The Lake Cathie Bonny Hills wastewater treatment plant is on schedule to deliver recycled water for the community.
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During a tour at the plant on Wednesday, May 29 community members were informed of the short term and medium term plans for the distribution of water.
Water and Sewer Process manager Clayton Miechel said the use of recycled water within the community will reduce the plant's impact on the environment.
Mr Miechel said the delivery of recycled water from the plant to Port Macquarie Golf Club and Lake Cathie Sporting Field is on schedule to start from October.
Council is also looking at supplying the new developments of Lake Cathie and Bonny Hills with recycled water for outdoor use, toilet flushing and cold water laundry. It's hoped the initiative will be introduced in mid 2020.
The plant has the capacity to treat raw sewage generated by a population of 12,000 people. Its last upgrade was in 2009 to meet predicted growth for the future.
Mr Miechel said the plant is currently operating at 60 per cent capacity and is not anticipated to undergo any more upgrades for the next 15 to 20 years.
The plant processes about 1.2 megalitres of wastewater per day (average dry weather flow) from over 2,717 properties.
It produces highly treated effluent which is discharged through an 800 metre long sand exfiltration trench in the dunes behind Rainbow Beach at Bonny Hills.
Mr Miechel said the plant's future plans for recycled water use will maximise the amount of reuse in the area.
In the meantime, Mr Miechel is urging people to only flush poo, pee and paper down the toilet to prevent costly blockages or sewage overflows in homes.
During a presentation at the wastewater treatment plant, a member of the public was asked to shake a jar of water with toilet paper in it. This jar was compared to one which had a wet wipe in it.
The toilet paper broke down in the water, however the wet wipe remained intact.
Residents were advised to never flush wet wipes (including those marketed as flushable), cotton buds, sanitary items or condoms, fats and oils or nappies down the toilet or sink.
For more information please visit the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council website at www.pmhc.nsw.gov.au