Waterworld International | By Paul Grad | GPE – July 25, 2017:
Costing AUD$11.2 million, the Sydney Park project embodies Australia’s advanced stormwater management success. Helping the city to meet ambitious targets, as well as reusing water, what can the site share with other countries facing stormwater challenges?
Sydney Park, the site of the Sydney Park Stormwater Reuse Project, is being redesigned to harvest massive amounts of stormwater. Located in the suburb of St Peters, sitting along the borders of the suburbs of Alexandria, Newtown and Erskineville, the park covers an area of 108 acres (41.6 hectares) and comprises large open recreation spaces, a children’s playground, wetlands, a sports oval, and a children’s bicycle track.
The AUD$11.2 million upgrade, co-founded by the City of Sydney and the federal government, will see about 850 million litres of stormwater a year captured, cleaned for release downstream or for potential reuse. The project will help the city achieve its 2030 target for reducing sediments and nutrients from stormwater runoff and for meeting 10% of water demand through local water capture and reuse.
In Australia the stormwater system is separate from the sewer system and unlike sewage, stormwater is usually not treated before being discharged to waterways or to the sea.
Poorly managed stormwater can cause erosion, and the transportation of nutrients, pollutants, litter and sediments to waterways. The massive volumes of pollutants associated with stormwater runoff are deadly for streams and waterways, and lead to a condition called “urban stream syndrome”.
Well-managed stormwater, on the other hand, can replace imported water for uses where high quality water is not required, such as irrigation or garden watering. Furthermore, reusing stormwater can save potable water and reduce downstream environmental impacts.
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