Our Wastewater Treatment Plants

Throughout the Shoalhaven, our wastewater service includes wastewater being treated at 13 treatment plants. Our operations include an environmentally friendly recycling scheme which allows treated effluent to be reused on local farms and sports fields.

With stringent environmental and health protection standards, our combined treatment capacity can serve a population of up to 165,000 people.

Recent upgrades have been undertaken at the Nowra and Bomaderry treatment facilities. Works have included the construction of a reclaimed water transfer pipeline to allow high quality reclaimed water to be transferred to our existing REMS network.

Bendalong

First commissioned in 2007, the Bendalong treatment plant treats sewerage for up to 4,600 equivalent persons.

Berry

First commissioned in 1978, the Berry treatment plant was updated in 2006 and treats sewerage for up to 3,000 equivalent persons. During dry weather most of the plant’s flow is utilised by a local dairy farm for pasture irrigation.

Bomaderry

First commissioned in 1972, the Bomaderry treatment plant was significantly upgraded in 2019. The upgrade included advanced treatment (including filtration and two-stage disinfection) to meet current environmental and water recycling guidelines and an increase in treatment capacity. The new plant has been linked to the Northern Shoalhaven Reclaimed Water Management Scheme (REMS) via distribution pipelines including a 1,400m pipeline under the Shoalhaven River. 

Integration into the REMS will ensure that up to 90% of the output from the Bomaderry plant can be beneficially reused. The new treatment plant treats effluent for up to 18,000 equivalent persons. 

Callala

First commissioned in 1999, the Callala treatment plant was purpose built to supply our local farmers and sporting grounds with reclaimed water. The plant provides tertiary treatment of effluent for up to 6,000 equivalent persons. 

Since its start in 2001 the REMS has allowed over 28,000ML of reclaimed water to be beneficially reused. 

Culburra

First commissioned in 1982, the Culburra treatment plant was upgraded in 2002. The reclaimed water is piped into the REMS distribution system.  The plant provides tertiary treatment of effluent for up to 11,000 equivalent persons.

Kangaroo Valley

First commissioned in 2013, the Kangaroo Valley treatment plant has a large storage facility and irrigation system to service local dairy farming land with highly treated reclaimed water. The system was designed to use a diversion system which directs excess reclaimed water to the Kangaroo Valley River during high rainfall periods. The plant’s treatment capacity is for 1,400 equivalent persons.

Lake Conjola

First commissioned in 2007, the Lake Conjola treatment plant was designed to release reclaimed water to the environment via a dune exfiltration system at Conjola Beach. The treatment capacity of the plant is for 2,700 equivalent persons.

Nowra

First commissioned in 1937, the Nowra treatment plant was the Shoalhaven's first treatment plant. A  major upgrade of the treatment plant was completed in late 2019. The upgrade includes advanced treatment (including filtration and two-stage disinfection) to meet current environmental and water recycling guidelines. The plant's treatment capacity was increased to the equivalent of 37,500 persons. 

The new plant has been linked via distribution pipelines to the REMS ensuring that up to 90% of the output can be beneficially reused. 

Shoalhaven Heads

First commissioned in 1983, the Shoalhaven Heads treatment plant was upgraded in 2012 and supplies reclaimed water for use on a local turf farm. There is also a 5ML lined storage pond holding reclaimed water for use on the local golf course. The plant provides tertiary treatment of effluent for up to 8,000 persons.

St Georges Basin

First commissioned in 1991, the reclaimed water from the St Georges Basin treatment plant is pumped to the Vincentia treatment plant where it is given tertiary treatment before being directed into REMS. There is a treatment capacity equivalent to 16,000 persons.

Sussex Inlet

First commissioned in 1990, the Sussex Inlet treatment plant reuses reclaimed water via an irrigation system at a local sporting ground. The plant has a treatment capacity of 8,000 equivalent persons.

Ulladulla

First commissioned in 1975, the Ulladulla treatment plant was first upgraded in 2005, then again in 2008 to include a reticulated wastewater collection system for Lake Tabourie Village. Reclaimed water is used on a local sporting field and is also released via an extend ocean outfall 300m off Racecourse Beach, Ulladulla. The treatment capacity is for 32,000 equivalent persons.

Vincentia

First commissioned in 1973, the Vincentia treatment plant was upgraded in 2002. The reclaimed water from this plant is piped via a 15km transfer main to the REMS distribution network for reuse on local farms and sporting fields. The plant provides tertiary treatment of effluent for up to 14,000 equivalent persons.