Water harvesting projects
Water Harvesting Projects
Sites complete (6)
Barcom Avenue Park: Stormwater is harvested from a retention tank at the adjacent St Vincent’s Hospital and transferred to a 100-kilolitre (kL) underground storage tank in the park. Permeable road pavements are used with subterranean drainage and a bioretention system. This is designed to collect runoff and remove pollutants prior to reuse or before re-entering the stormwater system. Rainwater tanks have also been installed to irrigate the reserve. The project provides 3.3-kilolitres/day or 1.2-megalitres/year for reuse.
Darlinghurst Road: In 2005, a project was completed that harvested and directed stormwater to a passive treatment pit removing pollutants and sediments. The treated stormwater reduces the irrigation required by street trees. Excess stormwater is returned to the stormwater network.
Glebe Foreshore: Stormwater is captured from Bellevue House and stored for reuse in toilet flushing. Further, three (3) bio-swales were constructed to intercept and treat stormwater flows from Leichhardt, Cook Street and Glebe Point Road. The park was opened in November 2006.
Harmony Park: Roof water is collected from an Energy Australia substation adjacent to the park, filtered through a gross pollutant trap, and stored in a 240-kilolitre (kL) underground tank for irrigation. Hard paved surface areas have been minimised to increase water infiltration and reduce stormwater flows. This initiative provides 7.8-kilolitres/day or 2.8-megalitres/year of stormwater.
Solander Park: The stormwater harvesting and reuse project in Solander Park provides sufficient water to drought proof the park. Investigations will determine the viability of reusing water in excess of the park’s needs for street cleansing, street tree watering and floral display watering. Click here to download a report containing information about the Solander Park treatment system and water quality.
Taylor Square Fountain: Completed in 2005, stormwater from the hard paved areas of Taylor Square and fountain water is harvested via grates, treated and reused in the fountain.
Sites to be completed (17)
Beare Park: Options are being investigated to collect roof water from the amenities building for toilet flushing and/or stormwater from Ithaca Rd to irrigate the park.
Busby’s Bore Water Reclamation Project – Stage 2: This is a Clean Up Australia (CUA) initiative. The City will provide in-kind support to assist with investigations to determine the project’s viability and locate potential end users of the recycled water. Commencing in 1997, the project has had many changes to its scope and is still in the feasibility stage. Effluent would be harvested at Woolloomooloo and pumped to a treatment plant in the vicinity of the Royal Botanic Gardens. Two disused subterranean structures, a rail tunnel and naval oil bunkers may be remediated and used for storage.
Erskineville Oval: Preliminary investigations suggest it is viable to reuse treated stormwater harvested from a main stormwater trunk line traversing beneath the park. The water would be stored for reuse in an underground water tank to drought proof the sports field.
Foley Park: There is potential to collect roof water from a neighbouring church in water tanks to irrigate the park. There may be insufficient stormwater to drought proof the park however other mechanisms could be adopted to make better use of the available water. This includes diverting stormwater runoff to garden beds; collecting roof water from the toilet block for toilet flushing; and use of drought tolerant plant and grass species.
Hyde, Cook and Phillip Park Stormwater and Groundwater Reuse Project: Ground water from the Cross City Tunnel and Busby's Bore is to be fed into a 500-kilolitre (kL) underground storage tank in Cook & Phillip Park. Water will be treated and piped to smaller storage tanks for irrigation. In addition, recycled water may be used for park fountains, toilet flushing, street tree and floral display watering, and street cleansing.
Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre: Roof water is to be captured and used for toilet flushing and fire hoses.
John Thompson and Walter Read Reserves: Stormwater is to be diverted from Paddington Town Hall roof into 100-kilolitre (kL) storage tanks in the John Thompson Reserve and reticulated to irrigate the park and the Walter Read Reserve.
Prince Alfred Park: An extensive upgrade of the park is to include harvesting of stormwater from the park for irrigation.
Prince Alfred Park Pool: The project is to capture rainwater from the pool facility roof to be stored in a 40-kilolitre (kL) underground tank and used for toilet flushing and irrigation.
Redfern Park: Proposed initiatives for redevelopment of the park include the use of roof water and treated grey water for toilet flushing. Aquifer recharge is also being investigated.
Rushcutters Bay Park: This project is investigating roof and stormwater harvesting with a proposed 400-kilolitre (kL) tank. Water would be used primarily to irrigate the oval. There is potential for bioswales to also treat runoff before discharging to stormwater.
