Sustainable on-site system design for an ecotourism site

The water usage and wastewater treatment and effluent reuse of an ecotourist development needs to be ecologically sustainable and meet the environmental goals of the project. Ecotrans (Qld) Ltd is proposing a large ecotourism development in the Gold Coast Hinterland. The site has access to reticulated water but not to municipal sewerage treatment. A best-practice holistic approach has been taken by CQU and GBG in regards to the projected water management plan. The design uses water-efficient techniques and chemical input controls so that the minimum volume of wastewater is generated with the smallest possible inorganic pollutant load. A combination of nonchemical treatment, relatively low maintenance, and biological treatment systems has been selected to treat the wastewater at the site. More than 40 separate on-site wastewater treatment systems will be used. Effluent reuse will be contained so that the risk of environmental pollution, especially that of natural waterways, is minimised. Treated effluent will be reused to irrigate re-vegetation programs.