About wastewater and our services
| Related information | |
|---|---|
 | Managing Perth's wastewater system |
| | Ocean Monitoring (The PLOOM Project) |
| | Our commitment to the community |
| | Characteristics of wastewater |
| | Publications |
For most people wastewater is a hidden part of everyday life. Today more than 1.5 million people live in the Perth metropolitan area and produce 335 million litres of wastewater every day.
In Western Australia the Water Corporation is responsible for the treatment and disposal of wastewater. We operate more than 100 wastewater treatment facilities around the State. The three large metropolitan plants at Beenyup, Subiaco and Woodman Point treat approximately 80 per cent of the State's wastewater.
What is Wastewater?
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Wastewater is the spent or used water from a community. It comes from domestic, commercial and industrial sources. The collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater is an integral part of the water cycle that maintains the balance of water in nature.
Wastewater is 99.97% water because by far the greatest volume comes from showers, baths and washing machines. The rest is dissolved and suspended matter. Wastewater also comes from industrial processes.
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Learn more about the composition of wastewater |
How is wastewater treated?
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Wastewater treatment is a series of processes that remove the pollutant materials from wastewater such as solids, oil and greases, detergents, nutrients, heavy metals and bacteria. These processes are carried out at wastewater treatment plants.
The end products of the treatment are:
- treated wastewater
- biosolids
The treated wastewater is either returned to the marine environment via ocean outfalls, re-used in horticulture or to irrigate recreational areas, allowed to infiltrate back into the ground, or evaporate.
Biosolids are primarily stabilised organic matter similar to material found in soil and animal manure. They are used as a low grade fertiliser or as a soil conditioner. The Water Corporation has partnered with Sita Environmental Solutions in a joint venture initiative called BioWise to produce premium quality compost utilising biosolids.
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Learn more about Biosolids |
What can you do to help?
Everything you pour down the kitchen sink or any item you put down the toilet doesn't just disappear. It goes through the wastewater system to a treatment plant where the Water Corporation processes it to ensure it can be either reused or disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner.
There are many everyday items that should not enter the wastewater system. Disposing of household wastes correctly not only prevents damage to the wastewater system, it also helps protect the environment.
Listed below are ways of disposing of common substances:
Cooking oil / grease | Wrap and place in bin | ||
Chemicals eg. paint, cleaning products, pesticides | Give to a licensed hazardous wastes contractor or contact your local council | ||
Food scraps | Place in bin or compost | ||
Newspaper / plastics | Recycle. Contact your local council | ||
Engine oils | Take to local garage or oil recycling centre | ||
Unused medicines | Return to pharmacy | ||
Nappies, razors, cotton buds, syringes | Wrap and place in bin |
