Water treatment
All of Eurobodalla’s water is processed at our water treatment plants to ensure it is safe for drinking and bathing. We follow strict processes as outlined in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
We have two water treatment plants in Eurobodalla; both are capable of supplying water to the other end of the shire if required. During periods of reduced demand we close the southern facility and rely solely on the northern plant.
Northern Water Treatment Plant
- Water is pumped from Deep Creek Dam to the Northern Water Treatment Plant near Denhams Beach
- Every day we process around 10 million litres of water with the option to increase to 20 million litres per day if required
- Treated water is fed to 18 reservoirs to service the shire's northern water supply
Southern Water Treatment Plant
- Water is pumped from bores along Tuross River to the Southern Water Treatment Plant near Bodalla
- Typically around 2.3 million litres of water is treated each day with the option to increase to 4 million litres per day if needed
- Treated water is pumped to Big Rock Reservoir and then distributed to 11 reservoirs to service the shire's southern water supply
Recycled water
Recycled water is sewage or stormwater that is treated and reused for non-drinking purposes.
In line with NSW Health Department guidelines, all recycled water goes through a treatment process to ensure it meets Australian standards. When treated effectively, sewage and stormwater can be recycled for uses such as sporting ground irrigation.
In Eurobodalla:
- recycled water is used to irrigate Riverside Park in Moruya and the golf clubs at Moruya, Catalina, and Tuross
- recycled water is used at sewage treatment plants to wash down equipment
- sludge, a by-product of treated sewage, is composted to make a soil improver.
Waterways
Treated water may also be discharged to waterways inline with our Integrated Water Cycle Management Plan. Strict procedures are vital to keep Eurobodalla's oceans and rivers pristine.
Our sewage treatment systems ensure the waters in which we swim and play meet national health standards and Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. Water quality is monitored at 11 local beaches through the Eurobodalla Beachwatch Program.
Sewage treatment plants
We have Pollution Incident Response Management Plans (PIRMPs) in place for Batemans Bay, Tomakin, Moruya, Tuross and Narooma sewage treatment plants to comply with the requirements introduced in the Protection of the Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2011 (POELA Act). Under the POELA Act, the section within the PIRMPs that cover procedures for contacting the relevant authorities and procedures for communicating with the community must be made publically available.