Media release
22 November 2010
A landmark water recycling project will
make West Werribee one of the most water
conscious areas in Victoria.
Gillard Government funding
of $11.4 million will enable City West Water
to roll out an Aquifer and Storage Recovery
scheme as part of its West Werribee Dual
Supply project.
The scheme will draw
recycled water from Melbourne Water's Western
Treatment Plant, further process it to reduce
salt, and inject it into an underground
aquifer for storage.
The treated recycled
water will then be extracted and piped to
customers via the West Werribee Dual Supply
Project for use in home gardens, toilet
flushing and public open spaces such as
Werribee Racecourse.
Parliamentary Secretary
for Sustainability and Urban Water, Senator
the Hon Don Farrell, said making the most
of recycled water would help ease demand
on Melbourne's drinking water supplies.
"We need to be
smart about how we plan for the future to
make sure we use precious natural resources,
such as water, sustainably to support a
stronger Australia," Senator Farrell
said. "That means we need to find new
sources of water for urban supplies that
are less dependent on rain, while helping
residents use water more wisely."
The West Werribee Dual
Water Supply project aims to deliver about
3.1 billion litres of treated recycled water
to new homes in the surrounding area. About
9,200 homes have already been approved for
construction and the project will have the
capacity to supply an estimated 19,200 homes
expected to be constructed in the area by
2035.
Funding has been provided
through the National Urban Water and Desalination
Plan, a component of the Gillard Government's
long-term Water for the Future initiative.
The Gillard Government
is committed to helping Australia’s cities
prepare for a future with less water due
to the emerging effects of a changing climate
and drought.
"The government is investing in desalination
plants, water recycling, stormwater harvesting
and reuse, and water efficiency measures
— such as replacing leaky pipes — to ensure
a sustainable future for all Australians,"
Senator Farrell said.
"These projects
are delivering billions of litres of real
water savings and are taking the pressure
off our precious drinking water supplies."
For more information please visit www.environment.gov.au/water
