An innovative recycled water project will help safeguard drinking water resources and protect the natural environment by creating an alternative water grid.
The Growing the Surf Coast Hinterland and Protecting the Karaaf project in Torquay is part of Barwon Water’s Alternative Water Grid.
The $10 million project is being supported by $5 million from the Federal Government, through the National Water Grid Fund, and $5 million from the Victorian Government.
The funding will construct stormwater reuse infrastructure, a recycled water pipeline, and an upgrade to the Black Rock recycled water plant to increase its capacity.
This will help redirect Torquay’s urban stormwater, allowing up to 400 megalitres of alternative water to be productively used in the Surf Coast Hinterland.
“As Torquay’s population continues to grow, it’s vital we protect our precious drinking water supplies by using alternative water sources, such as recycled water where we can,” Victorian Minister for Water Gayle Tierney said. “This project will not only preserve our drinking water supply but also help to improve our precious saltmarsh ecosystem and allow it to return to a more natural state.”
Growth in Torquay has also increased the amount of urban stormwater flowing into the highly significant Karaaf coastal saltmarsh, impacting the salinity of the thriving ecosystem.
This initiative will divert runoff away from the saltmarsh, allowing the ecosystem to return to more natural cycles, which is a nature positive outcome.
“It’s more important than ever that we have multiple and varied water sources,” Barwon Water Chair Jo Plummer said. “Maximising the use of recycled water will support new housing, agricultural production, tourism-led ventures and our region’s prosperity. This will help unlock new jobs and economic opportunities, while saving precious drinking water.”
For more information on the Alternative Water Grid, which would manufacture and move large volumes of recycled water and treated stormwater to areas of need across the Geelong region, visit www.barwonwater.vic.gov.au/water-and-waste/alternative-water-grid.
Related Articles:
- Wastewater treatment advanced through nanobubble technology
- Streamlining the dark art of trade waste management
- Research shows purified recycled drinking water use to double