Research Project
Researchers: Emma Flukes (Point of contact) , Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), University of Tasmania (UTAS) (Associated with) , Rohmana, Qurratu (collaborator)
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
National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Marine and Coastal Hub
Notes
Credit
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), Australian Government
Notes
Credit
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
Rohmana QA, Fischer A and Gemmill J (2023) National Outfall Database: outfall ranking based on 2020/2021 nutrient loads discharge. Report to the National Environmental Science Program. Clean Ocean Foundation and University of Tasmania. (Associated publication)
(Project page on NESP Marine and Coastal Hub website)
url :
https://www.nespmarinecoastal.edu.au/project/2-4/
(Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: NESP MaC Hub website)
url :
https://www.dcceew.gov.au/science-research/nesp/hub-marine-coastal
global : ee7f96b7-ab1e-4b65-87f5-b5632037c1d5
local : 03f0f6041
local : 0000-0001-8750-3433
local : 03f0f6041
local : 0000-0002-3745-6541
local : 03f0f6041
local : 0000-0002-6533-4410
local : 050khh066
local : 0000-0002-6722-168X
local : 050khh066
local : 0000-0002-9453-2926
local : 00arpt780
local : 0000-0001-5284-6428
local : 03r8z3t63
local : 0000-0003-3825-7533
local : 00892tw58
local : 0000-0002-7680-2240
local : 03f0f6041
local : 0000-0002-3037-6055
local : 01nfmeh72
local : 03f0f6041
local : 0000-0001-8750-3433
local : 03f0f6041
local : 0000-0002-3745-6541
- global : 5ba45aa9-55bb-453d-bead-7dc54e2daa42
- DOI : 10.71676/94B5CC7B
