The effluent is treated in two phases:

• Preliminary treatment of the pond effluent in situ by floating pontoons placed in the ponds, and by Monto Vetiver planting around the edges of the three sewerage ponds.
• Main treatment by Monto Vetiver contoured wetlands constructed over 1.5 ha of land.
• Although less than 1 year old results to date are very encouraging with the total N reduced from 30-80mg/L to 4.1 to 5.7 mg/L and those of P from 10-20mg/L to 1.4 to 3.3 mg/L.
• Monitoring results also indicated that only less than 1ha is required to treat the entire effluent output.

Industrial Effluent Treatment

Current Project 1: Teys Bros Abattoir, Beenleigh, Queensland

On the available land area of 65 ha, a simulation run of the MEDLI (Model for Effluent Disposal using Land Irrigation) model predicted that the effluent volume that can be sustainably irrigated with effluent from the abattoir.

• For Kikuyu grass: 0.73 ML/day
• For Monto Vetiver: 1.45 ML/day

The difference can be attributed mostly to the fast growth and extensive root system of Monto Vetiver, compared to the prostrate canopy and shallow roots of Kikuyu grass. 

Current Project 2: Davis Gelatine, Beaudesert, Queensland.

Based on the factory output of 1.32 ML/day, a simulation run of the MEDLI model predicted that the land area needed for sustainable irrigation is:

• 61 ha for Monto Vetiver
• 144 ha for Kikuyu grass
• 188 ha for Rhodes grass.

Landfill Leachate Disposal

Current Project 1: Stotts Creek Landfill, Tweed Shire, New South Wales.

Monto Vetiver is tolerant to high levels of heavy metals, has a high water use rate, and has a high capacity to absorb nutrients in the leachate. Following capping and topsoiling, Monto Vetiver is planted on the top of the mound and irrigated with leachate collected from storage ponds. An area of 2.5 ha has been planted and a further 2 ha late in 2003.

Outstanding results have been achieved, with the supply nutrient rich irrigation water, vetiver growth reached over 3m in height in less than one year and the 2.5ha planting has successfully treated all the leachate produced at this site.

Tweed Shire has since expanded the planting to another 2ha for future use.

Past Project 1: Armidale City Council, New South Wales

Monto Vetiver was planted on the toe slope to control seepage from the old landfill near the city. Excellent establishment and growth have been achieved despite the very cold weather - a total of more than 65 severe frosts in 2002. Surface seepage was eliminated in the first summer and down slope monitoring showed the level of deep drainage has been substantially reduced.

Past Project 2: Port Douglas Landfill, Mossman Shire, Queensland

Monto Vetiver was planted on the toe slope to control seepage and to trap sediment and debris in runoff water entering the adjacent mangrove wetlands.

Past Project 3: Judy Holt Park, Redland Shire, Queensland

The batter of this very old landfill, now a sportsground, was often damaged by water runoff from the field. The eroded batter exposed old landfill materials. This resulted in seeping leachate, which drained to Moreton Bay. Within 12 months, Monto Vetiver planting succeeded in stabilising the steep batter and controlling the seeping leachate.