – A new $20 million effluent disinfection system will disinfect the secondary treated effluent before its release to further ensure protection of public health as the Burwood Beach WWTW caters for Newcastle’s growing population.

Preliminary treatment upgrade – Upgrade works are likely to be required in future to increase the capacity and improve the reliability and performance of the preliminary treatment system (including pumping and screening infrastructure).

The screenhouse at Burwood Beach WWTW

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3. PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Protection of public health is always the primary consideration in operating a wastewater treatment facility.

Beachwatch monitoring

Monitoring of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie’s beaches occurs every 6 days as part of the Beachwatch program. The locations near the Burwood Beach WWTW are sampled every 3 days during the annual bathing season (1 October to 30 April). There is also a Beachwatch forecast for stormwater pollution issued for Hunter beaches every morning based on local rainfall data.

Beachwatch data indicates that water quality at Newcastle beaches is amongst the cleanest in NSW – usually rated as “Good” or “Very Good”.

Health risk assessment

A health risk assessment was completed in 2010 which confirmed there are negligible health impacts from biosolids released from Burwood Beach WWTW. However, the assessment indicated that there is a small risk that the effluent plume from Burwood Beach WWTW could be driven back to the coast under certain combinations of wind and current.

A copy of the 2010 health risk assessment report can be found on the Hunter Water website at:

www.hunterwater.com.au/burwoodupgrade

Hunter Water is progressing with the installation of a disinfection system to treat effluent at the plant in 2016 to further ensure protection of public health.

Marine environment assessment program

As well as protecting public health, Hunter Water has a responsibility to protect the marine environment. An environmental monitoring program has been underway since the outfall was commissioned in 1994 to study water quality and ocean health around the ocean outfall.

A Marine Environmental Assessment Program (MEAP) over the past two and a half years has now been completed. It investigated how releasing effluent and biosolids affects the ocean water quality, marine ecosystems and the potential to affect public health.

The MEAP was designed with assistance from the EPA, the NSW Department of Health and the NSW Food Authority.

In general terms, the receiving environment is a turbulent, high-energy coastal environment. The MEAP studies confirmed the release of effluent and biosolids from the Burwood Beach outfall is having a localised effect on ecological conditions in the receiving environment. Water quality is altered generally to 500 metres from the diffusers but biological effects were subtle and localised to within 20 metres of the discharge. No large scale or regional effects were observed during the MEAP.

While levels of pesticides and metals in fish and oysters did not exceed recommended levels, some microbiological contamination of a small number of fish was found. This was referred to the NSW Food Authority. The Authority advised that the levels of contamination found are not unusual near ocean outfalls

Burwood Beach

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around Australia and any risk to human health is low and is appropriately mitigated by cooking fish before consuming. Hunter Water regularly publishes Fishing Safety Reminder Notices to remind people not to fish around ocean outfalls and to always cook their catch. The Burwood Beach WWTW will be further upgraded in 2016 to disinfect the secondary treated effluent before its release to the environment to further reduce any risk to human health.

If you would like more information on the results of the MEAP study call 1300 657 657, email burwoodprojectteam@hunterwater.com.au or see a summary report or the full MEAP reports at www.hunterwater.com.au/burwoodupgrade

4. MANAGING THE WASTEWATER FROM OUR COMMUNITY – FROM 2015 UNTIL 2040

The need for a long term plan

As Newcastle’s population continues to grow* Burwood Beach WWTW is increasingly likely to exceed the EPA’s maximum nitrogen release limit for the plant. The limit was set based on historical plant performance when Newcastle had a smaller population.

Another important issue being considered is whether it is environmentally sustainable to continue releasing biosolids to the ocean into the future.

A program of scientific studies to understand how releasing effluent and biosolids affect the marine environment, together with stakeholder consultation, is required to set limits for the future that meet the needs of the environment and meet stakeholder and community expectations.

* http://forecast.id.com.au/newcastle

The objectives of the plan

The aims of the long-term plan for Burwood Beach WWTW include:

• Meet community and stakeholder needs until 2040

• Continue to protect public health and the health of our oceans and waterways

• Ensure compliance with EPA licence requirements and other regulatory requirements

• Provide flexibility to accommodate changing technologies and community and environmental standards over time

• Ensure long term sustainability of plant operation

• Ensure that any future upgrades remain affordable for all Hunter Water customers.

