Boulder Bay Wastewater Treatment Works
Originally built in 1994 and upgraded in 2010, the Boulder Bay Wastewater Treatment Works is an ocean outfall plant which serves the communities of Nelson Bay, Shoal Bay, Dutchmans Bay, Corlette, Fishermans Bay, Boat Harbour, Anna Bay and Salamander Bay.
It currently treats 9.0 megalitres per day and can handle wastewater from a population of up to 58,000 people.
Operation
The Boulder Bay Wastewater Treatment Works provides secondary treatment of the wastewater by the following process:
- inlet works including fine screening and grit removal
- two aeration activated sludge (MLE) reactors
- two secondary clarifier
- sludge handling and treatment facilities (two gravity drainage decks and two belt press filters)
- an ocean outfall
The plant is designed to provide a high level of treatment.
Recycling and reuse
All biosolids produced at the Boulder Bay Wastewater Treatment Works are beneficially used for mine site rehabilitation and pasture improvement projects.
Future plans
We will continue to focus on developing a long-term, sustainable strategy for the plant to provide for growth on the Tomaree Peninsula.
However, further investigations and consultation with the community and key stakeholders are required to develop the most appropriate strategy for the Stage 3 Upgrade.
This consultation process will consider the protection of the marine ecosystem as well as public health, and meeting community expectations when it comes to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and the cost of providing wastewater treatment services to customers in the Lower Hunter.
Environmental Licence Monitoring
Pollution monitoring data is collected by Hunter Water, as required under the Environment Protection Licences (EPL) issued by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA).