Bunbury Wastewater Treatment Plant capacity increased after upgrade

• $10.5 million project to upgrade Bunbury Wastewater Treatment Plant
• Capacity of wastewater treatment plant increased by two million litres a day
• Additional work to begin in December 2017 

The first stage of a $10.5 million project to upgrade the Bunbury Wastewater Treatment Plant is now complete.

The upgrades will ensure the plant has the capacity to safely process wastewater into the future as the population continues to grow in the region.

Stage one of the project has increased the treatment capacity of the plant from 11 million litres of wastewater a day to 13 million litres a day - equivalent to five Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Work on the treatment plant, located between Bunbury and Dalyellup, began late last year and the first stage was completed in November.

Stage two, which involves further minor upgrades to mechanical technology, will begin this month and will take about four months to complete.

Wastewater is 99.7 per cent water as it comes mostly from showers, baths and washing machines.

Comments attributed to Water Minister Dave Kelly:

"This is a significant investment in important infrastructure for the growing population of the Bunbury region.

"About 70 Western Australian construction workers were employed throughout the first stage of the project.

"Wastewater treatment plants are important in helping to ensure the liveability and sustainability of our cities and towns.

"This financial year, the McGowan Government will invest $198.4 million in regional water and wastewater infrastructure to secure the water supplies of regional communities."

Comments attributed to Bunbury MLA Don Punch:

"This is significant investment in our local infrastructure that has supported local employment and is good for our environment.

"We know our community will continue to grow so I am pleased the McGowan Government is investing in the water infrastructure we will need to support that growth."