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Sewering outer urban communities

The Priority Sewerage Program builds wastewater services in unsewered outer urban areas. The new services replace on-site systems, such as septic tanks.

Work to service seven villages began in early 2009. Construction on the Hawkesbury Heights and Yellow Rock Sewerage Scheme started in March 2009. The scheme will install pressure wastewater systems to provide improved services in these areas.

Connections to the wastewater system were available to eligible properties in Hawkesbury Heights from March 2010. Connections will become progressively available to eligible property owners in Yellow Rock from August 2010.

In April 2009, construction on the Agnes Banks and Londonderry Sewerage Scheme began. By August 2010, about 130 properties in Agnes Banks will be able to connect to the new wastewater system. Connections in Londonderry will be progressively available from late 2010. Over $30 million was committed to the project.

Work also started in April 2009 on the $138 million wastewater scheme for the villages of Glossodia, Freemans Reach and Wilberforce. The scheme includes building a pressure wastewater system and 20 kilometres of transfer pipeline.

Connections became available to eligible properties in Freemans Reach in March 2010. Eligible properties in Glossodia will be able to connect from July 2010 and those in Wilberforce early in 2011.

Sydney Water’s Operating Licence 2010–15 stipulates that provision of wastewater services to the villages of Bargo and Cowan begin construction before mid 2015. The licence also requires wastewater services to be delivered to Austral and West Hoxton, Wilton, Menangle and Menangle Park 24 months after service is provided to significant adjoining developments.

Working smarter to capture stormwater

Stormwater is rainwater that runs from roofs, roads and parks and into stormwater drains to creeks, the harbour and the ocean. It can be very polluted. Capturing and reusing stormwater can reduce the amount of polluted water that enters rivers, the ocean and harbour and reduce local flooding.

Sydney Water is working with councils and other agencies to manage the stormwater system in Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra. Sydney Water drains only 25% of stormwater and such cooperation is essential. Local treatment and reuse projects are more cost and energy efficient than larger scale projects, when it comes to collecting, treating and pumping stormwater.

During 2009–10, Sydney Water worked with the City of Sydney Council on a pilot stormwater reuse and irrigation scheme at Sydney Park, St Peters. Construction started in May 2010 and is due to be finished in late 2010. If the natural treatment system produces water of suitable quality, the project may also supply nearby commercial premises for uses including washing taxis, commercial laundering and concrete batching.

Sydney Water is also supporting stormwater reuse projects including:

• Auburn Council – irrigation of parks and ovals at Wyatt Park, Lidcombe
• City of Sydney – irrigation of Water Police Park, Harris Street North, Pyrmont
• Kogarah Council – testing a filtration process to decide on stormwater use for concrete batching at the Carlton Industrial Estate; irrigation of Lower West Street Reserve, Carlton.

Sydney Water has also been investigating stormwater reuse with the following councils and agencies:

• City of Sydney – Rushcutters Bay Park, Reg Bartley Oval, Prince Alfred Park, Wentworth Park
• City of Sydney and Landcom – Green Square
• City of Canada Bay – St Lukes Park, Concord
• Strathfield Council – Mason Park, Homebush
• Royal Botanic Gardens.

Stormwater re-use projects > Click on the map for details of stormwater re-use projects operating or planned across Sydney, the Illawarra and the Blue Mountains. The pink pins represent projects that are operating, while the purple pins represent planned projects. Please note that the water saving figures are approximate.

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