Technical studies, sources of information and expert advice

Information and expert advice from many sources was used to understand the technical, environmental, social and financial impacts of the various options for the project.

Technical and environmental studies have been undertaken to provide the data needed to make evidence-based decisions.

Expert assistance with the design and interpretation of these studies was received from specialist organisations including Worley Parsons, Hunter Water Australia, Consulting Environmental Engineers and the Institute for Sustainable Futures.

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Expert consultants were engaged to provide:

• a review of the MEAP design and results

• advice on the wastewater treatment options

• advice on Hunter Water’s planning and decision-making process

Additionally government agencies, including the EPA, the NSW Department of Health and the NSW Food Authority, provided specialist advice.

Stakeholder and community consultation

Consultation is occurring in the following ways.

Stakeholder briefings

The following organisations were briefed and invited to provide feedback throughout the planning process: the EPA, NSW Department of Health, NSW Food Authority, NSW Department of Planning, Newcastle City Council, Lake Macquarie City Council, NSW Office of Water, NSW Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries), National Parks and Wildlife Service and Hunter Local Land Services (previously the Hunter Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority).

Community Reference Group

A project Community Reference Group (CRG) was established in 2010 to enable two-way communication between Hunter Water and the community. The CRG comprises an Independent Facilitator and eight community members. CRG meetings have ensured appropriate and meaningful community input to the process. Minutes of CRG meetings are on Hunter Water’s website:

www.hunterwater.com.au/burwoodupgrade

Overview of the planning, consultation and decision-making process

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Community Consultative Forum

The Forum is an advisory body made up of representatives from local councils and representatives of environmental and community groups. Project updates have been provided on a regular basis to the Forum since 2010. Minutes of Forum meetings are on Hunter Water’s website:

www.hunterwater.com.au/Community/Community-Consultative-Forum/Community-Consultative-Forum.aspx

2010 community open day

The first community open day was held in 2010. Community members saw how wastewater is treated, and offered their ideas regarding what Hunter Water should consider when planning for the future of the facility.

The information Hunter Water has received from technical and environmental studies, meetings with experts, stakeholders and community members has been used to develop and short list the options currently being considered.

Telephone survey and web survey

An independent specialist research company will conduct a telephone survey in February and March 2014 on behalf of Hunter Water. A random sample of 400 responses from across Hunter Water’s customer base will help ensure an accurate understanding of community attitudes.

Community members are able to take part in the same survey by calling 1300 657 657 during business hours and asking for a copy of the survey to be mailed out, or completing the survey online at www.hunterwater.com.au/burwoodconsultation

The survey will explore community attitudes toward:

• the quality of effluent released to the ocean

• releasing biosolids to the ocean

• maintaining and improving water quality at Burwood Beach

• greenhouse gas emissions

• how plans for the future of the plant will affect customer bills

• how willing customers are to pay for increased benefits to the environment

• how residents near the Burwood Beach WWTW could be affected (for example by trucks going to and from the treatment works)

2014 community open day

A community open day will be held at Burwood Beach WWTW in March 2014. Guided tours and an interactive exhibition will provide a rare opportunity to see the Plant in operation. Community members will learn about plans for the future and will be invited to comment on the options being considered.

Mailout to customers

More than 200,000 information flyers are being mailed to Hunter Water customers from December 2013 through to February 2014 promoting the 2014 Community Open Day and inviting customers to provide feedback during the public exhibition period and take part in the community survey.

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Public exhibition

This report is being publicly exhibited to:

• Present to the community and other stakeholders options being considered

• Invite the community to provide feedback

Public Exhibition commences on Monday 24 February and will finish on Sunday 30 March 2014.

Options for reducing releases to the ocean

Hunter Water has considered a number of measures for reducing the volume of effluent and biosolids released to the ocean from Burwood Beach WWTW, including:

• Water efficiency

• Wastewater reuse

• Biosolids reuse.

These measures have been incorporated into the development of options being considered for the future of the Burwood Beach WWTW. A full description of these measures is at Appendix A.

5. FUTURE OPTIONS FOR BURWOOD BEACH WWTW

A range of secondary (biological) and biosolid treatment technology options for the future of Burwood Beach WWTW have been developed.

Four options have been short-listed. Depending upon the option, biosolids will either continue to be released to the ocean or reused on land; and the nitrogen concentration in the effluent will be maintained at the current level or reduced.

