In The News: Darwin opens $13.2m toxic wastewater treatment facility at Shoal Bay

"A new wastewater treatment plant is now operating in Darwin’s Shoal Bay waste facility to treat more than 50 megalitres per year of toxic chemicals found in wastewater.

The $13.2 million facility will capture human-made toxic chemicals commonly used in household products, also containing PFAS, heavy metals and ammonia. PFAS does not dissolve naturally in the environment making it harmful to both humans and animals.

“The City of Darwin is leading the country with this technology, all the while making excellent progress towards addressing legacy environmental issues at Shoal Bay,” Darwin Mayor Kon Vatskalis said.

The facility enables treated leachate to be used to irrigate crops of surrounding vetiver grass, while the captured PFAS is destroyed.

“By integrating the system with a wetland buffer to treat ammonia and finally vetiver grass to remove any trace contaminants, it means no pollutants enter the environment,” Water & Carbon Group chief executive Jim Hunter said."

 

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