What’s the most polluting factor here?
Untreated sewage may enter waterways through multiple sources, including dry weather spills from septic tank or sewer leaks, and wet weather spills from engineered sewer Emergency Relief Structures (ERS). Untreated sewage is a potential risk to the ecological health of the receiving environments as well as to human health, due to the presence of pollutants (e.g. toxicants and ammonia) and pathogen indicators (e.g. E. coli).
This project aims to:
As of May 2020, the literature review is nearing completion. Multiple pesticides were detected in surface waters from 27 sites, across 7 land uses. Chemical signatures showed clear patterns with land-use. Suitable sewage indicators will be investigated more thoroughly in 2020 to understand the likely contribution of untreated sewage to waterway pollution across Melbourne’s streams.
RMIT A3P: Kathryn Hassell, Claudette Kellar, Vin Pettigrove, Monica Tewman.
MW: Rhys Coleman, Sarah Watkins, Grace Tjandraatmadja, Adrian Mazzarella, Trish Grant, Sam Costello, Slobodanka Stojkovic.
Expected Completion: 2023
Contact: claudette.kellar@rmit.edu.au or 9925 4682 or kathryn.hassell@rmit.edu.au on 9925 4647
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.