Media Release

12 Oct 2006

Australia’s Largest Residential Recycled Water Plant Expanded

Sydney Water has awarded a contract to John Holland Pty Ltd to further expand Australia’s largest residential recycled water plant at Rouse Hill.

The Rouse Hill Recycled Water Plant began operating in 2001. The $52 million contract will see its capacity double.

More than 16,000 homes are now receiving 1.7 billion litres of high quality recycled water each year to water gardens, wash cars and flush toilets.

As a result, demand for drinking water in these homes is reduced on average by about 40 per cent.

This contract will see the existing Sewage Treatment Plant and the Recycled Water Plant expanded to allow 4.7 billion litres to be recycled each year for residential use, saving more drinking water.

This upgrade is required to keep pace with development and allow new homes in the area to receive recycled water.

Ultimately 36,000 new homes in Acacia Gardens, Beaumont Hills, Castle Hill, Glenwood, Kellyville, Kellyville Ridge, Quakers Hill, Parklea, Stanhope Gardens and Rouse Hill will receive 4.7 billion litres of recycled water each year.

The recycled water plant will also service planned commercial and industrial businesses in the future.

The expansion work will involve building additional sewage processing structures and increasing the capacity of the recycled water plant.

The recycled water is treated to a very high standard, which includes UV disinfection and chlorination.

The design phase will take about six months to complete and construction will begin in early 2007. The project is expected to be completed in late 2008.

Sydney Water will continue to keep the community informed throughout this important project.

Recycling treated wastewater is a key component of the Metropolitan Water Plan.

Sydney already recycles around 15 billion litres of water each year and that figure will rise to 70 billion litres by 2015.

New developments are the most efficient way to provide recycled water to homes.

Additional pipes for recycled water can be laid at the same time as other water pipes and at the same time as electricity and telephone lines.

The Saving Water section of the Sydney Water website contains more information on water recycling.

 

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