Googong Township Integrated Water Cycle Project · part of the Integrated Water Cycle (IWC) for the Googong Township, the IWC Project will reduce the consumption of potable water

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PIRMP

Googong Township Integrated Water Cycle Project

Pollution Incident Response Management Plan (PIRMP)

Prepared by: RPS MANIDIS ROBERTS PTY LTD

Level 13, 255 Pitt Street

Sydney, NSW 2000

Australia

Prepared for: GOOGONG TOWNSHIP PTY LTD

Level 3, 64 Allara Street

Canberra, ACT 2600

Australia

T: +61 2 9248 9800 T: +61 2 6230 0800

E: [email protected] E:

W: compliance.googong.net

Author: Valerie Donat

Reviewed: Aidan Rooney

Approved: Rob Salisbury

No.: 17029

Version: 3.0

Date: July 2018

http://www.googong.net/

17029 | Googong Township Integrated Water Cycle Project | Pollution Incident Response Management Plan (PIRMP) | July 2018

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Document Status

Version Purpose of Document Approved by Reviewed by Review Date

1.0 Final update following QPRC comments Rob Salisbury Aidan Rooney 16/04/2018

2.0 Draft update to reflect addition of Stage C WRP for GTPL and QPRC review.

Rob Salisbury Aidan Rooney 13/07/2018

3.0 Final update following QPRC comments Rob Salisbury Aidan Rooney 30/07/2018

Approval for issue

Name Signature Date

Rob Salisbury

30/07/2018

This report was prepared by [RPS Manidis Roberts Pty Ltd (‘RPS’)] within the terms of its engagement and in direct response to a scope

of services. This report is strictly limited to the purpose and the facts and matters stated in it and does not apply directly or indirectly and

must not be used for any other application, purpose, use or matter. In preparing the report, RPS may have relied upon information

provided to it at the time by other parties. RPS accepts no responsibility as to the accuracy or completeness of information provided by

those parties at the time of preparing the report. The report does not take into account any changes in information that may have

occurred since the publication of the report. If the information relied upon is subsequently determined to be false, inaccurate or

incomplete then it is possible that the observations and conclusions expressed in the report may have changed. RPS does not warrant

the contents of this report and shall not assume any responsibility or liability for loss whatsoever to any third party caused by, related to

or arising out of any use or reliance on the report howsoever. No part of this report, its attachments or appendices may be reproduced

by any process without the written consent of RPS. All enquiries should be directed to RPS.


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Contents 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 5

1.1 Background ....................................................................................................................................... 5

1.2 Objectives of the PIRMP ................................................................................................................... 5

2 IWC PROJECT PROCESS DESCRIPTION ....................................................................................... 7

2.1 Pumping stations and transfer of sewage ...................................................................................... 7

2.2 Inlet works .......................................................................................................................................... 8

2.3 Secondary treatment......................................................................................................................... 8

2.4 Tertiary treatment .............................................................................................................................. 9

2.5 Disinfection ...................................................................................................................................... 10

2.6 Network ............................................................................................................................................ 10

2.7 Chemicals ........................................................................................................................................ 11

2.7.1 Chemical storage bunds ................................................................................................................... 11

2.7.2 Bund drainage ................................................................................................................................... 12

2.7.3 Chemical transfer .............................................................................................................................. 12

2.8 Discharges to the environment from the Facility ........................................................................ 12

2.8.1 Overflow management ...................................................................................................................... 13

2.8.2 Off-Spec water discharges from the WRP ........................................................................................ 13

2.8.3 Excess recycled water discharges .................................................................................................... 13

2.9 Biosolids management ................................................................................................................... 13

2.10 Odour control .................................................................................................................................. 14

2.11 Recycled water system ................................................................................................................... 14

2.12 Potable water system...................................................................................................................... 14

2.13 SCADA system ................................................................................................................................ 15

2.13.1 Bulk Water Supply from Icon Water .................................................................................................. 15

2.13.2 Chemical dosing facilities .................................................................................................................. 16

2.13.3 Sewerage pumping stations .............................................................................................................. 16

2.13.4 Process control .................................................................................................................................. 16

3 PIRMP DEFINITIONS ....................................................................................................................... 17

3.1 Definition of a ‘pollution incident’ ................................................................................................. 17

3.2 Immediate notification .................................................................................................................... 17

4 PIRMP REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................................. 18

5 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND PRE-EMPTIVE MEASURES ..................................................... 23

5.1 Identification of pollution hazards ................................................................................................. 23

5.2 Pre-emptive measures .................................................................................................................... 23

5.3 Safety equipment ............................................................................................................................ 23


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6 INVENTORY OF POLLUTANTS ...................................................................................................... 25

7 POLLUTION INCIDENT MANAGEMENT AND NOTIFICATION PROTOCOL ............................... 27

7.1 Classification of environmental incidents .................................................................................... 27

7.1.1 Category one ..................................................................................................................................... 27

7.1.2 Category two ..................................................................................................................................... 27

7.2 Incident management response – Category one ......................................................................... 27

7.3 Incident notification – Category one ............................................................................................. 28

7.3.1 Who do you notify? ............................................................................................................................ 28

7.3.2 What information must be provided? ................................................................................................ 29

7.4 Incident management response – Category two ......................................................................... 29

7.5 Incident notification – Category two ............................................................................................. 30

8 NOTIFYING A POLLUTION INCIDENT TO NEIGHBOURS............................................................ 31

8.1 Wider notification ............................................................................................................................ 31

8.2 Community communication mechanisms .................................................................................... 31

8.3 Information to be provided ............................................................................................................. 31

9 OTHER EMERGENCY CONTACTS ................................................................................................ 32

10 TESTING THE PLAN ........................................................................................................................ 33

10.1 Timing ............................................................................................................................................... 33

10.2 Reporting ......................................................................................................................................... 33

Tables Table 1 Chemicals stored at the WRP and at Hill 800 .............................................................................. 11

Table 2 Legislative requirements of the PIRMP ........................................................................................ 18

Table 3 Inventory of potential pollutants ................................................................................................... 25

Table 4 Person to communicate with authorities ...................................................................................... 28

Table 5 Notification to relevant authorities ................................................................................................ 28

Table 6 Emergency contact details ........................................................................................................... 32

Figures Figure 1 Environmental management system structure ............................................................................... 6

Figure 2 General layout of the Facility ........................................................................................................ 35

Figure 3 Location of noise receivers used in modelling ............................................................................. 36

Figure 4 Location of chemical storage at the WRP (highlighted in red boxes) .......................................... 37

Figure 5 Hill 800 reservoir site drawings .................................................................................................... 38

Figure 6 Hill 800 reservoir general arrangement design drawing .............................................................. 39

Figure 7 Facility discharge points ............................................................................................................... 40


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1 Introduction

1.1 Background

The Googong Township Water Recycling Plant (WRP) and Network (‘the Facility’) is located in and around

the Googong Township in the Canberra region, around seven kilometres south of Queanbeyan in NSW. As

part of the Integrated Water Cycle (IWC) for the Googong Township, the IWC Project will reduce the

consumption of potable water in the community by around 60 per cent and recycle the township’s

wastewater for non-potable use. Googong Township Pty Ltd (GTPL) is responsible for the construction of the

IWC Project while Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) are responsible for its operation.

Construction and handover is occurring in stages with the first elements of the Project handed over in 2016.

