Water Monitoring - Orica Kooragang Island

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
Monitoring Frequency and Limits
Annual Mass Discharge Limits

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