Connection guidelines for recycled water
Urban renewal in Green Square featuring Joynton Park water sculpture.
It is estimated Sydney uses 33.7 billion litres of water per year. The demand for water is expected to grow by 30 per cent to 44 billion litres a year by 2030. Over 50 per cent of the city’s water demand in 2030 could be supplied with recycled water as identified in the City of Sydney decentralised water master plan; however, Sydney’s existing building stock will need to be ready to connect to this network when it becomes available.
These guidelines outline the considerations and practical needs for building owners and facilities managers to specify the upgrade of assets for recycled water. They have been written on the premise that:
• An off-site recycled water scheme would be designed to supply non potable water of a quality that is fit for the purpose of cooling tower, toilet flushing and irrigation without requiring the need to change the existing cooling tower, toilet and urinals.
• The cost of connecting an existing building to a recycled water network is minimised by undertaking the required plumbing upgrades incrementally during planned building refurbishment. Capability to connect to recycled water can be built into the retrofit scope in advance of the recycled water scheme being completed.
• As soon as the recycled water supply network is built, the buildings that have been retrofitted for receiving the recycled water from an off-site scheme will be ready to connect to the network.
These guidelines were developed with the expertise of the Better Buildings Partnership water technical working group members and external engineering specialist firm WSP Group.