NESP MaC Project 2.4 - Ecological outcomes of wastewater discharges in contrasting receiving environments, 2022-2024 (UTS)

Research Project

Researchers: Andrew Fischer (collaborator) ,  Bronwyn Gillanders (collaborator) ,  Charlene Trestrail (collaborator) ,  David Bishop (collaborator) ,  IMAS Data Manager (Distributes)
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Full description This record provides an overview of the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub project "Ecological outcomes of wastewater discharges in contrasting receiving environments". For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata. -------------------- Coastal and marine environments are increasingly exposed to pollution from land-based sources, including wastewater. With the majority of Australians living near the coast, household chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and plastics can enter the ocean via wastewater treatment plant outfalls. National policies and action plans, including Australia’s Waste Policy Action Plan, the Threat Abatement Plan for the impacts of marine debris, and the One Health Master Action Plan, all emphasise the need to incorporate emerging pollutants into contaminant guidelines. However, current monitoring programs focus on a limited set of contaminants, leaving major gaps in our understanding of the presence, concentration, and ecological effects of emerging pollutants in the marine environment. This project addressed this problem by: (1) identifying priority pollutants of concern; (2) determining concentrations of Chemicals of Emerging Concern (CEC) at a range of wastewater outfall sites with varying hydrodynamic settings; and (3) assessing where environmental impacts are likely to be greatest. It focused on five key pollutant groups: microplastics, nutrients, heavy metals, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), and antimicrobials. Hydrodynamic modelling was used to evaluate residence times and pollutant dispersal in selected marine settings, and field sampling was conducted to assess contaminant levels and potential ecological impacts on the lower food web. The project built on the findings of NESP Marine and Coastal Hub Scoping Study 1.16, which identified the need for impact assessments for CECs. The project generated new knowledge to inform risk assessments of emerging contaminants in the marine environment and provides recommendations for prioritising future monitoring and investment. It also enhances access to wastewater discharge data through continued development of the National Outfall Database. Outputs • Measures of CEC (contaminants of emerging concern) and microbial community composition in water and sediment samples taken from outfall sites [dataset] • Final project report [written]

Lineage Maintenance and Update Frequency: asNeeded

Notes Credit
This project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, the Environment, Energy & Water (DCCEEW) through the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub. In addition to NESP (DCCEEW) funding, this project is matched by an equivalent amount of in-kind support and co-investment from project partners and collaborators.

Notes Purpose
To determine where the environmental impacts resulting from emerging pollutants discharged from different wastewater outfalls settings will be highest.

Data time period: 2022-06-01 to 2024-02-28

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151.1838818525,-34.0459107945

137.95285,-34.35426 137.8513,-34.51748 137.83047,-34.66754 137.82266,-34.81304 137.73825,-34.97298 137.72088,-35.02285 137.70548,-35.06706 137.73933,-35.10967 137.77839,-35.15227 137.8513,-35.25014 138.01014,-35.40311 138.12211,-35.48584 138.1794,-35.53248 138.23148,-35.53036 138.29137,-35.50492 138.32262,-35.46888 138.35647,-35.40523 138.42938,-35.37126 138.46323,-35.35003 138.47885,-35.27778 138.51271,-35.22037 138.51271,-35.14162 138.53354,-35.08411 138.54656,-35.00736 138.54916,-34.90492 138.57781,-34.85579 138.60905,-34.79166 138.56479,-34.72962 138.48667,-34.68681 138.47625,-34.64397 138.43719,-34.57539 138.29658,-34.43591 138.22106,-34.24886 138.16638,-34.15841 138.1143,-34.09805 138.05962,-34.09158 137.99972,-34.20149 137.95285,-34.35426

138.157264827,-34.812030191