QPRC currently holds Environment Protection Licence (EPL) No. 20188 for the operation of the Facility,

under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act). This licence has recently been

amended to include the commissioning and operation of the Stage C WRP which has doubled the capacity

of the WRP to 9,400 equivalent populations (EP). In accordance with the Protection of the Environment

Legislation Amendment Act 2011 (POLEA Act), holders of an EPL must prepare and implement a Pollution

Incident Response Management Plan (PIRMP). The specific requirements for the PIRMP are set out in Part

5.7A of the POLEA Act and outlined in the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Environmental

Guidelines: Preparation of pollution incident response management plans (NSW EPA, March 2012). This

legislation requires the following:

All holders of environment protection licences must prepare a pollution incident response management

plan (section 153A, POEO Act);

The plan must include the information detailed in the POEO Act (section 153C) and be in the form

required by the POEO (General) Regulation (clause 98B);

Licensees must keep the plan at the premises to which the environment protection licence relates;

Licensees must test the plan in accordance with the POEO (General) Regulation (clause 98E); and

If a pollution incident occurs in the course of an activity so that material harm to the environment is

caused or threatened, licensees must immediately implement the plan (section 153F, POEO Act).

This PIRMP has been updated to include the operation of Stage C WRP and Network West in 2018. Please

refer to Figure 2 in Appendix A for the general layout of the Facility.

1.2 Objectives of the PIRMP

This PIRMP has been developed for the operation of the Facility and should be read in conjunction with the

Googong Township Integrated Water Cycle Operational Environment Management Plan (OEMP, 2018). This

OEMP is the key document in the Environmental Management System (EMS) for operations and is required

under the following approvals granted under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979:

Condition of Approval (CoA) D7 of the Part 3A Project Approval (MP 08_0236 dated 27 October 2014,

Modification 3 approval) for Stage AB WRP and Network;

The Part 5 project approval for Stage C Network West (determined by the then Queanbeyan City

Council on 13 April 2016); and

The Part 5 project approval for Stage C WRP (determined by QPRC on 14 December 2016).

The EMS structure, which includes this PIRMP is outlined in Figure 1 and described in more detail in

Section 1.5 of the OEMP.


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The objectives of this PIRMP are to:

Ensure comprehensive and timely communication about a pollution incident to staff at the premises, the

EPA and other relevant authorities specified in the POEO Act (such as local councils, NSW Ministry for

Health, WorkCover NSW, and Fire and Rescue NSW), and people outside the project who might be

affected by the impacts of a pollution incident;

Minimise and control the risk of a pollution incident associated with the operation of the Facility by

requiring identification of risks and the development of planned actions to minimise and manage those

risks; and

Ensure that the PIRMP is properly implemented by trained staff, identifying persons responsible for

implementing it and ensuring that the plan is regularly tested for accuracy, currency and suitability.

Figure 1 shows the structure of the environmental management system for the IWC Project and its relationship to other project documents.

Figure 1 Environmental management system structure


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2 IWC Project process description

The IWC Project comprises of the following infrastructure:

Bulk Water Pumping Station (BWPS);

The WRP;

Network components, including:

– Pumping stations for sewage and recycled water;

– Permanent (Hill 800) reservoirs for recycled and potable water;

– Mains pipework (including rising and distribution mains) for sewage, recycled water and potable

water;

– Structures for the discharge of excess recycled water to the stormwater management system at the

Hill 800 reservoirs, as well as at Beltana Park (developed as part of the Googong Township); and

Structure for the discharge of emergency overflows to Montgomery Creek at the WRP.

Figure 2 in Appendix A outlines the various components of the IWC Project. QPRC are responsible for the

operation of the WRP and network that is west of the Googong Foreshores Boundary while Icon Water are

responsible for the operation of the BWPS and network east of this boundary. The area to the east is outside

of the scope of this PIRMP.

2.1 Pumping stations and transfer of sewage

Sewage from Googong Township flows in a gravity sewerage system to two separate sewage pumping

stations (SPS1 and SPS2) and is pumped directly to the WRP.

SPS1 and SPS2 consist of underground, concrete well structures with submersible sewage pumps.

Emergency storage is provided for pump/power failure. Manual air valves and scour valve arrangements are

also provided in accordance with WSA 04.

The pumping stations pump directly to the inlet works at the WRP. There are 2-3 pumps within each wet well

in a duty/standby arrangement. These pumps are controlled by wet well-level sensors, which switch the

pumps on when the water level reaches the design cut-in level, and switches the pumps off, when the water

level drops to the cut-out level.

Should inflow to either of the pumping stations exceed the pump discharge rate at any time, or failure of the

pumps due to malfunction or loss of power to the site, the emergency storage tanks at each location will start

to fill. The emergency storage capacity is different at both sewage pumping stations. Storage at SPS 1 is

sufficient to provide 11 hours capacity at average dry weather flow (ADWF) and storage at SPS 2 is sufficient

to provide 8 hours capacity at ADWF. Once normal operations are restored, the emergency storage tanks

can be drained and pumped to the WRP via the normal process.

A Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and telecommunication system is linked to SPS1 and

SPS2 and is monitored remotely by QPRC. The pumping stations are ventilated to the atmosphere with a

standard 12m high DN150mm ventilation stack, connected to the wet well.

The SPSs and sewage network are operated by QPRC and are controlled independently of the WRP. The

inflow of sewage to the WRP is monitored by the WRP control system.


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2.2 Inlet works

The purpose of the inlet works is to remove gross solids from the incoming sewage from SPS 1 and SPS 2.

A new inlet works was constructed as part of the Stage C WRP upgrade, which replaces the inlet works for

Stage AB. It comprises the following equipment:

6mm screens;

1.5mm screens;

Vortex Grit Trap (VGT) for grit removal; and

Collected screenings and grit handling, washing and dewatering.

The inlet works now has sufficient capacity to handle the ultimate capacity of the WRP (18,850 EP), however

the flow through the screens is limited to 3 x ADWF, which is the capacity of the downstream units. The

design of the inlet works was based on a peak wet weather flow at Stage D of 196 L/s (>6 x ADWF).

The sewage flowing into the WRP is discharged into a covered, elevated inlet chamber and gravitates

through the inlet works. Separate dosing points for ferric sulphate are provided on the rising mains from SPS

1 and SPS 2. Ferric sulphate is dosed into each rising main via a dosing pit to reduce the release of

hydrogen sulphide gas in the inlet works area.

Unscreened sewage flows through the screens and VGT where solids above 6mm are removed and heavier

settled grit and sand is removed as well. The screened and de-gritted sewage is then directed through to the

fine screens, where solids above 1.5mm are removed to provide protection to the downstream membrane

treatment process. It then flows through a series of channels and weirs to a flow split chamber, which splits

the flow equally between the two bioreactors. The flow split chamber includes provision for flow splitting to

two future chambers (Stage D) with stop boards for future isolation

The removed grit and screenings are washed and dewatered in a screening handling system before being

stored in enclosed bins positioned at ground level from where they are transported off site for disposal.

Odours from the inlet works and equipment are extracted and treated by the odour control system.

2.3 Secondary treatment

The secondary treatment processes involve the use of biological and chemical methods to remove organic

materials (biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD)) and nutrients such as

nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as total suspended solids (TSS) from the sewage. Sewage from the inlet

works flows by gravity to the secondary treatment bioreactors.

The WRP uses the membrane bioreactor (MBR) process. An initial bioreactor (Bioreactor 1) was installed

and commissioned for Stage AB with a second bioreactor (Bioreactor 2), including an additional two

membrane tanks provided as part of Stage C. This addition of the Bioreactor 2 has doubled the hydraulic

and biological capacity of the secondary treatment process. Both bioreactors operate independently with

separate inlets for screened sewage and chemicals. They also have independent recycle streams and

dedicated outlets for MBR filtrate that may be discharged to the Off-Spec Tanks or the Filtrate Tanks (subject

to the measured water quality). They also include independent Waste Activated Sludge (WAS) and scum

wasting systems to transfer flow to the biosolids handling area.

