Data

Sediment sampling data from wastewater treatment plant outfalls (NESP MaC 2.4)

University of Tasmania, Australia
Doblin, Martina ; Nguyen, Thi Minh Hong ; Seymour, Justin
Viewed: [[ro.stat.viewed]] Cited: [[ro.stat.cited]] Accessed: [[ro.stat.accessed]]
ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2FANDS&rft_id=info:doi10.25959/6W34-6993&rft.title=Sediment sampling data from wastewater treatment plant outfalls (NESP MaC 2.4)&rft.identifier=10.25959/6W34-6993&rft.description=This project determined the ecological effect of coastal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) outfalls in two different coastal settings. Treated effluent, seawater, and marine sediments were collected from two WWTP outfalls located in South Australia (Glenelg & St Kilda). This is a shallow and retentive receiving environment and may accumulate effluent contaminants. Additionally, sediments were collected from another WWTP outfall in New South Wales (Malabar). This deep-water outfall discharges into a highly dispersive environment and offers a point of comparison for contaminant retention with the outfalls located in South Australia.Work focused on five contaminants that water quality managers had identified in previous NESP MaC work (Project 1.16) as being highly important: nutrients and metals (traditional effluent pollutants); and antibiotics, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and microplastics (contaminants of emerging concern). This record describes the results from the sediment sampling component of this study. Results from the effluent and seawater sampling are described separately by the record 'Effluent and seawater sampling data from wastewater treatment plant outfalls' (https://doi.org/10.25959/648J-HR45).***EMBARGO NOTE***: Data is embargoed until publication of the final project report (estimated mid-2026).Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlannedStatement: ---SA sites--- Sediment samples were collected from around the Glenelg and St Kilda outfalls along transects running in four directions from the outfall (the ‘origin’), identified using locations listed in the National Outfalls Database. Transects were run in the direction of local currents (NNW-SSE for Glenelg, NE-SW for St Kilda), and in a perpendicular west-east direction. Along each transect, samples were taken at 0 m, 20 m, 100 m, and 1,000 m from the outfall source. Sampling was conducted by divers using polypropylene corers (n = 3). The average depth of sediment cores was similar at each site, with a range of 66.9-75.9 mm at the Glenelg outfall, and 56.5-64.8 mm at the St Kilda outfall. Sediment cores were stored intact and on ice, and on arrival at the laboratory were frozen at -20 °C until genomic and chemical analyses could be conducted. Sediment samples were additionally collected by divers in polypropylene tubs to be used for microplastics analyses. ---NSW site--- At the Malabar outfall, sediment was collected from two sites at the outfall source (0 m). Five sediment grabs were taken at each site (n = 5), collecting material from the top 10 cm of the seafloor. Sediment was stored in glass containers at -20 °C. At both sites, two additional sediment samples were collected (n = 2) and stored in polypropylene containers for PFAS analysis. --Analysis--- Sediments were analysed for specific surface area and particle size, organic mater fraction, total phosphorus, metals, PFAS, and antimicrobials. Microplastics were additionally measured in sediments at the two SA sites. Full analysis methodology is contained within the Project 2.4 final report.&rft.creator=Doblin, Martina &rft.creator=Nguyen, Thi Minh Hong &rft.creator=Seymour, Justin &rft.date=2025&rft.coverage=westlimit=138.493; southlimit=-34.9719; eastlimit=138.5067; northlimit=-34.9545&rft.coverage=westlimit=138.493; southlimit=-34.9719; eastlimit=138.5067; northlimit=-34.9545&rft.coverage=westlimit=138.4531; southlimit=-34.7215; eastlimit=138.4741; northlimit=-34.7004&rft.coverage=westlimit=138.4531; southlimit=-34.7215; eastlimit=138.4741; northlimit=-34.7004&rft.coverage=westlimit=151.2983; southlimit=-33.9781; eastlimit=151.3052; northlimit=-33.9705&rft.coverage=westlimit=151.2983; southlimit=-33.9781; eastlimit=151.3052; northlimit=-33.9705&rft_rights=This dataset is hosted by the University of Tasmania, on behalf of the University of Technology Sydney and NESP Marine and Coastal Hub Project 2.4.&rft_rights=Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/&rft_rights=Cite data as: Doblin, M., Nguyen, T. M. H., & Seymour, J. (2025). Sediment sampling data from wastewater treatment plant outfalls [Data set]. Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies. https://doi.org/10.25959/6W34-6993&rft_rights=Data was sourced from the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub – the Marine and Coastal Hub is supported through funding from the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program (NESP), administered by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.&rft_subject=PFAS&rft_subject=Antimicrobials&rft_subject=Microplastics&rft_subject=HEAVY METALS&rft_subject=OCEAN CONTAMINANTS&rft_subject=EARTH SCIENCE&rft_subject=OCEANS&rft_subject=WATER QUALITY&rft_subject=CONTAMINANTS&rft_subject=TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE&rft_subject=WATER QUALITY/WATER CHEMISTRY&rft_subject=Coastal Cities / Towns (Australia) | Coastal Cities / Towns (Australia) | Sydney, NSW&rft_subject=Coastal Cities / Towns (Australia) | Coastal Cities / Towns (Australia) | Adelaide, SA&rft.type=dataset&rft.language=English Access the data
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Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

This dataset is hosted by the University of Tasmania, on behalf of the University of Technology Sydney and NESP Marine and Coastal Hub Project 2.4.

