Log in
Our recycled water
Wastewater from bathrooms, laundries and kitchens can become safe, clean recycled water after it goes through a multi-step treatment process to remove impurities.
Our recycled water systems
We own and operate:
- water resource recovery facilities, which produce recycled water
- a network of over 800 kilometres of recycled water pipes
- 9 recycled water reservoirs
- 12 recycled water pumping stations.
Our water resource recovery facilities treat wastewater to a high level. The recycled water we produce complies with strict standards in the Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling. This ensures recycled water is safe and suitable for its intended use.
9 recycled water reservoirs supply recycled water to residential areas.
Recycled water can be used to irrigate golf courses.
How our recycled water can be used
Using recycled water for non-drinking purposes helps to support a sustainable water supply and delay the need to invest in new infrastructure. Recycled water can be used to:
- water gardens, golf courses and parks
- flush toilets
- fight fires.
It can also be used for some industrial purposes, and to support river health by supplementing river flows.
We supply recycled water to homes and businesses through purple-coloured pipes that are completely separate to the drinking water system. If you've just moved to your property and have a recycled water meter, you can follow our simple step-by-step recycled water plumbing connection check. This will help confirm that your pipes are connected correctly.
Find out more about producing recycled water and using recycled water at your home or business.
How we produce recycled water
Some of our facilities in Sydney and the Illawarra produce recycled water. We use multiple steps to treat wastewater to a high level at these facilities so it can be safely used again.
The level of treatment provided depends on how the recycled water can be used. These are the main stages of wastewater treatment used to produce recycled water:
- Primary treatment, which involves physical screens and grit removal.
- Secondary treatment, which uses microorganisms to remove nutrients.
- Tertiary treatment, which removes finer particles and reduces nutrients to very low levels.
- Disinfection using chlorine or ultraviolet light, which deactivates any remaining microorganisms.
- Advanced tertiary treatment, using membranes, including ultrafiltration, microfiltration, and reverse osmosis.
Water resource recovery facilities treat recycled water so it's fit for purpose.
Recycled water is tested to ensure it's treated to an appropriate standard for its intended use.
How we monitor recycled water quality
The recycled water we produce and supply to our customers complies with the Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling and specific NSW Health requirements.
This includes continually monitoring and testing our recycled water to ensure the recycled water we produce is suitable and safe for its intended use.
Monitoring results
- Download the Quarterly Rouse Hill Recycled Water Quality System report to view recycled water quality data from the Rouse Hill water supply network.
- View the results of our tests in EPA monitoring reports for all our water resource recovery facilities, including those that recycle water.