Both membrane bioreactors have been designed with additional capabilities to facilitate both biological

nitrogen removal and biological phosphorus removal. They incorporate the following components:

A distribution chamber at the inlet to the bioreactor;


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Anaerobic / Anoxic Swing zone to allow for phosphorus removal, which is aided by ferric sulphate

dosing;

Two anoxic zones (primary and secondary) and a de-aeration zone to promote de-nitrification (convert

nitrate into nitrogen gas, which dissipates into the atmosphere);

A mixed liquor return which transfers sludge from the primary anoxic zone to the anaerobic zone to

facilitate biological phosphorus removal;

An aeration zone aided by sodium hydroxide to remove biological and chemical oxygen demand, and

oxidation of ammonia;

Membrane tank feed pumps to transfer flow from the bioreactor to the membrane tanks;

Membrane tanks for the microfiltration of bioreactor effluent; and

Membrane bioreactor filtrate pumps to draw filtrate from the membranes and direct the water to the

Filtrate Storage Tanks.

The final zone (Secondary Anoxic Zone) in the bioreactors contains submerged membranes that act as a

physical barrier to remove total suspended solids. The membranes have 0.45µm pore size and therefore

produce a high quality filtered effluent.

The bioreactors are covered, and air is extracted and treated to prevent odour emissions. The extracted air is drawn through blowers to the odour control system for treatment. Air supply to the bioreactors is automatically adjusted to maintain a pre-set dissolved oxygen concentration in the aerobic zone of the bioreactor. The aeration system control allows the airflow to be different to each bioreactor at any given time, achieved by:

Modulating dampers provided on the existing and new bioreactor aeration headers;

The blower(s) speed controlled to a pressure set point; and

The damper position in each bioreactor controlled based on feedback from the bioreactor dissolved

oxygen.

Aeration for the aerobic zone is provided in the form of submerged fine bubble diffusers positioned on the

floor of the tank.

Two additional Membrane Operating Systems (MOS) have been provided for Bioreactor 2 which include the

critical control points, identical to Bioreactor 1.

2.4 Tertiary treatment

Tertiary treatment system has been included to achieve low effluent (or recycled water) phosphorus

concentration. The tertiary treatment system comprises:

Tertiary filtration feed pumps;

Alum dosing and mixing to form an alum precipitate;

Tertiary filtration for phosphorus removal;

UV disinfection; and

Chlorine disinfection in a chlorine contact pipe.

Secondary effluent from the membrane bioreactors is stored in the filtrate storage tank from where it is

pumped into the tertiary filtration system. Both the tanks are fed from a common filtrate header with isolation

values to allow for isolation during maintenance of each tank.


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The tertiary filtration feed pumps were replaced as part of the Stage C expansion and an additional pump

added to provide additional flow capacity through the tertiary filters and disinfection systems.

A two-stage chemical precipitation process is employed to reduce the amount of chemicals required to

achieve the effluent (or Recycled Water) phosphorus target. Minimisation of chemical dosing will assist in

minimising the TDS of the effluent (or Recycled Water).

The two-stage chemical precipitation consists of:

Dosing of ferric sulphate into the bioreactor, targeted to achieve a soluble phosphorus level of 1 mg-P/L;

and

Dosing of alum into the MBR filtrate, targeted to meet the required effluent (or Recycled Water)

phosphorus level of 0.5 mg-P/L as 90 percentile.

The precipitates formed will then be removed in the tertiary filtration system which uses a pressurised micro-

filtration system. The existing tertiary skids have been augmented with additional membrane modules to

allow for the doubling of capacity at the WRP.

A Clean In Place (CIP) system is used to batch chemical solutions which will be used for membrane cleaning

in maintenance cleans and recovery cleans to remove membrane fouling, improve flux and reduce trans-

membrane pressure. Chemical cleans use sulphuric acid, citric acid and sodium hypochlorite. The spent

chemicals are neutralised after cleaning using sodium hydroxide and sodium bisulphite and then returned to

the inlet works for treatment.

2.5 Disinfection

The effluent from the tertiary filtration system is disinfected to further deactivate human pathogens to ensure

that the water is suitable for recycling and release into the local environment. Two forms of disinfection are

used, as determined under the Australian Recycled Water Guidelines – chlorination disinfection and UV light

disinfection.

The UV light system is sized to treat 100 per cent of the flow from the tertiary filtration system. The tertiary

filtered water passes through the downstream UV light (with an additional assist UV reactor provided in

Stage C) and into the chlorine disinfection process.

Chlorination disinfects and provides a residual disinfectant which suppresses bacterial and algal regrowth

within the recycled water reservoirs and pipework. Chlorination is conducted in a dedicated chlorine contact

pipe prior to storage at the onsite Recycled Water Storage Tank.

2.6 Network

The network currently comprises of the following components:

A potable and a recycled water reservoir at the Hill 800 site, which includes a recycled water discharge

pipeline for excess recycled water that needs to be released from the recycled water reservoir;

A Bulk Water Pumping Station (BWPS) with bulk water pumps and pressure mains to pump potable

water to the township and to the potable water reservoir at Hill 800; and

Rising and distribution mains pipelines for wastewater, recycled water and potable water that connect

the BWPS, the WRP, the reservoirs and the township.

The levels in both the potable and recycled water reservoirs at Hill 800 are monitored and set points can be

adjusted if and when required. A series of low level and high level alarms exist. A potable water booster

station is also located at this site.


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2.7 Chemicals

All chemicals stored at the WRP and at the Hill 800 reservoirs are identified in Table 1.

Table 1 Chemicals stored at the WRP and at Hill 800

Chemical Use – WRP Use – Hill 800

Ferric sulphate To control odours and remove chemical phosphorus

Not used

Alum To precipitate phosphorus Not used

Sodium hydroxide To increase alkalinity to aid the biological processes that occur within the bioreactor

Not used

Sodium hypochlorite To disinfect the secondary effluent and clean the membranes and tertiary

filters

To boost chlorine levels in potable and recycled water network

Sulphuric acid To clean the membranes and tertiary filters

To correct pH in the potable and recycled water network

Citric acid To clean the membranes and tertiary filters

Not used

Acetic acid Supplementary carbon source to assist biological processes in the bioreactor

Not used

Sodium meta bisulfide (SMBS) To reduce chlorine levels allowing for discharge to the environment

To reduce chlorine levels allowing for discharge to the environment

Polymers Thickening and dewatering of sludge Not used

2.7.1 Chemical storage bunds

Chemicals are stored in storage tanks located, together with dosing pumps, in a centralised bunded areas at

the WRP and Hill 800. The chemical offloading and storage areas at both areas are sized for their ultimate

capacities. Chemical storage areas at the WRP and Hill 800 are shown in Figure 4 and Figure 6 in Appendix

A. The existing chemical dosing pumps have sufficient capacity for the Stage C WRP expansion however

additional chemical dosing skids have been installed for dosing to the new bioreactor. The additional dosing

skids are required for:

Ferric sulphate for chemical phosphorus removal in Bioreactor 2; and

Sodium hydroxide for alkalinity addition to aid the biological processes that occur within Bioreactor 2.

The chemical storage area is a roofed facility and is housed together with a reinforced concrete bunded

tanker delivery area. This area is roofed so that high levels of rainwater do not collect in the bunds. The

bunded areas require manual draining by the Operator in the event of a spill.