Cite data as: Doblin, M., Nguyen, T. M. H., & Seymour, J. (2025). Sediment sampling data from wastewater treatment plant outfalls [Data set]. Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies. https://doi.org/10.25959/6W34-6993

Data was sourced from the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub – the Marine and Coastal Hub is supported through funding from the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program (NESP), administered by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

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Full description

This project determined the ecological effect of coastal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) outfalls in two different coastal settings. Treated effluent, seawater, and marine sediments were collected from two WWTP outfalls located in South Australia (Glenelg & St Kilda). This is a shallow and retentive receiving environment and may accumulate effluent contaminants. Additionally, sediments were collected from another WWTP outfall in New South Wales (Malabar). This deep-water outfall discharges into a highly dispersive environment and offers a point of comparison for contaminant retention with the outfalls located in South Australia.

Work focused on five contaminants that water quality managers had identified in previous NESP MaC work (Project 1.16) as being highly important: nutrients and metals (traditional effluent pollutants); and antibiotics, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and microplastics (contaminants of emerging concern).

This record describes the results from the sediment sampling component of this study. Results from the effluent and seawater sampling are described separately by the record 'Effluent and seawater sampling data from wastewater treatment plant outfalls' (https://doi.org/10.25959/648J-HR45).

***EMBARGO NOTE***: Data is embargoed until publication of the final project report (estimated mid-2026).

Lineage

Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlanned
Statement: ---SA sites--- Sediment samples were collected from around the Glenelg and St Kilda outfalls along transects running in four directions from the outfall (the ‘origin’), identified using locations listed in the National Outfalls Database. Transects were run in the direction of local currents (NNW-SSE for Glenelg, NE-SW for St Kilda), and in a perpendicular west-east direction. Along each transect, samples were taken at 0 m, 20 m, 100 m, and 1,000 m from the outfall source. Sampling was conducted by divers using polypropylene corers (n = 3). The average depth of sediment cores was similar at each site, with a range of 66.9-75.9 mm at the Glenelg outfall, and 56.5-64.8 mm at the St Kilda outfall. Sediment cores were stored intact and on ice, and on arrival at the laboratory were frozen at -20 °C until genomic and chemical analyses could be conducted. Sediment samples were additionally collected by divers in polypropylene tubs to be used for microplastics analyses. ---NSW site--- At the Malabar outfall, sediment was collected from two sites at the outfall source (0 m). Five sediment grabs were taken at each site (n = 5), collecting material from the top 10 cm of the seafloor. Sediment was stored in glass containers at -20 °C. At both sites, two additional sediment samples were collected (n = 2) and stored in polypropylene containers for PFAS analysis. --Analysis--- Sediments were analysed for specific surface area and particle size, organic mater fraction, total phosphorus, metals, PFAS, and antimicrobials. Microplastics were additionally measured in sediments at the two SA sites. Full analysis methodology is contained within the Project 2.4 final report.

Notes

Credit
National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Marine and Coastal Hub
Credit
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), Australian Government
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.

Issued: 09 07 2025

Data time period: 2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31

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138.5067,-34.9545 138.5067,-34.9719 138.493,-34.9719 138.493,-34.9545 138.5067,-34.9545

138.49985,-34.9632

138.4741,-34.7004 138.4741,-34.7215 138.4531,-34.7215 138.4531,-34.7004 138.4741,-34.7004

138.4636,-34.71095

151.3052,-33.9705 151.3052,-33.9781 151.2983,-33.9781 151.2983,-33.9705 151.3052,-33.9705

151.30175,-33.9743

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Subjects
Antimicrobials | CONTAMINANTS | Coastal Cities / Towns (Australia) | Coastal Cities / Towns (Australia) | Adelaide, SA | Coastal Cities / Towns (Australia) | Coastal Cities / Towns (Australia) | Sydney, NSW | EARTH SCIENCE | HEAVY METALS | Microplastics | OCEAN CONTAMINANTS | OCEANS | PFAS | TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE | WATER QUALITY | WATER QUALITY/WATER CHEMISTRY |

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Other Information

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local : 03f0f6041

local : 0000-0001-8750-3433

local : 03f0f6041

local : 0000-0003-0772-9534

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local : 0000-0002-3745-6541

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local : 0000-0001-8750-3433

local : 03f0f6041

local : 0000-0003-0772-9534

Project RAiD

doi : 10.71676/94b5cc7b

Identifiers