West Werribee Dual Water Supply Project

City West Water is leading the way in the use of recycled water in Melbourne’s western suburbs.

The West Werribee Dual Water Supply Project will deliver high quality, Class A recycled water and drinking water to housing estates in the Werribee area, as well as a number of open spaces managed by Wyndham City Council.

The recycled water will come from Melbourne Water’s Western Treatment Plant, where it will be further treated and sent to homes and open spaces in the Werribee area through a dedicated ‘purple pipe’ recycled water system (see map below).

 

Recycled water is not yet being supplied to properties using the purple pipe system. Until the project is completed, houses within the estates that have a purple pipe system have drinking water supplied through both the drinking and recycled water pipes, so it is important that all water use complies with water restrictions.

The housing estates that will benefit from a supply of Class A recycled water include:

• Manor Lakes – a Dennis Family Corporation development
• Bluestone – a Sunland development
• Riverwalk – a VicUrban development.

There have been delays on this project, and while regrettable, City West Water is committed to delivering recycled water to properties in these housing estates. At present, we’re seeking the necessary environmental approvals, and once these have been obtained we can then begin construction of the western sections of the project. Planning Approval for the project has been received.

Watch the West Werribee Dual Supply Project Update to find out the latest developments in our largest alternative water project.

West Werribee video update

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Project Update - May 2013

There are three major elements required for delivery of the West Werribee Dual Water Supply project. These include:

• a salt reduction plant at the Western Treatment Plant
• 34kms of transfer mains (both recycled and drinking water pipes)
• recycled and drinking water storage tanks on Ballan Rd

Salt Reduction Plant

Before recycled water goes anywhere near our customers, it must go through a stringent treatment process to ensure it meets the requirements of the Environment Protection Authority and the Department of Health.

In the early stages of the West Werribee project, our project team determined that the wastewater from the Western Treatment Plant contains too much salt and was therefore not suitable for delivery to customers. As a result, the project requires a new salt reduction plant at the Werribee Treatment Plant site.

City West Water has contracted TEDRA Australia to build the salt reduction plant at the Western Treatment Plant. Construction is well underway.

In March, Water Minister Peter Walsh inspected construction of the plant.

Pipeline

Almost ten kilometres of recycled water pipeline has been laid between the Melbourne Water’s Western Treatment Plant boundary, Werribee Racecourse and Galvin Park.

This work is now completed.

From here, there are five more stages of pipeline construction for the drinking water and recycled water pipes.  The next stage, along Black Forest Road west of McGrath Road, has been awarded and works commenced in October 2012.

The Regional Rail Link's contractor will, on City West Water's behalf, construct the stage along Armstrong Road between Ballan Road and Greens Road. A contractor has been appointed and works commenced in August 2012.

Two contracts have been awarded for pipeline construction along Ballan Road between Presidents Park and the Ballan Road Tank Site. Construction got underway in early 2013.

Ballan Road Tanks

The contract to construct the Ballan Road Tanks have been awarded. Construction got underway in early 2013.

Werribee Racecourse

The Werribee Racecourse is now receiving recycled water to irrigate the fields and track. The recycled water will keep the racecourse green and lush all year round.