All storage bunds are designed to contain 110% of the volume of the storage tank contained within the bund.

Incompatible chemicals have separate bunds. The storage bunds are lined with a suitable lining to prevent

concrete attack from chemical leaks where appropriate.


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Chemical fill points extend over the bund and are clearly labelled to indicate the chemical to be loaded into

each fill point. An audible alarm and flashing light signals when a chemical tank is full. Additionally, each

chemical tank is fitted with an external level indicator that clearly indicates the level of liquid in the tank. This

indicator is clearly visible from the tank filling point. Chemical tanks will be drained and cleaned from time-to-

time as appropriate.

2.7.2 Bund drainage

To facilitate the handling of any chemicals in the event of a tank failure, all storage bunds are provided with

an invert that is graded towards an un-grated sump. The sump is positioned in a location that is easily

accessed and permits the installation of a portable sump pump for the emptying of the bund to a tanker truck

or to the neutralisation pit via permanent pipework. A portable pump is preferred rather than a permanent

drain to ensure chemical bund drainage is carefully managed.

The chemical tank is also graded to a sump fitted with an external isolation valve which normally remains

open to drain to the General Purpose Pumping Station to allow drainage of any rain water. During delivery of

chemical, this valve is closed. In the event of a chemical spill a portable pump is used to pump the spilled

chemical to the neutralisation pit using the permanent drain system provided. At Hill 800, each bunded area

is provided with a sump that requires manual pump out in the event of spills.

Compatible chemicals, such as sodium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite are stored in common storage

bunds. Incompatible chemicals are stored in separate bunds e.g. sodium hydroxide and sulphuric acid are

stored in separate bunds.

Measures are provided to prevent the uncontrolled contamination of incompatible chemicals both in storage,

transfer and at the point of application. This includes hardware such as non-return valves; software such as

control interlocks and operational controls such as procedures and training.

2.7.3 Chemical transfer

All chemical transfer pipes are double contained, either in dedicated trench or secondary containment pipe.

All buried pipework is double contained. A splash guard is also provided at the application points.

Appropriate lagging of pipework is also provided to ensure that the certain chemicals do not freeze either in

storage or transfer during the winter months.

2.8 Discharges to the environment from the Facility

In certain scenarios, depending on the operating situation at the Facility or when the supply of recycled water

exceeds demand, recycled water or partially treated wastewater will need to discharge to the environment.

There are three licenced discharge points designated to the Facility, shown in Figure 7 in Appendix A:

Discharge Point 1: Below the Hill 800 Reservoir – Excess recycled water will be discharged from the

recycled water reservoir from time to time along the overland discharge line, where it will flow into the

stormwater management system to Beltana Pond and into Googong Creek;

Discharge Point 2: WRP (Montgomery Creek) – In the event of an emergency, untreated or partially

treated wastewater will be discharged from the WRP site into the Montgomery Creek catchment, where

it will eventually discharge into Queanbeyan River below Googong Dam (emergency discharge point);

and

Discharge Point 3: Beltana Park Outlet Structure (Googong Creek) – Off-specification recycled water

will be discharged from the WRP at Beltana Park immediately downstream of Beltana Pond, where it

will then flow into Googong Creek.


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2.8.1 Overflow management

The WRP has been designed and sized appropriately treat both dry and wet weather flows. This design

feature negates the need to incorporate a separate wet weather flow bypass system in the plant.

During normal operation, flows within 3 x ADWF receive full treatment (MBR, UV and CCT) and are then

pumped to the recycled water reservoir. In a wet weather event, flows greater than 3 x ADWF will be

screened, de-gritted and stored in the Emergency Detention Tanks (EDTs) and returned to the plant, via the

WRP inlet works, for processing when the incoming flow subsides or when the wet weather flows abate. The

EDTs have sufficient capacity to manage 8 hours of ADWF. In the event of flows being received at the WRP

>6 x ADWF (exceeding the inlet works capacity), or if power failure causes a blockage of the inlet works, the

EDTs can receive flows which have been screened to 10mm at the inlet works. If the event that the 10mm

overflow screen is blocked, the EDTs may also receive unscreened sewage.

If the capacity of the EDTs is reached, and flows continue to be received, the EDTs will overflow via gravity

to an erosion control structure and then to Montgomery Creek. Flows which are discharged to Montgomery

Creek could be dosed at the outlet using sodium hypochlorite as a means of disinfection.

After the wet weather (emergency) overflow event has passed, any stored sewage remaining in the EDTs

will be transferred back to the inlet works for treatment through the WRP.

2.8.2 Off-Spec water discharges from the WRP

In the event that human health critical control points (CCPs) monitored at the tertiary filtration system and

disinfection system are breached, the ‘Off-Spec’ water from the recycled water system will be diverted to the

Off-Spec Water (Effluent) Tanks. This off-specification water is returned to the WRP inlet works via the EDT

in the first instance. If the off-specification event lasts longer than 2 – 4 hours, the effluent can be discharged

to Googong Creek at Discharge Point 3.

2.8.3 Excess recycled water discharges

When the supply of recycled water exceeds demand in the township and the recycled water reservoir at Hill

800 is at full capacity, excess recycled water is discharged from Discharge Point 1.

2.9 Biosolids management

Solids produced as waste sludge from the bioreactor processes are separated from the liquid process by the

membranes in the bioreactors. The waste sludge is thickened and then digested in two aerobic digesters,

which reduces the volatile solids and bacteria in order to ensure the product is suitable for re-use. The

sludge treatment process treats the sludge to achieve a Grade B Classification, suitable for restricted use 2

as per the NSW EPA Environmental Guidelines on the Use and Disposal of Biosolids Products.

Digested sludge is pumped from the digesters to a centrifuge, located in a dedicated plant room. The

dewatered sludge from the centrifuge is stored in a sealed storage bin, which is collected by a standard

hooklift truck for disposal. It is estimated that sludge collection and removal activities would involve about 2-4

truck movements each week at ultimate development capacity.

Odour is extracted from the biosolids management building and equipment and treated through the odour

control system.


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2.10 Odour control

Due to the close proximity of the WRP to residential areas and the subsequent potential to generate odour

complaints, tanks and equipment that have the potential to generate odours are covered and odour

extraction and treatment facilities are provided. The WRP areas that are covered for odour control are:

Inlet Works Area and Equipment;

Secondary Treatment Tanks;

Sludge Digesters, Dewatering Equipment and Storage Bins; and

Emergency Detention Tank and General-Purpose Pump Station.

The WRP has a centralised odour control facility which consists of activated carbon filters, two extraction

fans (with acoustic hoods) and exhaust discharge stack. The stack has been modified with a larger efflux

cone added and an additional fan achieves the increased foul air flow rate. Ferric sulphate is also dosed into

all incoming sewage to reduce septicity and odour potential. The odour control system is located on a

bunded, reinforced concrete slab.

2.11 Recycled water system

The recycled water system supplies recycled water produced at the WRP to the township for use by the

community. This system is comprised of the following:

Components of the WRP:

– Recycled water storage tanks;

– The recycled water transfer pumping station;

Mains for recycled water:

– Recycled water rising main from the WRP to the Hill 800reservoir site;

– Gravity recycled water mains from the Hill 800 site back into the Googong Township; and

A recycled water reservoir at Hill 800, including a recycled water discharge pipeline for excess recycled

water to be released from the recycled water reservoir at the licenced Discharge Point 1.