Southern Area Aquatic Centre Aquifer Recharge: This project would involve engaging the UNSW Research Laboratory to investigate the possibility to recharge the Botany Aquifer at this location and reuse aquifer water when required for irrigation.
Surry Hills Library and Community Facility: The community facility has been designed to meet the equivalent of a 5-Star Green Star rating. On-site rain water collection and storage will be reused for landscape irrigation, fire protection system test water and maintenance.
Sydney Park Groundwater and Stormwater Reuse: A partnership with Sydney Water and Transgrid is investigating the feasibility for the collection, treatment, storage and reuse of stormwater and groundwater for reuse on Sydney Park and within local industry.
Water Police Site: Investigations have commenced to collect water from the surrounding catchment and run-off from within the park to be stored in a 300-kilolitre (kL) tank and used for irrigation. In addition, a 200-kilolitre (kL) tank to store harvested stormwater may be situated adjacent to the park. Excess water may be used to drought proof adjacent parkland and for toilet flushing. Planted bioswales and permeable paving are also planned to improve stormwater quality and reduce runoff.
Rainwater tanks
Sites complete (15) (25 tanks in total)
Alexandria Child Care Centre: Initiated in 2003, rainwater is harvested from the roof and stored for reuse in two 5-kilolitre (kL) rainwater tanks. Solar powered pumps enable the watering of the gardens.
Bay Street Depot: Rainwater is harvested from the depot rood and sotred in five 48kL above ground storage tanks and reused for street cleansing. Six additional 48kL tanks will be installed by September 2007.
Broughton Street Kindergarten: Rainwater is collected from a shed roof and stored in a 2-kilolitre (kL) rainwater tank for reuse on the gardens.
Epson Road Depot: Initiated in 2005, rainwater is harvested from the depot roof and stored in two 48-kilolitre (kL) above ground storage tanks for reuse. Bore water is also harvested and stored in a 48-kilolitre (kL) storage tank. The water is used for street cleansing and at times watering floral displays.
Hilda Booler Kindergarten: Constructed in November 2006, rainwater is collected from a shed roof and stored in a 2-kilolitre (kL) rainwater tank for reuse on the gardens.
Jane Evans Day Care Centre: A 3,000 litre L rainwater tank has been installed for garden watering
Joseph Sargent Community Centre: A 1.5-kilolitre (kL) rainwater tank has been installed with the water being used on the garden area.
Maybanke Recreation Centre: A rainwater tank is to be installed to collect water for use in the garden.
Millers Point Activity Centre: A 5,000 L rainwater tank has beeen installed for garden watering
Millers Point Older Woman's Network: A 2,000 L rainwater tank has been installed for garden watering.
Redfern Occasional Child Care Centre: Completed in August 2006, a 5-kilolitre (kL) tank and 5.5-kilolitre (kL) tank capture rainwater from the centre’s roof for toilet flushing, cleaning and laundry.
Rushcutters Bay Kindergarten: In July 2006, three rainwater tanks were installed, one 5-kilolitre (kL) and two 3.2-kilolitre (kL) tanks, to store rainwater collected from the roof. The water is used for the vegetable garden, activities such as clay modeling, and the garden.
Rosebery Comunity Centre: A 2,000 L rainwater tank has been installed for garden watering.
Rushcutters Bay Kindergarten: Three rainwater tanks have been installed, one 5 kL and two 3.275 kL tanks, to store rainwater collected from the kindergarten’s roof. This will provide water for the vegetable and the kindergarten's garden, and children's activities such as clay modelling.
Sydney Park Nursery: Initiated in 2005, rainwater is collected from the nursery roof and stored in above ground storage tanks for irrigating nursery plants and other maintenance needs.
Ultimo Community Centre: Two tanks of 3,200 L capacity have been installed for garden watering.
Sites to be completed (15) (up to 22 tanks)
Other sites where the City is to install rainwater tanks include:
- Bay Street Depot (6)
- Beaconsfield Community Centre
- Cliff Noble Activity Centre (2)
- Epsom Rd Depot (2)
- James Cahill Kindergarten
- John J Carroll Kindergarten
- Lance Kindergarten
- Phillip Park Child Care Centre
- Pine Street Creative Arts Centre:
- Plunkett St Depot (5)
- Pyrmont Child care centre
- Rosebery Child Care Centre
- St Helens Community Centre (3)
- Sunbeam Kindergarten
- Surry Hills Child Care Centre
