Sewage Treatment - Today
Sewage includes everything that goes down the kitchen, laundry and bathroom sinks, as well as what is flushed down the toilet.
Industrial and commercial waste is also discharged into the sewerage system. This is known as trade waste. Approximately 70% of Melbourne's trade waste is treated at the Western Treatment Plant at Werribee, where it makes up 15% of the sewage flow. Trade waste makes up 8% of the sewage that flows into the Eastern Treatment Plant.
We are responsible for treating most of Melbourne's sewage in a way that minimises environmental impacts and protects public health. Our aim is to reduce impacts on the marine environment and minimise odour and land contamination.
The retail water companies collect sewage from households and sewage and trade waste from business in greater Melbourne. Some 94 percent of this waste is transferred to our Eastern Treatment Plant at Bangholme and the Western Treatment Plant at Werribee. The remaining waste is treated by retail water companies at small local treatment plants. The sewage treatment plants operate under EPA Victoria licences, which regulate discharges to air, water and land.
Licence requirements must be consistent with the Victorian Government Environment Protection Policy objectives for receiving waters. These objectives have been developed to balance the value to the community of sewerage services while protecting the long-term health of the marine environment.
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Sewage is transported to Melbourne’s treatment plants via a system of pipes and pumping stations. It can take as long as 12 hours for sewage to reach the treatment plants.
The Eastern Treatment Plant treats sewage from homes and businesses in Melbourne's south-eastern and eastern suburbs. This plant serves about 1.5 million people, and treats 370 million litres of Melbourne's sewage each day.
The Western Treatment Plant serves Melbourne's inner northern and western suburbs, north and west of the Yarra River and around Hobsons Bay. It treats about 485 million litres of Melbourne's sewage each day.