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Jimboomba sewage treatment plant effluent storage

Website/Report

(not documented)

Project lead

Partnerships

(not documented)

Industries

Council

Activities

On-ground work

Case study type

(none)

Funding source

Logan City Council

Funding amount

$7,300

In-kind contribution

(not documented)

Start date

10 February 2016

End date

Ongoing

Summary

The use of Diatomix in this effluent storage was to reduce the growth of Blue-green algae (BGA - Cyanobacteria).  Poor water quality can reduce the uses for the water as well as the times when it can be released.

Funding amount for this project is provided on an annual basis.

Benefits

The use of Diatomix should reduce the nutrient profile of the water, lowering the concentrations of ammonia, nitrate and orthophosphate. The increased growth of diatom algae, boosted by Diatomix micronutrients, means diatoms need more nitrogen and phosphorus and this is the cause of the nutrient reductions. By creating consistent diatom algae growth, this in turn will provide a food source for the higher levels of the food chain. This means that the nitrogen and phosphorus moves from dissolved inorganic nutrient into biologically bound nutrient that cannot feed weeds, other algae and cause eutrophication downstream.

Lesson

Over time the clarity of water has increased as the types of algae grown in the water have changed from suspended algae into benthic or periphyton algae (particularly diatoms) that grown in biofilms on surfaces in the water (e.g. twigs, leaves, reeds and rushes).  The increased water clarity assists in UV light reaching deeper into the water and reducing pathogenic bacteria.

As well as the changes to the concentrations of ammonia and nitrate, there was a change to the ratio of ammonia and nitrate.  Anecdotally, the biodiversity at the site has improved with the increased presence of eels, birds and turtles.

Reference ID

(none)

Last updated: 14 September 2018

This page should be cited as:

Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, Queensland (2018) Jimboomba sewage treatment plant effluent storage, WetlandInfo website, accessed 30 August 2024. Available at: https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/resources/tools/wetland-project/jimboomba-sewage-treatment-plant-effluent-storage-4323/

Queensland Government
WetlandInfo   —   Department of Environment, Science and Innovation