The options are summarised below:

Extension of the existing 1.5 km Burwood Beach ocean outfall was also considered but this option was not short-listed. Based on the outcomes from environmental studies to date, it is considered unlikely extending the ocean outfall would significantly alter the extent of impacts on the marine environment due to releases from the Burwood Beach WWTW. The main benefit of an extended outfall would be to reduce the number of events in which diluted effluent could be driven back to the coast, and to increase the dilution in those events that do occur. However, such an option is now considered unnecessary given the recent decision to implement an effluent disinfection system at Burwood Beach WWTW.

Pressure cleaners and trigger nozzles reduce

water use.

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The following points are true for all four of the short-listed options:

• All options will meet standards for public health. No option will compromise our current Beachwatch Ratings which rank Newcastle’s beaches as amongst the cleanest in the NSW.

• The preferred option will be subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment and approval process. Compliance with NSW Environment Protection Agency (EPA) requirements will be achieved.

• The ocean outfall location will not change, but the content of releases will vary between the options.

• Associated infrastructure will fit within the existing fenced area of the site.

• Odour and noise emissions will meet the relevant guidelines.

• Another project, to provide disinfection as an additional treatment process, is also being implemented.

Option 1 – Current effluent nitrogen concentration maintained, biosolids released to ocean

Option 1 involves retaining the existing secondary treatment process and maintaining current nitrogen concentrations but future capacity upgrades of this process will be required to allow for growth. Biosolids will continue to be released to the ocean. This option primarily includes an additional aeration tank alongside the existing three aeration tanks.

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Option 2 – Current effluent nitrogen concentration maintained, biosolids reused on land

Option 2 involves retaining the existing secondary treatment process and investing in infrastructure to enable biosolids to be beneficially reused on land (for example for agricultural or mine-site rehabilitation purposes). Future capacity upgrades of the existing secondary process will be required to allow for growth. This option includes an additional aeration tank alongside the existing three aeration tanks; new sludge digesters; and a biosolids handling building incorporating sludge thickening and dewatering equipment to enable biosolids to be transported offsite for reuse.

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Option 3 – Effluent nitrogen concentration reduced, biosolids released to ocean

Option 3 involves investing in infrastructure to lower the concentration of nitrogen in the effluent released to the ocean. Biosolids will continue to be released to the ocean. The secondary treatment process will be converted to a more complex process that removes ammonia (a form of nitrogen) from the wastewater. This will result in lower nitrogen levels being released to the ocean.

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Option 4 –Effluent nitrogen concentration reduced, biosolids reused on land

Option 4 involves investing in infrastructure to lower the effluent nitrogen concentration, and to enable reuse of biosolids on land. The secondary treatment process will be converted to a more complex process that removes ammonia from the wastewater. New sludge digesters and a biosolids handling building incorporating sludge thickening and dewatering equipment will also be constructed to enable biosolids to be transported offsite for reuse.

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Overview of options being considered

a) Indicative impacts/benefits to the marine environment are based on predicted 2039/40 flows. b) Estimated figures for secondary treatment (eg changes to nitrogen concentrations) and biosolids handling

processes based on predicted 2039/40 flows. Other considerations affect these figures. However they are excluded here, as they will be the same for each option.

c) Power consumption figures show the net consumption from the grid. This does not include the power demand satisfied by energy recovered through power generation on site.

d) Greenhouse gas emissions are emissions from the treatment process. This does not include emissions associated with power consumption, biosolids released to the ocean, biosolids transport, or biosolids reused on land.

e) Estimated costs and indicative bill impacts for secondary treatment (eg changes to nitrogen concentrations) and biosolids handling processes only. Other considerations will affect costs and impacts on bills, however they are excluded as they will be the same for each option and therefore are not important considerations in selecting the preferred future upgrade option.

f) The average annual bill per household for Hunter Water services is currently around $1,110. Over the period of the current price path (2013/14 to 2016/17) it is expected that this cost will increase by approximately $10 per year. The bill increases for each option shown in the table indicate the additional ongoing cost per annum that would be incurred if Option 1, 2, 3 or 4 is included in the current capital program. Costings are shown in 2013/14 dollar values.

Please note, the formal process of developing prices for Hunter Water services is the periodic price review undertaken by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). This is a complex process that involves the presentation and review of past and future expenditure, efficiency adjustments, asset write-downs, demand projections, rate of return targets and affordability assessments. Estimating the impact of a single project is not part of the IPART price review process.

g) Energy recovery is possible for this option, pending final selection of the treatment technology.

