CSIRO ScienceImage 11575 Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre

The Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre is a

sewerage Sewerage (or sewage system) is the infrastructure that conveys sewage or surface runoff (stormwater, meltwater, rainwater) using sewers. It encompasses components such as receiving drainage, drains, manholes, pumping stations, storm overflows, a ...

and waste water treatment facility in the

Australian Capital Territory The Australian Capital Territory (commonly abbreviated as ACT), known as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) until 1938, is a landlocked federal territory of Australia containing the national capital Canberra and some surrounding townships. ...

, owned and operated by

Icon Water Icon Water Limited, trading principally as Icon Water, is a water and wastewater public utility that is an Australian Capital Territory-owned corporation. The company provides drinking water and wastewater services to the ACT. Icon Water is also ...

. The Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre (or LMWQCC) is the largest inland treatment facility in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, treating more than 90 million litres of Canberra's wastewater (including sewerage) per day using a combination of physical, chemical, and biological methods. The centre treats waste to an extent that much of it may be safely released back into the environment by way of the Molonglo River. Solid waste is however separated during treatment and incinerated at high temperatures resulting in an ash that is sold to local farmers and gardeners as a fertiliser.

Certifications

The Centre was Australia's first waste treatment facility to gain two significant international standard certifications : * AS/NZS ISO 9002 -

Quality Management Systems A quality management system (QMS) is a collection of business processes focused on consistently meeting customer requirements and enhancing their satisfaction. It is aligned with an organization's purpose and strategic direction (ISO 9001:2015). I ...

* AS/NZS ISO 14001 - Environmental Management Systems

Environmental role

Given Canberra's inland location, the centre is vital to ensuring the health of rivers and local eco-systems by reducing pollution and ensuring adequate water flows, to some extent making up for water taken from rivers and stored in catchments for the national capital.

Risks to Canberra

The treatment of waste water involves the use of strong chemicals, many of which are toxic. Following the

2003 Canberra bushfires The 2003 Canberra bushfires caused severe damage to the suburbs and outer areas of Canberra, the capital city of Australia, during 18–22 January 2003. Almost 70% of the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) pastures, pine plantations, and nat ...

, in which the plant was damaged, two hazards were shown to exist regarding the water treatment facility, the first of which was the disastrous consequences of fire impacting such chemicals. It was revealed in testimony by fire officer Dannie Camilleri that had fire impacted and breached tanks storing

chlorine Chlorine is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol Cl and atomic number 17. The second-lightest of the halogens, it appears between fluorine and bromine in the periodic table and its properties are mostly intermediate betwee ...

at the centre (as well as other chemicals), it would have caused a disastrous situation, releasing toxic gas and requiring large scale evacuations of the national capital. The other hazard revealed was the inadequacy of storage at the centre in the event of a failure. The bushfires damaged the plant to such an extent that treatment was halted. Reserve tanks had storage sufficient for only an extra day. Had the plant not been fixed in time, excess waste and untreated effluent would have been expelled into the Molonglo river causing serious ecological and public health consequences.

Engineering heritage award

The Centre received an Engineering Heritage National Marker from Engineers Australia as part of its Engineering Heritage Recognition Program.

References

External links

*http://www.iconwater.com.au/water-and-sewerage-system/water-and-sewerage-system/sewage-treatment/lower-molonglo-water-quality-control-centre.aspx Industrial buildings in the Australian Capital Territory Water management in the Australian Capital Territory Sewerage infrastructure in the Australia Capital Territory Recipients of Engineers Australia engineering heritage markers {{Canberra-stub