Tumbulgum Wastewater Treatment Plant     

The Tumbulgum Wastewater Treatment Plant was designed to service a population of 700 people. It was completed in 1998 and the cost of the plant and reticulation was $2.2 million. 50% of this was funded by the State Government and 50% was funded from Council and the local contribution of $2500 per residence

• The treatment plant has been designed to treat 168 kL/day.
• In 2010 the average usage was 90 kL/day.

Tumbulgum is located on the banks of the Tweed River and has a high water table. Because of this sewage flows to collection pits where a vacuum system is used to transport it to the treatment plant.

Treatment

• The treatment process is an activated sludge process.

• The amount of phosphate is reduced by the addition of Alum (Aluminium Sulphate) to the process.

• Ultra Violet radiation is used for disinfection before the treated water is discharged into the Tweed River directly north of the treatment plant.

Volume limit for the discharge of liquid waste is 756 kL/day.

Other quantity EPA licence limits (5622) are listed on the following table.