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6. APPROVALS AND LICENSING

Following the public exhibition period all community comments will be considered. Hunter Water will then present its preferred option for the management of effluent and biosolids at the Burwood Beach WWTW to the NSW Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in July 2014.

The preferred option will require EPA approval.

An Environmental Impact Assessment to assess risks to the environment will be completed and reviewed by the EPA to confirm the proposed upgrade works are environmentally acceptable.

7. HOW TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THIS PROJECT AND REPORT

Hunter Water welcomes feedback on this project, on our decision-making process, and on our process of consulting with the community and other stakeholders. Your contribution is invited and welcomed.

Should you wish to provide feedback on the options being considered please see Page 3 of this Report.

Should you wish to provide feedback and comments on our decision-making process and on how we have consulted with the community please send an email to burwoodprojectteam@hunterwater.com.au or telephone our Customer Contact Centre during business hours on 1300 657 657.

More information is available at www.hunterwater.com.au/burwoodupgrade

8. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN FUTURE PROJECTS

If you are interested in being involved in future Hunter Water projects, or joining one of our community advisory groups or the Customer Panel, please send an email to stakeholders@hunterwater.com.au or telephone our Customer Contact Centre during business hours on 1300 657 657.

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9. GLOSSARY

Biofilter A biological process used to treat odorous compounds contained in gases captured from wastewater treatment processes, to reduce the risk of odour emissions from the site.

Biosolids Biosolids are the solid components that remain after the wastewater treatment process. The biosolids released at Burwood Beach WWTW are 99% water. If biosolids are to be used for landfill or fertiliser they undergo further treatment to remove excess water.

Bypass The portion of wastewater flows diverted past the secondary (biological) treatment process during wet weather to protect the process. Flows bypassing the secondary treatment process at Burwood Beach WWTW receive preliminary treatment (screening and de-gritting) before being released 1.5 km offshore through the ocean outfall.

Catchment The area serviced by the wastewater transportation system or network.

De-gritting A physical process that removes sand and grit from wastewater to protect downstream treatment equipment from wear and damage.

Diffuser System A system designed to achieve good dispersion (mixing) of the effluent and biosolids around the release point, reducing pollutant concentrations and potential impacts on marine life.

EPA NSW Environment Protection Authority

MEAP Marine Environmental Assessment Program

MWh Megawatt hour. A unit of electrical energy equal 1 million Watt hours.

Network The network of sewer pipes used to convey wastewater (sewage) from homes and businesses to a wastewater treatment facility.

Nitrogen Nitrogen is an important chemical element that makes up approximately 78% of the air we breathe. Nitrogen is a component of wastewater. In large amounts nitrogen can contribute to algal blooms and be harmful to waterways. A biological treatment process can remove nitrogen from treated effluent and convert it to its harmless gas form.

Organics Chemical compounds containing carbon which derive from living matter, including human waste, which can be broken down by bacteria.

Preliminary Treatment The removal of materials such as rags, sticks, grit, grease and other non-organic items.

Receiving Environment The environment into which releases from a wastewater treatment facility occur (in the case of Burwood Beach WWTW this is the Pacific Ocean off Newcastle).

Release The discharge of treated effluent or biosolids to the environment from a wastewater treatment facility.

Screening A mechanical process that removes all large (greater than 1.5 millimetre diameter) pieces of non-biodegradable material from wastewater. Materials removed by the screening process (called screenings) do not include faecal matter or toilet paper; these are dealt with by the biological treatment process.

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Secondary (Biological) Treatment

The biological treatment process utilised to remove organic material and other contaminants from wastewater and reduce pathogen levels. There are many different types of secondary (biological) treatment processes.

Tonnes CO2-e Equivalent tonnes of carbon dioxide. That is, for a given mixture and amount of greenhouse gas, the amount of carbon dioxide that would have the same global warming potential, when measured over a 100 year timescale.

Treated Effluent Treated effluent is the clear liquid component of wastewater released after treatment.

Wastewater Water that has been used, for example for washing, flushing, or in a manufacturing process, and so contains waste products. Also known as sewage.

WWTW Wastewater Treatment Works.