It should be noted that a prior approval under the Local Government Act 1993 authorised all recycled water

generated by the WRP to be discharged at the licensed Discharge Point 3 on Googong Creek downstream

of Beltana Pond. A subsequent approval under the Local Government Act 1993 now permits recycled water

to be used in the township and excess recycled water to be discharged at the licensed Discharge Point 1 in

the Googong Creek catchment downstream of the permanent reservoirs.

Potable water is currently being used in the recycled water system until the reservoirs are filled with recycled

water and in the future potable water may be required from time to time to top up the recycled water

reservoir, especially when the demand exceeds recycled water production.

2.12 Potable water system

Potable water is supplied from Icon Water at a supply point located near the WRP. Potable water is pumped

into the permanent water service reservoir from where it is distributed into the reticulation network. This

reservoir has a capacity of 1.9 ML

The inlet of the reservoir has an air gap as per current Australian Standard AS3500 requirements, meaning

that no backflow or cross-contamination can occur. There is a Service Level Agreement in place between

QPRC and ICON Water that details contractual and supply agreements.


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Cross connections and backflow prevention is discussed in the Googong Plumbing Standard and within

Council’s Backflow and Cross Connection Policy.

Reservoir levels are being monitored and controlled by a SCADA system and pump cut in and cut out levels.

Reservoir operating levels are continually reviewed which is based on population growth, varying demand

patterns and water quality.

Filling of the recycled water reservoir with potable water will stop once recycled water is used in the

township.

Chemical dosing facilities exist at the reservoirs where chlorine is injected to maintain required disinfectant

levels. These facilities are fully automated and regular monitoring is taking place in the reticulation network.

Sodium meta bisulphate is dosed at the reservoir overflow to reduce the chlorine levels to acceptable

environmental requirements, in the event of reservoir overflows. The chemical dosing facilities are fully

bunded.

At the WRP, potable water is provided in a number of locations such as the amenities building, the safety

showers and at the inlet works wash basin. In addition, potable water is used for batching up the polymer

solutions for sludge thickening and dewatering.

A small potable water top-up is also provided to the recycled water tank in the event that no recycled water is

available and service water is still required.

2.13 SCADA system

A Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system (SCADA) controls the WRP and monitors a range of

inputs from the bulk water supply, reservoirs, chemical dosing facilities, sewage pump stations and the WRP.

The SCADA system was modified as part of the Stage C expansion, to include the addition of the new

infrastructure (such as the inlet works and the 2nd Bioreactor). Modifications to set points and the control

functionality of existing equipment (such as the tertiary system) were also made.

Three levels of control exist with different input levels for:

View Only – No adjustments can be made;

Supervisor input – Adjustments to certain set points can be made; and

Engineer input – Full control.

SCADA and Telemetry data can be viewed and adjusted at:

QPRC Main Depot – Master System;

QPRC Sewage Treatment Plant – Secondary system;

Human Machine Interface (HMI) at Hill 800 site;

WRP – WRP processes only; and

On-Call Supervisors – Remote login and view from iPads/Laptops;

Priority alarms are sent to relevant personnel during office hours and after hours.

2.13.1 Bulk Water Supply from Icon Water

A large (DN375) bulk water supply line may be used to transfer potable water from the ‘Potable Top-Up to

WRP PS’ which is located at Icon Water’s Googong Water Treatment Plant. This will be used for bulk

transfer of potable water to the Recycled Water Storage Tank (RWST) at the WRP and ultimately to the


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recycled water reservoir at Hill 800. This will be used when recycled water demand in the township exceeds

the available supply from the WRP.

Potable water transfer is monitored via flow meters. As a failsafe, the pumps are designed to shut down if a

flow discrepancy exists between the flow meters. An emergency shut off can also be activated at the Hill800

site to force a pump shutdown in the event of an emergency.

2.13.2 Chemical dosing facilities

Chemical dosing facilities are located at the Hill 800 site and are fitted with online analysers to measure

water quality and to adjust chemical dosing rates. Free chlorine, pH, dosing pump status and chemical

storage levels are continuously monitored. Chemical concentrations are set to be within operational control

points. Priority alarms are sent to the responsible QPRC personnel should an operational control point be

breached, or should a breakdown of plant or equipment occur. An emergency shower is located at the

chemical dosing facility which sends a notification to relevant personnel if activated.

2.13.3 Sewerage pumping stations

Levels in the wet well, pump run times, excessive pump starts, power failure, flow meter readings, levels in

the emergency storage level and overflow to the environment can be viewed on the SCADA screen. Priority

alarms notify relevant personnel in the event of SPS failure or emergency event.

2.13.4 Process control

The basic requirements for process monitoring and control of the WRP are specified in the Plain English

Process Functional Description (PEFD).

Fail safe control philosophy has been used for control of processes/equipment. The fail-safe philosophy

covered the various failure modes, e.g. power failure, PLC failure, communication failure, Plant air failure

and instrument failure. Failure of critical instrumentation will result in a backup mode of operation. The

backup or “failure mode” mode of operation has been covered in PEFD.

A master PLC is located in the WRP Motor Control Centre (MCC) Building, adjacent to the plant control

room. The master PLC controls all WRP functions through the Plant Control System (PCS). Interface to the

master PLC/PCS will be via the plant SCADA system with appropriate workstation(s) located in the

Administration Building of the WRP.

The workstation(s) are used to:

Allow the operator to pre-set the system performance and alarm set points;

View the status of the controlled equipment;

Receive and respond to alarm messages; and

Store and retrieve historical plant data.

The available work stations will also provide access to the QPRC intranet, however this will not be on the

same platform as the WRP SCADA.


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3 PIRMP definitions

3.1 Definition of a ‘pollution incident’

In accordance with the POEO Act (section 153F), if a pollution incident occurs in the course of an activity so

that material harm to the environment is caused or threatened, the person carrying on the activity must

immediately implement the PIRMP.

‘Pollution Incident ‘is defined in the POEO Act as:

A pollution incident means an incident or set of circumstances during or as a consequence of which there is,

or is likely to be, a leak, spill or other escape or deposit of a substance, as a result of which pollution has

occurred, is occurring or is likely to occur. It includes an incident or set of circumstances in which a

substance has been placed or disposed of on premises, but it does not include an incident or set of

circumstances involving only the emission of any noise.

Material harm includes on-site harm, as well as harm to the environment beyond the premises where the

pollution incident occurred. ‘Material Harm’ is defined in section 147 of the POEO Act as:

147 Meaning of material harm to the environment

(1) For the purposes of this Part:

(a) harm to the environment is material if:

(i) it involves actual or potential harm to the health or safety of human beings or to

ecosystems that is not trivial, or

(ii) it results in actual or potential loss or property damage of an amount, or amounts in

aggregate, exceeding $10,000 (or such other amount as is prescribed by the regulations),

and

(b) loss includes the reasonable costs and expenses that would be incurred in taking all reasonable

and practicable measures to prevent, mitigate or make good harm to the environment.

(2) For the purposes of this Part, it does not matter that harm to the environment is caused only in the

premises where the pollution incident occurs.

3.2 Immediate notification

EPL licensees and anyone carrying on an activity or occupying a premise who becomes aware of a pollution

incident are required to report the pollution incident immediately (under section 148 of the POEO Act)

(formerly the requirement was ‘as soon as practicable’).

‘Immediate’ means licensees need to report pollution incidents promptly and without delay. There is a $2

million maximum penalty for failure to notify of a pollution incident in accordance with the requirements of the

POEO Act.

The duty to notify does not apply to a pollution incident involving only the emission of an odour and does not

include an incident or set of circumstances involving only the emission of noise.


