Settling pond use
Management Activity
Settling ponds are commonly used to collect wastewater from aquaculture and intensive enterprises, e.g. dairies and piggeries. Settling ponds are occasionally used to collect overland runoff. The function of settling ponds is the removal of suspended contaminants such as sediments and faecal material. Usually water will pass through a series of ponds before it is reused or released into waterways.
The direct impacts of settling pond use may include:
- Reduced water sediment load
- Reduced water faecal contamination
- Reduced water chemical contamination
- Reduced water nutrient concentrations
- Reduced detrimental impacts when water is released into the natural environment (See: Wastewater release)
- Opportunity to reuse water for irrigation (See: Irrigation with effluent water)
Last updated 7 September 2010
