South Creek Bubble Licensing Scheme
On 1 July 1996 the EPA introduced a small, self-contained, emissions trading scheme in the South Creek area of the Hawkesbury-Nepean River. This 'bubble' scheme allows the three participating sewage treatment systems to adjust their individual discharges, provided the total pollutant load limit for the scheme is not exceeded. This enables efforts to reduce pollution to be focused where the costs are lowest.
The load limits mandated under the bubble scheme require an 83% reduction in total phosphorus and a 50% reduction in total nitrogen by 2004 when compared to a 'business as usual' scenario. For more information about bubble licensing contact the EPA.
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Page last updated: 13 March 2009