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4 PIRMP requirements

The legislative requirements of the PIRMP and where these requirements have been met in this document

are shown in Table 2. The parts of the PIRMP that must be made publicly available are noted in Table 2.

Table 2 Legislative requirements of the PIRMP

Legislation Requirement Where requirement is met Must be Publicly Available

POEO Act: Part 5.7A Duty to prepare and implement pollution incident response management plans

153A Duty of licence holder to prepare PIRMP

The holder of an environment protection licence must prepare a pollution incident response management plan that complies with this Part in relation to the activity to which the licence relates.

This Plan.

153C Information to be included in plan

A pollution incident response management plan must be in the form required by the regulations and must include the following:

a) the procedures to be followed by the holder of the relevant environment protection licence, or the occupier of the relevant premises, in

notifying a pollution incident to:

i) the owners or occupiers of premises in the vicinity of the premises to which the environment protection licence or the direction under section 153B relates, and

Refer to Section 8 of this PIRMP. Yes

ii) the local authority for the area in which the premises to which the environment protection licence or the direction under section 153B relates are located and any area affected, or potentially affected, by the pollution, and


iii) any persons or authorities required to be notified by Part 5.7


c) the procedures to be followed for coordinating, with the authorities or persons that have been notified, any action taken in combating the pollution caused by the incident and, in particular, the persons through whom

all communications are to be made

Refer to Section 8 of this PIRMP.

153D Keeping of plan

A person who is required to prepare a pollution incident response management plan under this Part must ensure that it is kept at the premises to which the relevant environment protection licence relates, or where the relevant activity takes place, and is made available in accordance with the regulations.

A copy of the PIRMP will be kept on-site.


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153E Testing of plan

A person who is required to prepare a pollution incident response management plan under this Part must ensure that it is tested in accordance with the regulations.

Testing of the PIRMP will be undertaken in accordance with the regulations as set out in Section 11 of this PIRMP.

153F Implementation of plan

If a pollution incident occurs in the course of an activity so that material harm to the environment (within the meaning of section 147) is caused or threatened, the person carrying on the activity must immediately implement any pollution incident response management plan in relation to the activity required by this Part.

Noted.

Protection of the Environment Operations (General) Regulation 2009: Part 3A PIRMPs

98B Form of plan 1) A plan is to be in written form This Plan.

2) A plan may form part of another document that is required to be prepared under or in accordance with any other law so long as the information required to be included in the plan is readily identifiable as such in that other

document.

This PIRMP in conjunction with the Googong Township Integrated Water Cycle Operational Environmental Management Plan (OEMP)

98C Additional matters to be included in plan

1) General. The matters required under section 153C (d) of the Act to be included in a plan are as follows:

a) a description of the hazards to human health or the environment associated with the activity to which the licence relates (the relevant activity)


b) the likelihood of any such hazards occurring, including details of any conditions or events that could, or would, increase that likelihood


c) details of the pre-emptive action to be taken to minimise or prevent any risk of harm to human health or the environment arising out of the relevant activity


d) an inventory of potential pollutants on the premises or used in carrying out the relevant

activity


e) the maximum quantity of any pollutant that is likely to be stored or held at particular locations (including underground tanks) at or on the premises to which the licence relates


f) a description of the safety equipment or other devices that are used to minimise the risks to human health or the environment and to contain or control a pollution incident



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g) the names, positions and 24-hour contact details of those key individuals who:

i) are responsible for activating the plan, and

ii) are authorised to notify relevant authorities under section 148 of the Act, and

iii) are responsible for managing the response to a pollution incident


h) the contact details of each relevant authority referred to in section 148 of the Act


i) details of the mechanisms for providing early warnings and regular updates to the owners and occupiers of premises in the vicinity of the premises to which the licence relates or where the scheduled activity is

carried on


j) the arrangements for minimising the risk of harm to any persons who are on the premises or who are present where the scheduled activity is being carried on

STP Incident Management Plan

Water and Sewer Incident Management Plan (TRIM C114554).

Water Supply Recovery Action

Plan (TRIM C12107540).

Sewerage System Recovery Action Plan (TRIM C1273574).

k) a detailed map (or set of maps) showing the location of the premises to which the licence relates, the surrounding area that is likely to be affected by a pollution incident, the location of potential pollutants on the premises and the location of any stormwater drains on the

premises


l) a detailed description of how any identified risk of harm to human health will be reduced, including (as a minimum) by means of early warnings, updates and the action to be taken during or immediately after a pollution incident to reduce that risk

Refer to Section 6 & Section 8 of this PIRMP.

m) the nature and objectives of any staff training program in relation to the plan

Training for the PIRMP will be conducted in conjunction with Section 6 of the OEMP.

n) the dates on which the plan has been tested and the name of the person who carried out the test


o) the dates on which the plan is updated Refer to Section 11 of this PIRMP.


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p) the manner in which the plan is to be tested and maintained.


2) Trackable waste transporters Not applicable.

98D Availability of plan

1) A plan is to be made readily available:

a) to an authorised officer on request, and

The PIRMP will be made readily available to an authorised EPA officer on request.

b) at the premises to which the relevant licence relates, or where the relevant activity takes place, to any person who is responsible for implementing the plan.

The PIRMP will be kept onsite at the WRP.

2) A plan is also to be made publicly available in the following manner within 14 days after it is prepared:

a) in a prominent position on a publicly accessible website of the person who is required to prepare the plan,

b) if the person does not have such a website—by providing a copy of the plan, without charge, to any person who makes a written request for a copy.

The PIRMP is available at: http://www.qprc.nsw.gov.au/

Copies of this PIRMP will be provided (without charge) to any person who makes a written request for a copy.

3) Subclause (2) applies only in relation to that part of a plan that includes the information

required under:

a) section 153C (a) of the Act, and

b) clause 98C (1)(h) and (i) or

(2)(b) and (c) (as the case requires).

The publicly available PIRMP includes those sections referred to in the Act and Regulation (refer to the right-hand column of this Table).

4) Any personal information within the meaning of the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 is not required to be included in a plan that is made available to any person other than a person referred to in subclause (1).

Noted.

98E Testing of plan

1) The testing of a plan is to be carried out in such a manner as to ensure that the information included in the plan is accurate and up to date and the plan is capable of being implemented in a workable and effective manner.


http://www.qprc.nsw.gov.au/


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2) Any such test is to be carried out:

a) routinely at least once every 12 months, and

b) within 1 month of any pollution incident occurring in the course of an activity to which the licence relates so as to assess, in the light of that incident, whether the information included in the plan is accurate and up to date and the plan is still capable of being implemented in a workable and effective

manner.



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5 Hazard identification and pre-emptive measures

5.1 Identification of pollution hazards

Section 5 of the OEMP identifies environmental and safety aspects associated with the operation of the

Facility. These may include:

Effluent discharge from the WRP;

Accidental sediment discharges from the system to the downstream waterways (e.g. scouring);

Residual waste generation from the WRP – Grade B biosolids, screenings and grit;

General solid waste - Non-recyclable and other putrescible general solid waste;

Odour emissions from WRP operations, Sewer Pumping Stations, and/or network;

Spills - effluent, chemicals, sewage;

Damage to heritage items, particularly during maintenance activities;

Sewage overflow from the WRP operations, Sewer Pumping Stations, and/or network e.g. due to

breakdown in treatment equipment and/or temporary power outages; and

Pollution events as a result of bushfires and general fires.

