Assessment of the ecological risk of emerging contaminants released from the Cleveland Bay Purification Plant (Old ID 25082)

Townsville City Council
Role

Principal Investigator

Description

Discharge from the Cleveland Bay Purification plant (CBPP) is via ocean pipeline into Cleveland Bay and falls within the jurisdiction of the Qld State Marine Park Authority (QSMPA). A planned CBPP membrane upgrade has initiated a QSMPA operational permit, issued in December 2017., requiring Townsville city council to develop an Effluent Quality Assessment Program. The assessment program is to be developed under the guidance of a Special Technical Advisory Group (STAG) and should include effluent sampling of new and emerging contaminants, as identified in the Tropical water quality hub's NESP report (2015). This includes but is not limited to heavy metals, various organics (hydrocarbons, pharmaceuticals, poly-aromatics and personal care products) and micro-plastics. The assessment program's objective is to identify and prioritise emerging contaminants based on estimation of the current and longer-term ecological risk to the receiving environment.

Date

16 Jul 2018 - 31 Dec 2025

Project Type

CONTRACT_RESEARCH

Keywords

Emerging contaminants;Environmental Impact;Risk Assessment;Water Treatment

Funding Body

Townsville City Council

Amount

312128

Project Team

Ellen Ariel;Stephen Lewis;Brenda Govan