--- title: Power and Water installs pre-treatment system to flush out wastewater pollutants description: The Northern Territory’s largest wastewater treatment plant has opened a new facility to flush out everything but the ‘three ps’ – pee, poo and (toilet) paper – from its treatment process. --- [![Indigo by AWA logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Indigo_colour.png?height=24&name=Indigo_colour.png)](https://indigo.awa.asn.au/) [![Ozwater logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Ozwater.png?height=24&name=Ozwater.png)](https://www.ozwater.org/) [![Careers in Water logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png?height=24&name=Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png)](https://www.careersinwater.com.au/) [![NWW logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/NWW.png?height=24&name=NWW.png)](https://www.nationalwaterweek.org/) - [Join ![user icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-nav-user-icon.svg "user icon")](https://www.awa.asn.au/new-registration) - 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The $16.2 million inlet works at Power and Water Corporation’s Leanyer Sanderson waste stabilisation ponds will screen 15 million litres of wastewater per day from 50,000 houses, schools and businesses across Darwin’s northern suburbs. This process is expected to remove 45 tonnes of [bathroom products, such as wet wipes](https://www.awa.asn.au/AWA_MBRR/Publications/Latest_News/ACCC_investigation_ALDI_flushable_wipes.aspx) and sanitary items, and 50 tonnes of grit per year. Power and Water Chief Executive Michael Thomson said it is difficult for the [ponds’ natural treatment processes](http://54.252.223.120/business/assets-and-operations/aeration-modifications-tatura-wastewater-management-facility-case-study/) to break down these items. “As raw sewage passes through the inlet works, it removes pollutants that should not be flushed down the toilet,” he said. “These pollutants … are the major contributor to the development of surface scum and blockages in the treatment pond system.” ![](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png) Inlet works at Power and Water Corporation's Leanyer Sanderson waste stabilisation ponds. Thomson said there had been a significant reduction in surface scum since the commissioning of the inlet works began in late November. This means less upkeep is required, which will allow the treatment plant to reduce its maintenance budget. “Previously, every week our employees were manually removing surface scum caused by the accumulation of unwanted bathroom products that ended up at the facility,” he said. Along with reducing surface scum, the inlet works also provide environmental benefits. For example, by removing [bathroom products and other rubbish](http://54.252.223.120/business/assets-and-operations/flushable-dog-poo-bag-manufacturer-in-hot-water/) from the wastewater treatment process, the sludge that accumulates in the ponds can be repurposed for composting or land rehabilitation, rather than being sent to landfill. The pre-treatment process also helps with odour control by consolidating the most pungent elements of the system at a central location, where they can be better managed through extraction and biological treatment. Local contractors carried out 90% of the work on the project, which took 18 months to complete. *For more on wastewater treatment, check out the AWA/ANZBP Biosolids conference in February. To learn more and to register, click [here](http://bit.ly/2PCfpZi).* [ Power and Water Corporation ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/power-and-water-corporation) [ Wastewater Treatment Plant ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/wastewater-treatment-plant) [ Infrastructure ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/infrastructure) [ Assets & Operations ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/assets-and-operations) [ Darwin ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/darwin) [ Wastewater ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/wastewater) [ Northern Territory (NT) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/northern-territory) Share [![email icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-email.svg "email icon") ](mailto:?subject=Power%20and%20Water%20installs%20pre-treatment%20system%20to%20flush%20out%20wastewater%20pollutants&body=Check%20out%20https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/power-and-water-installs-pre-treatment-system-to-flush-out-wastewater-pollutants) [![facebook-icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-facebook.svg "facebook icon") ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/power-and-water-installs-pre-treatment-system-to-flush-out-wastewater-pollutants) [![LinkedIn icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-linkedin.svg "LinkedIn icon") ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/power-and-water-installs-pre-treatment-system-to-flush-out-wastewater-pollutants) [![Twitter icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-twitter.svg "Twitter icon") ](https://twitter.com/home?status=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/power-and-water-installs-pre-treatment-system-to-flush-out-wastewater-pollutants) ## RELATED NEWS ### [ Enhancing life and liveability in Melbourne ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/environment/built-environment/enhancing-life-liveability-melbourne) Cecilia Harris One of Victoria’s leading water utilities has announced a new pledge to halve its emissions by 2025 and explore pathways to reduce… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/environment/built-environment/enhancing-life-liveability-melbourne) ### [ Tracking sludge flow could lead to better wastewater treatment ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/technology/research/tracking-sludge-flow-could-lead-to-better-wastewater-treatment) Water Source A new method of tracking how sewage sludge flows during thermal treatment could help engineers design more efficient wastewater… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/technology/research/tracking-sludge-flow-could-lead-to-better-wastewater-treatment) ### [ WWTP review brings council $400,000 in savings ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/wwtp-review-brings-council-400000-in-savings) Water Source New South Wales’ Hawkesbury City Council has saved around $400,000 thanks to a review of treatment operations and processes at its… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/wwtp-review-brings-council-400000-in-savings) Advertising --- ### Subscribe to our newsletters Sign up to get the latest news and insights from us Advertising --- ![white arrow pointing upwards](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-white-arrow-up.svg) Top [![Footer-logo-02](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/Footer-logo-02.svg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/) The **Australian Water Association** acknowledges the Traditional Custodians across Australia, where we live, work and play, for their deep connection to our precious waters and land. 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