Licence conditions for pollution studies and reduction program

Licence conditions for pollution studies and reduction programs

Summary

Licence number:

372

Title:

Pollution Study: Prospect Creek catchment wet weather overflow abatement options report

Start date:

22 Dec 2017

Licence Condition
The objectives of this Pollution Study are to require the licensee to: 1) investigate the nature and scale of impacts on the environment and community due to wet weather overflows which discharge anywhere in the Prospect Creek drainage catchment; and 2) analyse the full range of options for abating these impacts. This is to identify whether a program of targeted wet weather overflow works would be effective in reducing the impacts of wet weather sewage overflows on the environment and community in the Prospect Creek catchment. The investigation and options analysis must be based on (but may not be limited to) a literature review of all existing relevant information that is publicly available or held by Sydney Water, analysis of the frequency and volume of wet weather overflow points in the catchment, available water quality monitoring and modelling data, and available community usage data.
The licensee must undertake the investigation and options analysis in accordance with the objective and scope outlined in U8.1 and submit a detailed draft report to the EPA by 31 May 2018 which must include (but may not be limited to): a) An introduction and background, including (but not limited to) a detailed description of the waterways in the study area and their community uses, and a description of the wet weather overflows in the study area; b) Description of methodologies used; c) Detailed description of the nature, scale and location of the impacts and risks of wet weather sewage overflows on the environment and community from overflow points which discharge in the Prospect Creek catchment; d) Identification and description of the full range of options, and/or suites of options, to reduce the environmental and community impacts of wet weather overflows which discharge in the Prospect Creek catchment; e) Detailed analysis of the identified options, and/or suites of options, including (but not limited to): (i) the estimated benefits achieved in terms of wet weather overflow performance associated with each option, or suites of options, including reductions in frequency and/or volume of wet weather overflows, and/or reductions in pollutant loads from these wet weather overflows. (ii) an analysis of the projected environmental benefits gained through the estimated improvements in wet weather overflow performance. (iii) a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis. (iv) indicative costing of each option. (v) indicative timeframes to implement each option. (vi) identification of any critical knowledge gaps to understanding the benefits and costs of each option. f) Conclusions, including identification of (and detailed justification for) a preferred option, or suite of preferred options, to inform discussions between Sydney Water and EPA concerning abatement of wet weather overflows in the Prospect Creek catchment.
The licensee must finalise the draft report by addressing any written comments provided by the EPA and resubmit it to the EPA within four weeks of receiving such comments.
In addition to the reporting requirements of conditions R5.6, the licensee must submit with each Annual System Performance Report: (i) details of any investigations, plans, works and activities that were undertaken as part of this Pollution Study during the reporting period, and (ii) an outline of progress toward achieving the objectives of this Pollution Study.
A Pollution Reduction Program is intended to be included on the licence for implementation of abatement works based on the outcomes of this Pollution Study.