Environmental licence monitoring
Our pollution monitoring data is collected each month as required under the Environment Protection Licences (EPLs) issued by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
Pollution monitoring data is any data that is obtained under a monitoring condition of a licence that relates to air, water, noise and land pollution.
We hold 17 EPLs that cover the operation of our wastewater treatment works and Dungog Water Treatment Plant.
The Lake Macquarie Sewerage Scheme is served by four plants comprising of Belmont, Edgeworth, Toronto and Dora Creek WWTW.
The Newcastle Sewerage Scheme is served by two plants comprising of Burwood Beach and Shortland WWTWs.
The results published are limited to data that relates to pollutants generated, discharged or emitted from licensed premises.
Pollution monitoring results
Protecting the environment is our priority. We carefully monitor the performance of our wastewater treatment plants and Dungog Water Treatment Plant. View the results for each plant to learn how they are performing.
Map of EPA licence plants
View the location of each of our Wastewater Treatment Works and Water Treatment Plants.
Frequently asked questions
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When are the monthly reports published?
The reports are usually published on the website within 14 working days of all the results being available, but some analyses can take days or weeks to complete. For example, a BOD analysis takes five days to complete and some pesticide analyses may need to be sent to different laboratories.
Where required, data is standardised so that results are expressed according to the conditions of the relevant licence.
Monthly summary reports are stored on the website for up to four years.
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What are the 50 Percentile and 90 Percentile Figures?
The 50 percentile and 90 percentile results are determined at the end of the 12-month licence period. These results are reported in the yearly summary reports for each plant and to the EPA in the Licence Annual Return. The 100 percentile limit is applicable to all monitoring results and, when specified in the licence, is reported in the monthly summary reports.
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What is a Three Day Geometric Mean (3DGM) Test?
A Three Day Geometric Mean (3DGM) test is a way to average a set of values and is commonly used with water quality assessments which show a great deal of variability. 3DGM is calculated by multiplying the results of the analysis of three samples collected on three consecutive days and then taking the cubed root of that amount (3DGM result = cube root of D1 result x D2 result x D3 result). We have three licences which specifies 3DGM limits ie our three ocean outfalls – Burwood, Boulder Bay and Belmont. If we exceed certain 90 percentile limits then the licence requires us to perform a 3DGM test. Currently, we rarely exceed the 90%ile limit and thus it is very unusual for us needing to carry out 3DGM tests.