Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre
The Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre (LMWQCC) is the main wastewater treatment facility for Canberra and is the largest inland treatment centre in Australia.
Located one kilometre upstream from the junction of the Murrumbidgee and Molonglo Rivers, LMWQCC treats more than 90 million litres of Canberra's wastewater each day. The process includes physical, chemical, and biological treatment processes before the water is discharged into the Molonglo River.
Some wastewater from the industrial area of Fyshwick and adjacent suburbs is partially treated at the Fyshwick Sewage Treatment Plant and returned to the sewer for full treatment at LMWQCC.
As the wastewater enters LMWQCC, a range of objects are collected by a screening process. Some interesting finds include goldfish, dentures and a range of children's toys. Some items can be seen in the screen room during tours of the facility.
ActewAGL's treatment process ensures that the water that is discharged into the Molonglo River will not affect the environment and downstream users. The ACT Environmental Protection Act 1997, under which LMWQCC operates, sets strict licence conditions aimed at protecting the rivers into which water is discharged. LMWQCC meets all these licence requirements, including chemical testing and biological monitoring programs. Performance results are reported monthly.
Extensive monitoring is undertaken to ensure water quality, and ecological monitoring, such as the Fish Monitoring Program, provides information on the river's health. The numbers of macroinvertebrates, which are small crustaceans and insects, are also monitored regularly. Platypuses are often seen near where the treated water re-enters the Molonglo River, and have been known to visit the plant!
The treated water from LMWQCC plays an important role in keeping the rivers flowing and helps supports aquatic life, especially during dry periods. Also, the treatment process reduces the levels of nutrients that algae feed on, so that they do not grow in our water systems.
In line with ActewAGL's commitment to ecological sustainability, LMWQCC has developed an Environmental Management Program. LMWQCC was the first sewage treatment facility in Australia to gain certification for the following International Standards:
- AS/NZS ISO 9002 - Quality Management Systems
- AS/NZS ISO 14001 - Environmental Management Systems
During the treatment process
all of the solid material, which is called "sewage sludge", is removed
and incinerated in a high temperature furnace. The resulting ash, Agri-Ash,
is sold to farmers as a soil conditioner.
Wastewater reuse
ActewAGL operates three wastewater reuse projects in the ACT.
Via the Lower Molonglo Water Reuse Scheme, a proportion of the wastewater treated at LMWQCC is supplied to nearby vineyards (100 hectares) and a golf course (30 hectares) for irrigation.
LMWQCC is remote from the rest of the city and major reuse opportunity from here is driven by agricultural or industrial activity near the plant.
The LMWQCC also has a role in remotely monitoring and controlling the North Canberra Effluent Reuse Scheme.
Book a tour
We welcome tour groups and school visits to our facilities. For more information on how to organise a tour, visit the LMWQCC tour webpage.
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