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Sewer Mining
What is sewer mining?
Sewer mining is the process of tapping directly into a sewer (either before or after a sewage treatment plant) and extracting wastewater for treatment and reuse as recycled water. Some sewer mining by-products may be returned into the sewerage system.
Setting up your sewer mining operation
Applying to Sydney Water for sewer mining approval is straightforward - a lot like applying for building approval for a house. It involves preliminary discussions, initial development approval, and construction approval.
Sewer Mining: How to establish a sewer mining operation (PDF - 775KB) contains details about how to set up a sewer mining operation, Sydney Water's Sewer Mining Policy, and relevant contact details.
To start the process, this Request for Preliminary Advice on Sewer Mining Proposal (PDF - 35KB) needs to be returned to Sydney Water, completed and signed.
You may also view Sydney Water's standard Sewer Mining Agreement (PDF - 253KB).
Further information can be obtained from the Recycled Water Team on (02) 9350 5220.
The benefits of sewer mining
Demand for high quality drinking water can be significantly reduced by replacing it with recycled water supplied through sewer mining for non-drinking purposes.
Making alternative water available also provides safe playing surfaces for sports during drought.
Sewer mining reduces stress on urban streams and rivers by capturing some of the water and nutrients that would otherwise be discharged from sewage treatment plants.
In addition, sewer mining encourages competition in the water industry, with opportunities for private sector involvement.
Sewer mining in greater Sydney
A number of sewer mining initiatives are already in place, with more on the way.
The Sydney Olympic Park Authority's Water Reclamation and Management Scheme (WRAMS) at Homebush Bay was Australia's first large scale urban recycling scheme to source wastewater through sewer mining for irrigation and residential non drinking uses. Recycled water replaces 50 per cent of the drinking water that would otherwise be used at Sydney Olympic Park and the Newington Estate.
Kogarah Council is the first council in Sydney to pilot sewer mining and recycling treated wastewater to irrigate its parks, playing fields and the Beverley Park Golf Course.
The NSW Government's Metropolitan Water Plan 2006 encourages the private sector to implement innovative solutions to secure Sydney's water supply, particularly by recycling.
Sewer Mining Exclusion Zones
Sydney Water operates a 'first come first served' sewer mining policy. This means that sewerage catchments upstream of agreed sewer mining or recycled water schemes are closed to further extraction by other customers if this would impact on availability of wastwater.