Wetland Monitoring

In the early 2000s the University recognised that capturing and treating its wastewater on site would have a positive impact on the local ecosystems, waterways, and wildlife, as well as contributing to human health and welfare.  As part of a grant from the government, a water system of detention, wetland and settling ponds were created to treat all water shed from the Hawkesbury campus.

Now, some 20 years later Sydney Water Corporation (opens in a new window) has developed a research partnership with the School of Science's (opens in a new window) Chris Derry and Michelle Ryan to undertake a study on how effective mature operational stormwater wetlands are at removing nutrients from wastewater.

This research will potentially inform the manner in which ‘nutrient offsets’ can be operationalised as part of a broader Nutrient Offset Program by the NSW Environmental Protection Authority (opens in a new window). It is expected that this will provide a substantive platform for student research projects, and a postgraduate Alumnus is currently working as a Technical officer to establish the pilot stages of the research program.

Related Action Plan Themes

• Water Cycle Management
• Biosecurity and Environmental Health