Brunswick Effluent Reuse Study

LRAM was commissioned by Byron Shire Council to undertake an effluent reuse study for the Brunswick Valley area on the north coast of New South Wales. A major objective of the local community is to minimise effluent discharge to waterways. The purpose of the reuse study is to identify feasible effluent reuse applications during the 5-month dry season and to identify effluent, storage and on-site infrastructure requirements for these applications.

The study is being undertaken in two stages:

Stage 1

The area required by 2025 for full beneficial reuse of the dry season wastewater flow was calculated at 314 to 471 ha, depending upon irrigation demand.

Several constraints to establishing a land-based disposal scheme have been identified including:

price for treated effluent;
on-farm operating costs;
on-farm capital requirements;
water storage infrastructure costs;

security of supply;
on-farm enterprise flexibility;
effluent water quality; and
topography and distance of potential supply routes.

Land use map.
Cropping within 8 km of Vallances Road STP

Five locations with the greatest irrigation potential have been delineated within the envelope based on:

mean slopes being below 5% and soils being suitable for irrigated agriculture;
the area of high value crops, pastures and open space;
presence of complementary water use sites (such as nurseries and bananas); and
distance from the two STP sites.

Upon completion of Stage 1, the five locations with greatest potential were prioritised with three being selected for more detailed investigations as part of Stage 2.

Stage 2

During this stage, landholders within each of the three locations are being canvassed to ascertain their interest in reusing treated wastewater. A preliminary reuse design scheme that includes interested landholders is being prepared.

The design will detail for each location:

peak water demands;
effluent distribution reuse requirements over time (flow and pressure);
seasonal water storage requirements; and
effluent reuse levels vs storage requirements.

These estimates will then be compiled into a preliminary outline of the target area and individual property command system requirements. On-site capital expenditure and associated operating costs will be estimated for each nominated scheme.

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