1921 parts of Port Phillip Bay and Bellarine Peninsula including the Western Treatment Plant

were declared a sanctuary for native animals. In 1983 the plant was declared a Ramsar site,
internationally recognised for its wetland habitat especially for waterfowl. [5]

Upgrades[edit]
In 1996, a Port Phillip Bay Environmental Study by the CSIRO found that Port Phillip Bay could
be damaged if nitrogen loads entering its waters continued to increase, and thus recommended
a reduction in nitrogen loads going into the bay. In 2004, Melbourne Water completed a $160
million upgrade of the plant to reduce nitrogen loads. Recycled water irrigation replaced sewage
irrigation across the site. Land and grass filtration methods previously used were stopped. [5]

Main Outfall Sewer[edit]

The Main Outfall Sewer was constructed in 1892-4 and was a vital link in the sewerage system of
Melbourne which, when it was constructed in the 1890s, was the largest civil engineering project
ever undertaken in Victoria. The Main Outfall Sewer consists of a semicircular brick or concrete
lined channel (in places arched over to form a circular tunnel with an earth covering) and three
brick arched aqueducts. The sewer was constructed by seven contractors employing 1300
workers and cost 240,748. [6]
The Main Outfall Sewer's function has now been entirely replaced by the more modern Western
Trunk Sewer. It has been listed on the Victorian Heritage Register for being "of historical and
scientific (engineering) significance to the State of Victoria." [6]
The Federation Trail (a major arterial bicycle route from Werribee to Altona North) now runs
along the majority of the heritage-listed sewer.

Sewage treatment[edit]
The plant treats around 50% of Melbournes sewage about 485 ML per day - and generates
almost 40,000 ML of recycled water a year.[7]

System of treatment[edit]
There are three modern lagoon systems at the Western Treatment Plant. A modern lagoon is
typically made up of 10 large ponds, each of which can hold around 600 million litres of water.
Sewage flows slowly through these ponds, allowing bacteria to break down the organic material.
The water progressively becomes cleaner as it flows through each of the ponds. Two main types
of ponds are used in lagoon treatment - anaerobic (without oxygen) and aerobic (with oxygen) both producing different types of bacteria needed to break down the sewage. [8]