Water monitoring

Since 2006, Orica has implemented a range of improvement projects to enhance effluent quality, including improved pH control, reduced effluent temperature and reductions in nitrogen discharged from the site. These initiatives have resulted in a 70 per cent reduction in the mass of nitrogen (ammonia and nitrate) discharged to the Hunter River through the installation of new technology and improved work practices.

Orica Kooragang Island is licensed to discharge treated effluent into the north arm of the Hunter River. Comprehensive monitoring is undertaken to ensure discharged water meets the limits set for water quality. Monitoring includes continuous measurement of key parameters such as the water's acid/alkaline levels, temperature and flow. 

Composite sampling involves collecting multiple individual samples at regular intervals over a 24‑hour period, which provides a representative daily average concentration for each pollutant. The sample is then analysed daily for a range of pollutants, including zinc, nitrogen, arsenic, hexavalent chromium and total suspended solids. Sampling for oil and grease is undertaken twice weekly. Emissions limits for effluent discharge are set out in Orica’s Environmental Protection Licence issued by the Environment Protection Authority. 

Monitoring data

View 2025-26 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Points 38_39 (PDF 676.7KB)
View 2025-26 Effluent Monitoring data: Monitoring Point 32
View 2025-26 Effluent Monitoring data: Monitoring Point 33
View 2025-26 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Point 30_Monthly (PDF 233.3KB)
View 2025-26 Effluent Monitoring data: Monitoring Point 30_Quarterly (PDF 243.7KB)
View 2024-25 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Points 38_39 (PDF 413.7KB) (PDF 285.1KB) (PDF 285.1KB)
View 2024-25 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Point 31 (PDF 239.6KB)
View 2024-25 Effluent Monitoring data: Monitoring Point 32 (PDF 264.3KB)
View 2024-25 Effluent Monitoring data: Monitoring Point 33 (PDF 263.3KB)
View 2024-25 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Point 30_Monthly (PDF 165.4KB)
View 2024-25 Effluent Monitoring data: Monitoring Point 30_Quarterly (PDF 179.1KB)
View 2023-24 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Points 38_39 (PDF 210.9KB)
View 2023-24 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Point 31 (PDF 85.6KB)
View 2023-24 Effluent Monitoring data: Monitoring Point 32 (PDF 102.4KB)
View 2023-24 Effluent Monitoring data: Monitoring Point 33 (PDF 103.1KB)
View 2023-24 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Point 30_Monthly (PDF 81.2KB)
View 2023-24 Effluent Monitoring data: Monitoring Point 30_Quarterly (PDF 88.9KB)
View 2023-24 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Points 38_39 (PDF 210.9KB)
View 2022-23 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Point 31 (PDF 71.6KB)
View 2022-23 Effluent Monitoring data: Monitoring Point 32 (PDF 76KB)
View 2022-23 Effluent Monitoring data: Monitoring Point 33 (PDF 76.2KB)
View 2022-23 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Point 30_Monthly (PDF 81.5KB)
View 2022-23 Effluent Monitoring data: Monitoring Point 30_Quarterly (PDF 71.6KB)
View 2022-23 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Points 38_39 (PDF 2.5MB)
View 2021-22 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Point 31 (PDF 82.5KB)
View 2021-22 Effluent Monitoring data: Monitoring Point 32 (PDF 96.9KB)
View 2021-22 Effluent Monitoring data: Monitoring Point 33 (PDF 99.7KB)
View 2021-22 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Point 30_Monthly (PDF 532.9KB)
View 2021-22 Effluent Monitoring data: Monitoring Point 30_Quarterly (PDF 85KB)
View 2021-22 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Points 23_38 (PDF 1.9MB)
View 2020-21 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Point 31 (PDF 537.6KB)
View 2020-21 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Point 30_Monthly (PDF 535.8KB)
View 2020-21 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Points 23_38 (PDF 671.8KB)
View 2020-21 Effluent Monitoring data: Monitoring Point 30_Quarterly (PDF 530.3KB)
View 2020-21 Effluent Monitoring data: Monitoring Point 32 (PDF 535.7KB)
View 2020-21 Effluent Monitoring data: Monitoring Point 33 (PDF 535.2KB)
View 2019-20 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Point 31 (PDF 536.5KB)
View 2019-20 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Point 30_Quarterly (PDF 529.9KB)
View 2019-20 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring points 23-24 (PDF 2.4MB)
View 2019-20 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring point 30_Monthly (PDF 532KB)
View 2019-20 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Point 32 (PDF 534.2KB)
View 2019-20 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Point 33 (PDF 534.6KB)
View 2018-19 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Point 31 (PDF 116.7KB)
View 2018-19 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Point 32 (PDF 60.8KB)
View 2018-19 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Point 30_Quarterly (PDF 111.5KB)
View 2018-19 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Point 33 (PDF 109KB)
View 2018-19 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Points 23-24 (PDF 167.7KB)
View 2018-19 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring Point 30_Monthly (PDF 108.8KB)
View 2017-18 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring point 33 (PDF 60.8KB)
View 2017-18 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring point 32 (PDF 60.8KB)
View 2017-18 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring point 31 (PDF 45KB)
View 2017-18 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring point 30_Annual (PDF 58KB)
View 2017-18 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring points 23-24 (PDF 304.9KB)
View 2016-17 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring point 30 (PDF 58.9KB)
View 2016-17 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring point 32 (PDF 60.9KB)
View 2016-17 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring point 33 (PDF 60.9KB)
View 2016-17 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring points 23-24 (PDF 471.3KB)
View 2015-16 Effluent monitoring data: Monitoring points 23-24 (PDF 641.5KB)
View 2017-18 Main transpiration area: Monitoring point 30_Monthly (PDF 43.5KB)
View 2015-16 Main transpiration area: Monitoring point 30_Annual (PDF 58.4KB)
View 2015-16 Main transpiration area: Monitoring point 30_Monthly (PDF 88.3KB)
View 2015-16 Main transpiration area: Monitoring Point 31 (PDF 61.3KB)
View 2015-16 Main transpiration area: Monitoring point 32 (PDF 61KB)
View 2015-16 Main transpiration area: Monitoring point 33 (PDF 58.9KB)