Phase 2 Site Investigation Management Plan : Sewage Treatment Plants
KEY AND POTENTIAL ISSUES
POTENTIAL CONTAMINANTS OF
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
KEY INVESTIGATION CONSIDERATIONS


CONCERN

Soil
Heavy Metals (predominantly
1. NEPM 1999 (soil)
lead)

Filter cake / Sludge can impact soil quality

means of a desk based study and walkover survey.
Total
Petroleum
(TPH)


2. ANZECC 2000 (water)
Hydrocarbons

Contaminant transfer by direct / indirect contact

Semi
Volatile
Organic
(SVOC


3. EPA 1994 (hydrocarbons)
)
Volatile Organic Compounds
Groundwater

Phenols

Treatment effluent can impact groundwater quality

Biological Oxygen Demand
(BOD)

Contaminant transfer by direct / indirect contact

Chemical Oxygen Demand
(COD)

Contaminant transfer by ingestion / inhalation

Total Dissolved Solids
(TDS)
Surface Water

E-coli

Operate a permit to work system

Treatment effluent can impact surface water quality

Faecal Coliforms

Documentation

Surface run off can impact drainage systems

Phosphates

Legal framework

Contaminant transfer by direct / indirect contact

Nitrates/Nitrites

Best practice management techniques

Contaminant transfer by ingestion / inhalation

Use
(VOC)
Dutch Intervention or USEPA criteria may be
used in the absence of any published and
approved Australian guidelines
MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS
of
past,
of
instrumentation
equipment).

Odorous / explosive gases may be generated

Contaminants may migrate in the form of dust

Contaminant transfer by inhalation
Document Control:
Version 1.0
Issued:
SMEC, Oct 2007
(use
of
Potential eutrophic effects on surrounding wetland.

VOCs often not found in soil (low partitioning coefficient)
VOCs often found in groundwater.

Use of PID instrumentation to monitor air quality of

present
to

samples to aid scheduling.
and
monitor
explosive atmospheres to protect the
workforce

but vapour identified (high vapour pressure).
proposed activities
Air
Ensure monitoring wells extend beneath the depth of
ponds.

Contaminant transfer by ingestion / inhalation
Ensure investigation extends below depth of evaporation
ponds and soils are sampled at regular intervals.
Compounds

Identify all evaporation ponds and discharge points by
intrinsically
safe
Locate sludge burial pits.