Western Region
Recycled water is used to grow fodder for livestock at the Western Treatment Plant
The Western Treatment Plant treats about 52% of Melbourne's sewage, or about 485 million litres a day. Melbourne Water's major environmental upgrade at the plant has enabled more opportunities to recycle water onsite and to external customers.
In 2004/05 a total of 32,033 million litres was recycled from the Western Treatment Plant, of this, 20,676 million litres of Class C recycled water was used to irrigate pasture within the boundaries of the treatment plant.
Melbourne Water has constructed a water recycling disinfection plant at the Western Treatment Plant to treat Class C recycled water to Class A standard for distribution to a number of water recycling schemes in the nearby Werribee region. Melbourne Water is also currently involved in a Salt Reduction Program with City West Water and other stakeholders, investigating options to reduce salt in recycled water, including a possible Salt Reduction Plant.
Werribee Tourist Precinct
Supply of recycled water to the Werribee Tourist Precinct began in 2003 after the completion of a six-kilometre pipeline from the Western Treatment Plant. The Werribee Park Golf Club and the National Equestrian Centre were the first recycled water customers to the west of Melbourne. The Werribee Tourist Precinct also includes the historic Werribee Mansion, Victoria's Open Range Zoo and Werribee Park
Werribee Irrigation District
In January 2005, the Western Treatment Plant began supplying recycled water to the Werribee Irrigation District project. Supplying recycled water will take pressure off the Werribee River and underground aquifers, which were the previous main sources of irrigation water in the region.
Werribee Irrigation District Recycled Water Scheme - more information.
Werribee Technology Precinct
We are currently working with City West Water to supply recycled water from the Western Treatment Plant to the Werribee Technology Precinct. Recycled water will replace up to 100 million litres per year of drinking quality water used for pump lubrication and cooling at the Hoppers Crossing Pumping Station and up to 165 million litres per year for watering industrial/commercial green spaces. In the future, this project will potentially use about 1,000 million litres per year in a variety of processes. This project is expected to begin in mid 2006.
These initiatives are part of the Victorian Government's Werribee Plains - A Vision for Sustainable Growth program, which aims to transform the Werribee Plains into a region internationally renowned for its sustainable development.
Residential developments
The National Equestrian Centre at Werribee was among our first recycling customers in Melbourne's western region
We are working with stakeholders, such as City West Water and other neighbouring water authorities and Government departments, to investigate pipeline projects that would transport recycled water to neighbouring suburbs in the City of Wyndham for new residential developments.
A master plan for Werribee Fields, a new 2000-home 'green' suburb showcasing market-leading sustainable water and energy use, is being developed. The suburb will incorporate environmentally-friendly features including 'third pipe' recycled water systems and energy-efficient housing, creating a new green and sustainable urban community.
Other projects that could also use recycled water in the future include major industrial and commercial operations in Altona and Laverton.
Downloads
You will need Adobe Acrobat to access the above PDF documents. 