SYDNEY'S DEEP OCEAN OUTFALL

Click the photograph for a enlarged view

Future Developments

It is difficult to predict future discharges from the deepwater outfalls although it is apparent that:

- Further upgrades at North Head, Bondi and Malabar sewage treatment plants are expected to remove 65% of solids entering the plants within the next 10 years (Sydney Water 1996). Current removal rates are approximately 50% (EPA, 1996a).

- Redirecting overflows from the Northern Suburbs Ocean Outfall System into a storage/transport tunnel by 2000 would increase the total discharge through the deepwater outfall at North Head by 0.5 – 2 % on an annual average and less than 2.5 times the flow in a day of very heavy rainfall (NSW Gov. 1997).

- Sewer mining of the Georges River system may reduce flows to Malabar STP by 25% by 2010 (NSW Gov. 1997).

- The Sydney Water Board (Corporatisation) Act 1994 places great emphasis on re-use and reducing the discharges of sewage to waterways including from ocean outfalls.

Sydney's Deep Ocean Outfalls

(Deep3_4) Last updated June 2000