Sustainability Banner 2014

Water Monitoring

Orica Kooragang Island is licensed to discharge effluent into the north arm of the Hunter River. Comprehensive monitoring is undertaken to ensure that the water quality meets the discharge limits.

This includes continuous monitoring of parameters such as pH, temperature and flow, the analysis of a daily composite sample for a range of pollutants including zinc (Zn), nitrogen (N), arsenic (As) and hexavalent chromium (Cr6+), total suspended solids (TSS) and twice-weekly sampling for oil and grease. 

Composite sampling consists of a collection of numerous individual samples taken at regular intervals over 24 hours. The analysis of this material will therefore represent the average concentrations of each pollutant in the effluent for each day. 

Emissions limits are detailed in Orica’s Environmental Protection Licence, issued by the Environment Protection Authority.

Orica has implemented a number of projects since 2006 to improve the quality of effluent discharged from the site, including improving pH control, reducing effluent temperature and reducing the mass of nitrogen in the discharge. This program has been successful in achieving a 70 percent reduction in the mass of nitrogen (ammonia and nitrate) discharged to the Hunter River through the installation of new technology and improved work practices.

Monitoring Data

Details of Licence Conditions

EPA Licence No 828
Link to full license on the EPA website  View full licence 
Licensee Name  ORICA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
Licensee Address   75 Greenleaf Rd, KOORAGANG NSW 2304
Location of Monitoring Points   View Monitoring Points

See licence reference P1.1 and P1.2

Concentration Limit  See licence L3.6

Monitoring Frequency and Limits

Monitoring Point

Monitoring Location

Parameter

Monitoring Frequency

Percentile

Emission Limit

 

39

 

Effluent Discharge – Pump

Ammonia Daily composite    

Arsenic

Daily Composite

100%

0.05mg/L

Chromium (hexavalent)

Daily Composite

100%

2mg/L

Chromium (hexavalent)

Daily Composite

90%

0.05mg/L

Nitrogen (total)

Daily Composite

100%

2000mg/L

Nitrogen (total)

Daily Composite

90%

1500mg/L

Oil and Grease

Twice Weekly

100%

10mg/L

pH

Continuous

100%

6.2 – 9.5

Temperature

Continuous

100%

43ºC

Total Suspended Solids

Daily Composite

100%

50mg/L

Zinc

Daily Composite

100%

5mg/L

    Copper (total) Daily Composite 100%  TBD
    Nickel (total) Daily Composite 100%  TBD
    Phosphorus (total) Daily Composite 100%   TBD

Note: The percentile limit requires that over the licence year (1 April to 31 March) the samples must be below the limit for the specified percentage of the time. For example, the 90% percentile requires that over the course of a year (365 days) the results can only be above the limit for 36 days. The 100% percentile must not be exceeded during the licence period.

Monitoring Point

Monitoring Location

Parameter

Monitoring Frequency

Percentile

Emission Limit

23

Effluent Discharge – Pump

Total Flow

Continuous

100%

4500kL/day

38

Effluent Discharge – Diversion Pond

Total Flow

Continuous

100%

4500kL/day

Note: The Total Flow from Monitoring Point 23 plus Monitoring Point 38 must not exceed 4500kL/day

 

Monitoring Point

Monitoring Location

Parameter

Units

Monitoring Frequency

30

Main Transpiration Area

Conductivity

deciSiemens per metre

Quarterly

Enterococci

colony forming units per
100 millilitres

Quarterly

Faecal Coliforms

colony forming units per
100 millilitres

Quarterly

Magnesium

milligrams perlitre

Quarterly 

Nitrogen (total)

milligrams per litre

Quarterly

pH

pH

Quarterly

Phosphorus (total)

milligrams per litre

Quarterly

Potassium

milligrams per litre

Quarterly

Sodium

milligrams per litre

Quarterly

Sodium Adsorption
Ratio

sodium adsorption ratio

Quarterly

31

Main Transpiration Area

Bray phosphorus

milligrams per kilogram

Yearly

Cation Exchange
Capacity

centimoles of positive
charge per kilogram of soil

Yearly

Chloride

milligrams per kilogram

Yearly

Colwell phosphorus

milligrams per kilogram

Yearly

Conductivity

deciSiemens per metre

Yearly

Exchangeable
calcium

centimoles of positive
charge per kilogram of soil

Yearly

Exchangeable
magnesium

centimoles of positive
charge per kilogram of soil

Yearly

Exchangeable
potassium

centimoles of positive
charge per kilogram of soil

Yearly

Exchangeable
sodium

centimoles of positive
charge per kilogram of soil

Yearly

Moisture

percent

Yearly

Nitrate

milligrams per kilogram

3 years

Nitrogen (total)

milligrams per kilogram

3 years

Nitrogen Oxides

milligrams per kilogram

3 years

pH

pH

Yearly

Phosphorus (total)

milligrams per kilogram

3 years

Phosphorus Sorption
Capacity

milligrams per kilogram

3 years

Total Kjeldahl
Nitrogen

milligrams per kilogram

3 years

32

Up gradient of Transpiration Area

Calcium

milligrams per litre

Every 6 months

Conductivity

deciSiemens per metre

Every 6 months

Enterococci

colony forming units per
100 millilitres

Every 6 months

Faecal Coliforms

colony forming units per
100 millilitres

Every 6 months

Magnesium

milligrams per litre

Every 6 months

Nitrate

milligrams per litre

Every 6 months

Nitrogen (total)

milligrams per litre

Every 6 months

pH

pH

Every 6 months

Phosphorus (total)

milligrams per litre

Every 6 months

Sodium

milligrams per litre

Every 6 months

Standing Water
Level

metres

Every 6 months

Sulfate

milligrams per litre

Every 6 months

Total dissolved
solids

milligrams per litre

Every 6 months

Total Kjeldahl
Nitrogen

milligrams per litre

Every 6 months

33

Down gradient of Transpiration Area

Calcium

milligrams per litre

Every 6 months

Conductivity

deciSiemens per metre

Every 6 months

Enterococci

colony forming units per
100 millilitres

Every 6 months

Faecal Coliforms

colony forming units per
100 millilitres

Every 6 months

Magnesium

milligrams per litre

Every 6 months

Nitrate

milligrams per litre

Every 6 months

Nitrogen (total)

milligrams per litre

Every 6 months

pH

pH

Every 6 months

Phosphorus (total)

milligrams per litre

Every 6 months

Sodium

milligrams per litre

Every 6 months

Standing Water
Level

metres

Every 6 months

Sulfate

milligrams per litre

Every 6 months

Total dissolved
solids

milligrams per litre

Every 6 months

Total Kjeldahl
Nitrogen

milligrams per litre

Every 6 months

Annual Mass Discharge Limits

Parameter

Mass Discharge Limit (kg/annum)

Nitrogen (total)

170,000

Back to top