The construction of the Wills Street wastewater treatment plant dates back to 1939 - a heady time of growth and change for Broken Hill. The city was still a major mining centre, and despite everyday challenges of the land and dust, the population was continuing to grow. As the town was expanding, investments in vital infrastructure such as a large-scale wastewater treatment were being made.

The plant has served the community for almost 90 years, receiving major upgrades in 1956 and 1980. However, time has taken its toll, and the plant has reached the end of its operational life. There is a real risk of failure, and the plant no longer meets recently updated Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) licence or environmental standards. Without action, the plant could disrupt wastewater services and require costly maintenance just to stay operational.

Essential Water is proposing a replacement of the Wills Street plant which will secure sustainable, reliable and environmentally compliant wastewater services for the community. This next chapter for the plant is part of our broader commitment to modernising essential infrastructure and ensuring long-term service sustainability for the Far West.

Historical photo of the Wills St Wastewater Treatment Plant, originally constructed in 1939.

The proposal is for a new wastewater treatment plant to be built next to the existing Wills Street plant. The new facility will meet the current EPA licence and environmental requirements and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of wastewater treatment services.

Essential Water’s Head of Water, Ross Berry said the plant has reached a critical point and the upgrade is needed to continue to meet the demands of the community.

“It’s vital for us to move forward with this proposal to ensure that we can continue to deliver safe, reliable wastewater services for homes and businesses in our Far West communities. Investing in these infrastructure upgrades is important to protect public health and support environmental outcomes,” Ross says.

The community can also expect recycled water of a much higher quality supporting irrigation and commercial use which is hugely beneficial in times of water scarcity. The upgrade also includes a new pumping station at the South WWTP, a new rising main, and the eventual decommissioning of the existing Wills Street and South Broken Hill wastewater treatment plants.

The proposed upgrade is included in Essential Water’s 2026–2031 regulatory submission to IPART — the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal. This submission outlines the investment needed to deliver safe, reliable and sustainable water and wastewater services to the Far West.

As part of this process, there will be opportunities for residents to have their say at a community consultation meeting held in Broken Hill on November 24. You can register for the event here Essential Water & the Murray River to Broken Hill pipeline Public Hearing. Essential Water encourages customers and stakeholders to also visit the IPART website to learn more and help shape the future of water and wastewater infrastructure in Broken Hill.

More information and updates on the project can be found at the Wills Street upgrade page.