Coal ash ponds at a Queensland power generation facility were accumulating water faster than the site could safely manage, driven by runoff, process water and limited storage flexibility. As levels continued to rise, the ponds approached thresholds that threatened embankment integrity, regulatory compliance and day-to-day operational reliability.

Rainfall, runoff and process water can accumulate faster than facilities managing large red-mud ponds can safely store or redirect. At this refinery, rising levels began to compromise embankment integrity and day-to-day operational safety, pushing the site toward compliance risk and potential production limits.