Significant reductions in nitrogen and phosphorous discharges

The purified recycled water process will benefit the environment by significantly reducing the discharge of nitrogen and phosphorous into Moreton Bay.

Currently, six water treatment plants discharge effluent into local waterways that flow into Moreton Bay. These treatment plants currently discharge 1235 kilograms of nitrogen per day and 1313 kilograms of phosphorous per day into the bay.

Through the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project, there will be a 57 per cent reduction in nitrogen and a 40 per cent reduction in phosphorous discharges into Moreton Bay.

Protecting and improving Moreton Bay

The removal of these nutrients and other environmentally detrimental compounds will help protect sensitive waterways like Moreton Bay.

Energy efficient

Purified recycled water also requires less energy to operate than desalination. The Western Corridor Recycled Water Projectwill use about one megawatt hour of electricity to produce one megalitre of purified recycled water. The desalination plant that is being constructed at Tugun on the Gold Coast will use about five megawatt hours of energy to produce the same amount of drinking water.