5.2 Pre-emptive measures

A list of pre-emptive actions (also referred to as mitigation measures) are outlined in Section 5 of the

OEMP. Responsibility for implementing the mitigation measures to minimise or prevent the risk of pollution

incidents from occurring are also defined in Section 4 of the OEMP.

Additionally, other EMS documents have been developed and can be used to identify potential hazards to

human health and the environment, (e.g. environmental work method statements, environmental constraints

map, and specific environmental procedures, forms and checklists).

5.3 Safety equipment

A description of the safety equipment and control devices that are used to minimise or prevent the risks to

human health and the environment is outlined in in Section 5 of the OEMP. These include:

Emergency effluent overflow storage areas (e.g. in wet wells of Sewer Pumping Stations and the

Emergency Discharge Tanks at the WRP);

Bunded areas for containing chemicals and plant items;

First flush system;

Odour control units;

PLC and SCADA monitoring system for water quality monitoring and telemetry to notify the plant

operators of plant faults or critical alarms in the event of emergencies; and

Fire detectors and alarms.


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PIRMP

Spill kits are also available on site for all personnel to use. Refer to the Workplace Health and Safety Plan for

more detail on PPE and Site Safety Equipment.


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PIRMP

6 Inventory of pollutants

Table 3 Inventory of potential pollutants

Potential pollutant Estimated monthly consumption (L/month)

Tank size (kL) WRP

Tank size (kL) Hill 800

Comments

Sulphuric Acid (30%) Zero most of the time

200 maximum

1 1 Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) at and WRP

Sodium Hypochlorite 10,900 -13,900 20 6.4 Tanks at both WRP andHill800

Ferric Sulphate 12,600 21 - WRP

Acetic Acid Zero 11 - WRP

Acetic acid has not been in use since plant commissioning

Sodium Hydroxide 2,400 14 - WRP

Citric Acid 900 4 - WRP

Alum 1,700 3 - WRP

Sodium Meta Bisulfide (SMBS)

<200 1 1 IBC at WRP andHill800

Sulphuric Acid (70%) 100 - 1 IBC at WRP

Sludge Thickening Polymer <50 - 0.025 25 L drums at WRP

Sludge Dewatering Polymer <50 - 0.025 25 L drums at WRP

A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and a Hazardous and Dangerous Substances Register are kept at all chemical

storage and handling locations and which provides an inventory of the pollutants on site (Table 3).

The QPRC Operators:

Ensure a current (within five years of the date of issue) SDS is available for all products and substances

to be used on the site;

Review the SDS to determine if the product or substance is classified as hazardous before a product or

substance is used on the site;

Provide all employees involved in the use of products classified as hazardous with relevant information

and training to allow safe completion of the required task;

Maintain a register of hazardous and dangerous substances used (displayed externally to storage

facility); and

Ensure the quantities of chemicals are included in the hazardous substances register.

Furthermore, all storage and use of hazardous substances and dangerous goods are be stored:

In accordance with the SDS and legislative requirements;

In their original containers with the label intact at all times; and

With a manifest of hazardous substances displayed externally to the storage facility.


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The QPRC Operators are be responsible for monitoring the quantity of chemicals stored/used on site to

ensure the manifest quantity is not exceeded in accordance with the Regulations.

For storage of chemicals that exceed the manifest quantity as defined in the WHS Regulations, a Notification

of Dangerous Goods on Premises shall be made to Worksafe with associated Emergency Plan lodged with

Fire and Rescue NSW.


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7 Pollution incident management and notification protocol

Section 153F of the POEO Act requires the PIRMP is implemented if a pollution incident occurs. This section provides a detailed description of the actions that are to be taken immediately after a pollution incident to reduce or control any pollution.

7.1 Classification of environmental incidents

In the event of an incident, it will be classified into one of two categories of environmental incidents.

7.1.1 Category one

Category one incidents include:

Unauthorised effluent or sediment discharge or fuel, oil or chemical spill leaving site where the pollution

incident causes or threatens material harm to the environment or people (as per Part 5.7 of the NSW

Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act));

Unauthorised impact to threatened species and endangered ecological communities;

Unauthorised impact to Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal heritage items, sites or relics; and

Carrying out of work without necessary approval/permit/licence.

7.1.2 Category two

Category two incidents include:

Pollution incidents that can be cleaned up without material harm to the environment or people (as per

Part 5.7 of the POEO Act); and

A non-conformance with the environmental management system that does not result in a Category one

incident.

7.2 Incident management response – Category one

In the event of a Category one incident, the response actions include:

If necessary, stop work in relevant area and take necessary actions or put in place suitable controls to

avoid and reduce impacts of incidents to the environment or community;

All personnel must immediately notify the QPRC Program Coordinator – QSTP and Googong (if WRP)

or Program Coordinator – Operations West (if network) and the QPRC Service Manager – Utilities (refer

to Section 4 of the OEMP);

QPRC Service Manager – Utilities to immediately notify all relevant authorities (DP&E, EPA, Ministry of

Health, WorkCover and Fire and Rescue NSW) for pollution incidents causing or threatening material

harm (refer to Section 3 of this PIRMP);

QPRC Service Manager – Utilities to notify QPRC Service Manager – Natural Landscapes and Health

of incident;

QPRC to complete an incident report form and record in an Incident Register;


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QPRC will investigate the incident (using root cause analysis) and implement any opportunities for

improvement, as soon as practical, but within one week. Refer to Section 7.5 of the OEMP; and

QPRC to issue a copy of incident report and root cause analysis to DP&E (and others as required) for

their consideration, within seven days.

7.3 Incident notification – Category one

7.3.1 Who do you notify?

Firstly, call 000 if the incident presents an immediate threat to human health or property. Fire and Rescue

NSW, the NSW Police and the NSW Ambulance Service are the first responders, as they are responsible for

controlling and containing incidents.

Notify the Main Incident Controller (QPRC Service Manager – Utilities) using the contact details provided in

Table 4. If the 1st person Main Incident Controller is unreachable, the 2nd person Main Incident Controller is

to be contacted.

Table 4 Person to communicate with authorities

Roles Name Contact Phone number

Main Incident Controller

(1st Person)

Gordon Cunningham QPRC Service Manager – Utilities

QPRC Emergency Call Out: (02) 6285 6000

After hours (02) 6298 1234

Main Incident Controller

(2nd Person)

Natasha Abbott QPRC Service Manager – Natural Landscapes and Health

QPRC Emergency Call Out: (02) 6285 6000

After hours (02) 6298 1234

Upon receiving notification, the Main Incident Controller must determine the level of the incident. If the event

is a pollution incident (refer to Section 3), the Main Incident Controller must then immediately (that is,

promptly and without delay), provide notification of the pollution incident to all the authorities identified in

Table 5 in the order as listed.

Table 5 Notification to relevant authorities

Contact Phone number

1a. EPA Environment Line 131 555

1b. EPA Unit Head South Eastern Region (02) 6229 7002

2. NSW Health (02) 9391 9000

3. WorkCover Authority 13 10 50

4. Fire and Rescue NSW 000

5. Department of Planning & Environment (02) 4224 9450

Whenever an incident notification is made. All authorities listed above MUST be contacted. For example:

If the initial call is to Fire and Rescue on 000, due to an immediate threat to life and property, the other

authorities must still be contacted.


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Notification is not necessary if the operators of the facility know that all relevant authorities are already aware

of the incident (section 151 POEO Act).

If, at the time of making the notification, it is understood that some of these authorities do not need to attend

the incident, such advice may be provided. However, all information must still be provided including all the

information held at the site regarding the incident to each authority. It is the responsibility of each authority to

decide whether they need to attend the incident.

