Douglas Shire wastewater not going to waste

LOCAL farms, golf courses and the environment are the winners from new processes at the Port Douglas Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Last financial year, Douglas Shire Council re-purposed about 540 megalitres of recycled water, also known as treated effluent, for irrigation on golf courses in Port Douglas, according to a statement from council.

Wastewater is defined as the water-borne wastes of a community, containing about 99.9% pure water and 0.1% pollutants by weight.

“That’s the equivalent of 217 Olympic-sized swimming pools being used to keep courses green and reduce demand on the Rex Creek Intake.

Council employs a range of wastewater treatment processes to remove waste from the water so it can be safely reused or returned to the environment.

For example, 2037 wet tonnes of dewatered sludge were taken by contractors and used as organic fertiliser and soil conditioner across farms in the region last financial year.

Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr said the Mossman and Port Douglas Wastewater Treatment Plants played a vital role in our everyday lives.

“The amount of work that goes into handling your waste once it goes down the drain and how we then use it in practical ways is truly mind-boggling,” Kerr said.

Council has posted several educational videos on its website outlining how the water treatments plants work and Mayor Kerr is encouraging everyone to watch.

“We know how important protecting our environment is and it is fantastic to see all the work that is done behind the scenes,” he said.

Wastewater comes from residences, local commercial and light industrial sites, such as clubs, caravan parks, restaurants, commercial laundries, oil company retail outlets and hospitals. It does not include roof water or surface runoff.

For more information or to watch the videos head to Douglas Shire Council website.