Melbourne's Sewerage System
We treat about 261,000 million litres (2008/09) of sewage each year, or about the same amount of water it would take to fill 104,000 Olympic swimming pools.
We own and operate:
- 391 kilometres of sewers
- 8 sewage pumping stations
- 2 treatment plants - the Eastern Treatment Plant at Bangholme and the Western Treatment Plant at Werribee
What is sewage?
Sewage (sometimes called wastewater) from our homes and businesses is everything that goes down the kitchen, laundry and bathroom drains, as well as what you flush down the toilet.
Sewage also includes dirty water from factories that is discharged into the sewerage system. This is known as trade waste.
What is sewerage?
Sewerage is the system of sewers that transfers sewage to a treatment plant. The term sewerage also includes all the pumps, screens and equipment needed to transfer sewage from homes and businesses to a sewage treatment plant.
What is blackwater?
Blackwater describes wastewater that is flushed down the toilet. In other words, it is wastewater that contains faeces and urine.
What is greywater?
Greywater is wastewater generated from such activities as dish washing, laundry and bathing. It does not include water and waste from the toilet.
Note: There are strict guidelines on reusing and recycling blackwater and greywater in your home.
More information:
What is effluent?
Effluent is treated sewage. The purpose of wastewater treatment is to remove solids, organic matter, nutrients and disease-causing organisms, leaving effluent that is suitable and safe for reuse or for release back into the environment.