Where authorities decide not to attend, the incident notification enables each authority to respond to

enquiries about the incident and provides them with initial information in the event that the incident escalates

or their involvement in managing the incident is required at some later stage.

7.3.2 What information must be provided?

Sufficient detail of the incident must be reported to the EPA to enable appropriate follow-up action. An

environment incident report (in accordance with the reporting requirements of EPL 20188) will be prepared

by the QPRC WRP Operators and provided to QPRC Service Manager – Utilities within two days of the

incident occurring, including learnings from the incident and proposed measures to prevent the occurrence of

a similar incident.

Within seven days of the incident occurring, QPRC will provide a detailed incident report and copy of the root

cause analysis investigation to the EPA, including the following information in accordance with Section 150

and Condition R3 of EPL 20188 of the amended POEO Act:

a. the time, date, nature, duration and location of the incident;

b. the location of the place where pollution is occurring or is likely to occur;

c. the nature, the estimated quantity or volume and the concentration of any pollutants involved, if known;

d. the circumstances in which the incident occurred (including the cause of the incident, if known); and

e. the action taken or proposed to be taken to deal with the incident and any resulting pollution or

threatened pollution, if known.

Any information that is not known when the incident is notified must be provided immediately once it

becomes known.

7.4 Incident management response – Category two

In the event of a Category two incident, the response actions include:

If necessary, stop work in relevant area and take necessary actions or put in place suitable controls to

avoid and reduce impacts of incidents to the environment or community;

All personnel must immediately notify the QPRC Program Coordinator – QSTP and Googong (if WRP)

or Program Coordinator – Operations West (if network) and the QPRC Service Manager – Utilities (refer

to Section 4 of the OEMP);

QPRC Service Manager – Utilities to notify QPRC Service Manager – Natural Landscapes and Health

of incident;

QPRC to complete an incident report form and record in an Incident Register;

QPRC will investigate the incident (using root cause analysis) and implement any opportunities for

improvement, as soon as practical, but within one week (refer to Section 7.5 of the OEMP);

QPRC to report on category two incidents to DP&E in the six-month construction compliance report; and


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QPRC to report on category two incidents to EPA in the Annual Return.

7.5 Incident notification – Category two

An environment incident report will be prepared by the Facility Operators and provided to the QPRC Service

Manager – Utilities within two weeks of the incident occurring. The report will include corrective actions and

learnings from the incident and proposed measures to prevent the occurrence of a similar incident.

Category two incidents will be reported to DP&E through the six-monthly compliance reports (required for the

first two years of operation). They will also be reported to the EPA through the Annual Return in accordance

with Condition R1 of EPL 20188.


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8 Notifying a pollution incident to neighbours

This section of the PIRMP sets out the procedures to be followed by QPRC in notifying a pollution incident to

the owners or occupiers of premises in the vicinity of the Facility. Local community stakeholders include

nearby residents, Icon Water (Water Treatment Plant), the ranger station and downstream water users. The

sensitive receptors adjacent to the WRP are identified in Figure 3.

All communications are undertaken in accordance with the Communications Strategy (C1117545).

8.1 Wider notification

The EPA can formally direct QPRC to notify others. If so directed, QPRC would contact commercial,

industrial and residential neighbours to inform them of the circumstances of the incident and what action is

being taken in response to it. It is an offence not to comply with such a direction. The EPA may advise

QPRC of the extent of notification required. If not, QPRC would determine the extent of who to contact based

on the nature of the pollution incident and the conditions at the time (for example, the type of pollutant,

prevailing winds, magnitude of incident, and possible impacts).

8.2 Community communication mechanisms

In the event that the pollution incident is being coordinated by emergency services, communications would

be under the control of emergency services. Emergency services are able to send out SMS messages to

defined catchment areas to alert and advise the community if required. QPRC (through the persons

nominated in Table 4) would work with emergency services to provide communications assistance and

support, including direct doorknocks if they were required. If communication is not coordinated by emergency

services, notification to the owners or occupiers of properties in the vicinity of the Facility would be

coordinated by QPRC.

The communication response to be used in the event of a pollution incident would depend on the

circumstances of the event, and any direction that may be provided by the EPA.

8.3 Information to be provided

In the event of a pollution incident, communication to the community would include specific information to

minimise the risk of harm. For example, this may include instructions to close windows and doors and remain

inside for incidents involving emission of air pollutants. The information to be provided would be dependent

on the nature and circumstances of the event.


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9 Other emergency contacts

Table 6 provides a list of other emergency contacts that may be required in the event of a pollution incident.

Table 6 Emergency contact details

Emergency contact Contact details

Icon Water Icon Water Operations Control Centre (SMC):

(02) 6248 3457

SPS Operator QPRC Emergency Call Out: (02) 6285 6000

After hours (02) 6298 1234

EPA (Queanbeyan Office) (02) 6229 7002

Murrumbidgee/Southern NSW Local Health District Public Health Unit

(02) 5943 2044

NSW Health (02) 9391 9000

Police 000 (or 112 from mobiles)

Local Police (02) 6298 0599

Ambulance 000 (or 112 from mobiles)

Canberra Hospital (02) 6244 2222

NSW Rural Fire Service 000 (or 112 from mobiles)

Jemina Gas/Electricity (Faults) 131 909/ 131 626

Telstra (Faults) 132 203

WorkCover NSW 13 10 50

Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS) 13 22 81

WIRES 1300 094 737


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10 Testing the plan

10.1 Timing

The POEO (General) Regulation 2009 (Clause 98E) states for testing of the PIRMP:

1) The testing of a plan is to be carried out in such a manner as to ensure that the information included in

the plan is accurate and up to date and the plan is capable of being implemented in a workable and

effective manner.

2) Any such test is to be carried out:

– Routinely at least once every 12 months, and

– Within 1 month of any pollution incident occurring in the course of an activity to which the licence

relates so as to assess, in the light of that incident, whether the information included in the plan is

accurate and up to date and the plan is still capable of being implemented in a workable and

effective manner.

In accordance with the Regulation, testing of this PIRMP will occur:

Annually; and

Within 1 month of any Category One pollution incident during the operations of Facility.

10.2 Reporting

The objective of testing is to assess whether the information included in the PIRMP is accurate and up to

date and the PIRMP is capable of being implemented in a workable and effective manner. The routine

testing will be a desktop assessment and/or practical exercise/drill. During the testing the PIRMP will be

reviewed and all components of the plan will be checked for effectiveness:

Contact details will be checked to ensure they are up-to-date;

Procedures in the PIRMP will be checked to ensure they are workable;

Learnings from practical site exercises will be transferred to the PIRMP where applicable; and

The effectiveness of training will be assessed.

The date on which the plan is tested, and the name of the person who carries out the test, will be recorded in

a document register. If the test identifies any shortcomings, this PIRMP will be corrected and/or appropriate

non-conformance actions will be undertaken in accordance with the OEMP. This would include any non-

conformance or opportunities for improvement to be recorded through the non-conformance register. If the

PIRMP is updated, the date on which the plan is updated will also be recorded in the document register.


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Appendix A

Figures


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Figure 2 General layout of the Facility


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Figure 3 Location of noise receivers used in modelling


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Figure 4 Location of chemical storage at the WRP (highlighted in red boxes)


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Figure 5 Hill 800 reservoir site drawings


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Figure 6 Hill 800 reservoir general arrangement design drawing


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Figure 7 Facility discharge points

Documents

Googong Township Integrated Water Cycle Project · part of the Integrated Water Cycle (IWC) for the Googong Township, the IWC Project will reduce the consumption of potable water