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Melbourne's water
storages are currently at:

34.7%

breakdown by reservoir

(you can click on each reservoir
for more information)

Thomson: 21.4%

Cardinia: 34.7%

Upper Yarra: 66.5%

Sugarloaf: 61.6%

Silvan: 89.3%

Tarago: 58.1%

Yan Yean: 29.9%

Greenvale: 71.3%

Maroondah: 85.2%

O'Shannassy: 84.6%

eastern treatment plant

The Eastern Treatment Plant at Bangholme was opened in 1975 to serve Melbourne's growing population. It treats approximately 40 per cent of Melbourne's sewage, or about 310 million litres a day. An increasing amount of treated effluent from the plant is used for water recycling, and the rest is discharged under an EPA Victoria licence along a 56 kilometre pipeline to Boags Rocks on the Mornington Peninsula.

Walking Tours

Walking tours at the Eastern Treatment Plant

Walking tours at the Eastern Treatment Plant

2 hour walking tours of the Eastern Treatment Plant are available on:

  • Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays
  • 10.00am - 12.00pm and/or 12.30pm - 2.30pm.

Visitors will:

  • learn about the dos and don’ts of the sewerage system
  • view applications of separation and sedimentation processes
  • learn about the role of micro-organisms in treating sewage
  • learn how biogas will be used to generate electricity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
  • how we’re reducing ammonia to improve water recycling opportunities
  • understand how recycled water contributes to a sustainable water future
Year Level Maximum group size Cost per person (GST inclusive) Minimum fee (GST inclusive)
Years 7 - 12 50 people $7.80 $180
TAFE, tertiary and community groups 45 people $8.40 $210

Eastern Treatment Plant tours are not suitable for primary school students. Consider instead tours of Yan Yean and Maroondah Reservoirs. For more information about these tours, visit Eco-Adventures.

Excursion resources

The Eastern Treatment Plant Explorer has information and resources designed to be used with a tour - whether it is the virtual or actual tour - of the Eastern Treatment Plant.

Twenty eight resource activities are provided to help you plan the tour and to imbed it into your teaching program.