The Wilton Recycled Water Treatment Plant - Questions and Answers

The Recycled Water Treatment Plant aims to produce Recycled Water with the following quality:

Recycled water has been used for the irrigation of many other golf courses and playing fields. Case studies https://www.anz.veoliawatertechnologies.com/ and www.sydneywater.com.au.

The water management system has been designed with sufficient capacity to ensure there will be adequate water for use within the community. Emergency capacity has been considered and built into the recycled water plant, however water restrictions on garden use may apply in times of severe drought. During these periods you may experience either reduced flow or reduced pressure at which time, residential irrigation systems should be turned off.

No. As Sydney Water is unable to provide sewer services to the community at this point in time, a private Recycled Water Treatment Plant has been constructed to service the community’s needs. This requirement was included within your Contract of Sale at the time of purchasing your land, outlined within the Community Management Statement, Section 19 Services.

Yes, each home is connected to the Sydney Water network for potable water and therefore each owner will need to set up an account with the Sydney Water.

Recycled water is supplied to your home in a purple (lilac) coloured pipe network which is separate from the drinking water supply network. Recycled water is measured using a separate purple coloured meter and connections are coloured purple. All recycled water connections and fittings are designed not to be compatible with potable water fittings as they have opposite handed threads, that is, a potable water fitting cannot be screwed onto a recycled water tap or fitting. The drinking water meter is usually green, which is designed to prevent confusion and will be read and billed separately by Sydney Water.

The current Recycled Water Treatment Plant process involves a 4-barrier treatment to remove viruses, bacteria and protozoa including a Biological treatment process, membrane filtration, followed by Ultraviolet and finally chlorine disinfection to meet golf course irrigation recycled water guidelines and the Australian Guidelines for Recycled Water distribution via the lilac network.

The Recycled Water Treatment Plant has commenced production at a rate of 400,000 litres a day of treated water (approximately 146 megalitres a year), the equivalent of 60 Olympic swimming pools. With the community growing over the next decade, the plant will progressively be upgraded to produce 1,200,000 litres a day (approximately 440 megalitres a year), the equivalent of 175 Olympic swimming pools of recycled water in stages over the next years.

Customers will receive a bill for their wastewater services and recycled water usage on a quarterly basis.

Yes, because the Recycled Water Treatment Plant can be upset if suddenly presented with large surges of chlorinated or salt water an underground water storage tank must be placed to capture pool overflow.

Recycled water cannot be used for drinking, cooking, personal washing and bathing, indoor house cleaning, filling of swimming pools, recreation activities, evaporative coolers, washing pets and animal drinking water. Although the recycled water is treated to a very high quality and standard, it is not approved for being used as drinking water and therefore, in the event that you consume recycled water, it is recommended that you seek medical attention immediately, as a precautionary measure.

The unique plant design was made in line with Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling (AGWR1). The plant is being operated Monday to Friday and monitored online 24/7 to ensure safe treatment. Additionally, weekly checks of treated water quality, in accordance with WICA and IPART licence requirements, is being performed by an independent third party NATA accredited laboratory to verify the water quality.

The Recycled water and wastewater services are inter-reliant and as such, connection to both the wastewater and recycled water systems is necessary.

Recycled water is the water produced from the treatment of the wastewater collected from the residential homes, retail, school and future commercial buildings resulting in a high quality treated product (effluent), which is then suitable for irrigation of the golf course, gardens and toilet flushing.

The Recycled Water Treatment Plant treats the domestic wastewater from homes and other retail and commercial properties to a high quality in order to be reused for non potable uses, including golf course irrigation, garden irrigation and toilet flushing. The recycled water is not suitable for drinking purposes.

Wastewater is water that is collected from the residential houses, retail, school and future commercial buildings including sewerage waste, household greywater, and pool water run-off.

Private companies require a NSW WICA (Water Industry Competition Act 2006) licence to construct, operate and/or maintain water industry infrastructure.

These activities are regulated by the Independent Pricing & Regulatory Tribunal of NSW (IPART) and the Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON).

Sydney Water Corporation has all required Licences, allowing it to contract out the operation and maintainance of the Bingara Gorge and Wilton Village Recycled Water Scheme Operations and Maintenance scope to Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies.

A separate reticulation system (pipe network) has been being built to supply the recycled water to the golf course, public spaces, retail customers and households.

Customers are advised to read their Customer Contract and full Terms and Conditions. Further information can be found at: www.myrecycledwater.com.au or within your Contract of Sale or Purchase.

Under NO circumstances should any form of Wipe, (“flushable” or otherwise) be introduced into the sewer system.!!!!
The pumps in the sewer system choke on these wipes as they do not disintegrate as toilet paper does and clog the pumps.

Fat, oil and grease, such as meat fats including lard, butter, margarine and cooking oil and shortening, food scraps, baking goods, sauces, dairy products, phosphates, ammonia, bleach, coffee grinds, egg shells, produce stickers, medications, corrosive substances that are either acidic or caustic, flammable or explosive substances, solvents, paints, turpentine, nail polish, polish remover, motor oil, transmission fluids, anti-freeze or other toxic chemicals, condoms, rags, flushable cat litter, paper towels, feminine hygiene products and general garbage.

For all emergency or service issues, customers should call 13 20 90.

For issues concerning potable (drinking) water, please contact the emergency number of Sydney Water 13 20 90 (emergencies), or for billing payments and general enquiries 13 20 92

You can also contact us by email:
- info@myrecycledwater.com.au - if you want to have more information about the Wilton Recycled Water Treatment Plant and have read the Questions & Answers on this website but still have not found an answer
- https://www.sydneywater.com.au/contact-us/email-us.html?form-type=accounts-billing&todo=question - - if you need to contact someone from Accounts, or if you have any question related to your bill or if you need to contact someone regarding your personal information or want to modify your details

If you are experiencing an emergency related to recycled water or wastewater services, customers should ring 13 20 90 and lodge an emergency request with our call centre. The call centre will then electronically dispatch a message. A Sydney Water or  Veolia representative will contact you or arrive on-site (depending on the nature of the emergency) shortly after your call and advise how we will attend to your emergency.

Sydney Water is responsible for setting fees and charges, in accordance with WICA, which is regulated by IPART standards.

Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Australia (VWST), a subsidiary of Veolia Water Technologies (Australia) Pty. Ltd, and is part of Veolia Group of Companies; who are specialised providers of technological solutions in water treatment, leveraging experience from over 100 water reuse projects around the world. VWS also manage and operate the water treatment plant and associated infrastructure

As this development is located outside of the normal wastewater network serviced by Sydney Water in earlier years, it was necessary to construct a privately owned and operated treatment plant to service the community’s needs. It was also a requirement under the State Deed Approval for Bingara Gore to provide for sewerage services as the development is located outside of the normal wastewater network serviced by Sydney Water. To be able to deliver this service, it was necessary to construct a privately owned and operated treatment plant to service the community’s needs that is regulated under the WICA act. The type of plant chosen was based on constructing a very efficient, environmentally positive treatment plant where the treated effluent could be re-used back to the community for irrigation and toilet flushing, reducing the demand for potable water. Now the Recycled Water Treatment Plant and associated networks are owned by Sydney Water.

No. Sydney Water will bill you separately for the use of potable water.