Recycled water plumbing

• Recycling for new residential areas
• Recycling for industry
• Recycling for the environment
• Recycling for irrigation
• Recycling and reuse - what it is
• Recycled water updates and fact sheets
• Recycling and reuse in action
• Recycled water quality
• Recycled water plumbing
• Recycled water pricing
• Sewer mining
• Stormwater harvesting and reuse agreement (PDF - 354KB)
• Stormwater Harvesting Guidelines (PDF - 525KB)

Sydney Water operates and maintains a number of recycled water schemes, including the Rouse Hill development area in Sydney's north west. The dual water system in this area consists of two separate water mains - one supplying drinking water and the other supplying recycled water.

Recycled water is also being provided to new growth areas in Sydney's north west and south west. Greater Sydney currently recycles about 27 billion litres of water a year. This will increase to more than 70 billion litres a year by 2015.

Recycled water installations are now referred to as ‘non-drinking’ water installations. All work must be carried out in accordance with the current version of the New South Wales Code of Practice Plumbing and Drainage, Australian Standards AS/NZ 3500 and Sydney Water installation requirements.

Plumbing and drainage work in recycled water suburbs, (like any other area), must be carried out by a licensed plumber and/or drainer. The plumbing in these areas requires particular care to ensure that there is no cross connection between the drinking and non drinking water supply within the property. Drinking water and non drinking water pipes within properties need to be kept separate and must be identified as required.

All new dwellings built in recycled water areas must have a series of Sydney Water plumbing inspections at various stages of construction.

Alterations and extensions to plumbing or drainage also require inspections.

The NSW Guidelines for Urban and residential Use of Reclaimed Water describe requirements for plumbing and use of recycled water.

Information for Householders

Plumbing work in recycled water suburbs must be carried out by a licensed plumber and/or drainer.

Information for Plumbers

Sydney Water provides detailed recycled water plumbing information (PDF - 959KB) for use by plumbers working in recycled water areas.

TAFE Recycled Water Plumbing Course

NSW TAFE provides training on the installation of non drinking water supplies.
The NSW TAFE training course Plumbing For Urban Water Recycling Schemes (PDF - 63KB) , is contained within the National Plumbing Service Training Package (CPC08).

The aim of this training is to teach plumbers, designers and council health inspectors how to reduce the possibility of cross connections in recycled water areas.

Participants will learn about dual water supply systems, water conservation initiatives and rainwater tanks.

Further information about the course is available on the NSW TAFE website.