Draft guidelines for risk assessment of wastewater discharges to waterways are available for comment.

The impact of wastewater discharges to inland and marine water bodies is attracting greater interest, particularly given predictions for a drier climate in the future. Impacts are often exacerbated by drought conditions, with low flows reducing the dilution of discharges. In other cases, the flow from some wastewater discharges can be an important contribution to waterway health, if they are of the right environmental quality and managed well. These issues are driving the need for a more detailed assessment of the impact of wastewater discharges to support future decision-making.

EPA Victoria is developing guidelines that are intended to provide guidance to practitioners conducting wastewater discharge risk assessments. A draft of these guidelines - Draft Guidelines for Risk Assessment of Wastewater Discharges to Waterways - has been developed and is now available for comment.

A number of risk assessment pilot applications will be conducted in the year following release of these draft guidelines. The pilots will provide practical examples of the implementation of the risk assessment process for wastewater discharges. The practical information gained from these pilots will be used to refine and update the draft guidelines. Summaries of the pilot applications will be provided in the final Guideline document that is scheduled for release in early 2009.

Interested people may comment on the Draft Guidelines in writing to:

anne-maree.westbury@epa.vic.gov.au

or
Attention: Anne-Maree Westbury
EPA Victoria
GPO Box 4395
Melbourne Victoria 3001

Comments closing date is 16th May 2008

Please note that any comments received will usually be made publicly available.

nformal enquiries can be made to Anne-Maree Westbury (03) 8458 2446 or anne-maree.westbury@epa.vic.gov.au

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