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APPENDIX A – OPPORTUNITIES FOR REDUCING RELEASES FROM BURWOOD BEACH WWTW TO THE

OCEAN

Water efficiency or demand management

Encouraging customers to use water more efficiently reduces the amount of wastewater produced, and therefore needing to be treated and released through the ocean outfall. Water efficiency measures such as dual flush toilets, shower-flow restrictors, aerator taps, front-loading washing machines, and flow/pressure control valves on all water-use outlets can reduce the volume of wastewater generated by a household by approximately 40%.

While water efficiency measures reduce the amount of wastewater created they do not reduce the amount of organic matter produced in the bathroom and kitchen. The concentration of organic matter in wastewater will merely increase as the volume of water in the wastewater reduces. This means that the size of the tanks that are required to treat wastewater at a wastewater treatment facility do not change significantly as a result of water efficiency measures.

Water efficiency is an important part of Hunter Water’s water resource management strategy but it will not have a major impact on future upgrades at the Burwood Beach WWTW.

Wastewater reuse

Wastewater reuse reduces the amount of wastewater that needs to be treated and released through the ocean outfall. Hunter Water supports viable reuse schemes; however there are only limited large scale wastewater reuse opportunities near the Burwood Beach WWTW.

There are a number of ways wastewater can be reused:

• Treated effluent from a single large (centralised) treatment facility can be transported to various reuse sites

• Treated effluent from smaller (decentralised or localised) treatment facilities can be provided to nearby reuse sites

• Greywater (wastewater from sinks, showers and washing machines) can be reused onsite by homes and businesses for watering their lawns and gardens and for flushing toilets.

Effluent reuse from centralised facilities

Hunter Water supports viable effluent reuse schemes. A number of investigations into recycled water have shown the best opportunity for reusing wastewater from Burwood Beach WWTW is the Kooragang Industrial Water Scheme (KIWS), which is currently under construction. When completed in late 2014 this scheme will reuse all the wastewater from the Shortland WWTW and will initially require up to 6 million litres a day of wastewater from the Burwood Beach catchment. This will produce 3.2 billion litres of recycled water annually from the KIWS. The amount required from Burwood Beach WWTW will decrease over time due to population growth in the Shortland catchment without reducing the total amount of recycled water produced at KIWS.

Supplying recycled water to residential and business customers in the Burwood Beach catchment is not a viable option as there is limited demand for recycled water.

Dual Reticulation (providing both drinking water for use in the kitchen, shower, etc and recycled water for toilet flushing, washing machines and outdoor use), is being used in new developments at Thornton North and Gillieston Heights. It is not viable in the Burwood Beach catchment as the potential for new developments is extremely limited and any development will be smaller scale. Dual reticulation under such circumstances would be extremely expensive for developers and substantially reduce housing affordability.

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Effluent reuse from localised facilities

Providing small localised treatment plants to supply treated effluent (recycled water) directly to nearby reuse sites can be more cost-effective than transporting the effluent over long distances from a larger regional facility. Localised plants can also better match the supply of wastewater treatment services to demand. Localised treatment plants work well in areas of new developments or in areas with large wastewater reuse customers, such as industrial parks.

The Burwood Beach catchment is highly developed with limited reuse demand and limited opportunities for further development. Providing localised treatment plants is not a viable option for this catchment.

Greywater reuse

Greywater is wastewater from sinks, showers and washing machines. Homes and businesses can reuse their greywater for watering their lawns and gardens and for flushing toilets. A very large number of homes and businesses would need to begin reusing their greywater to significantly reduce the amount of wastewater that needs to be treated at the Burwood Beach WWTW. Given the cost to individual customers to install and maintain greywater reuse systems, greywater reuse is unlikely to have a major impact on future upgrades at the Burwood Beach WWTW.

Biosolids reuse

Biosolids is often reused on land for beneficial purposes, for example land rehabilitation on mine sites, on mine buffer zones, or soil-enrichment on agricultural lands. Biosolids reuse requires additional treatment processes at the wastewater treatment facility to further treat the biosolids and remove some of the water before it is transported to the reuse area. This reduces the biosolids transport costs and ensures the biosolids is of suitable quality to protect public health and the environment when applied to the land.

Biosolids can also be disposed of in the following ways:

• Landfill

• Incineration (where biosolids are burned in a controlled reactor to produce heat energy)

• Ocean release (the current method for disposal at Burwood Beach WWTW).