Securing our water supply - Quakers Hill to Prospect
Greater Sydney currently relies on rainfall for over 85 per cent of its water supply, with the other 15 per cent coming from desalination. With over 5 million customers, and an extra 2 million expected by 2050, challenges like climate change, drought and housing growth mean we need to think about water differently.
To deliver on the vision for a sustainable and resilient supply, Sydney Water is investigating the introduction of purified recycled water (PRW) as an option for safe, rainfall-independent water. Together with desalination, PRW could support our dams in providing the world class water we enjoy every day.
What is PRW and why is it being considered?
PRW is water recycled from industry and homes (including from kitchens, showers and toilets) that has been purified to meet strict Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling to supplement drinking water sources (such as rivers and dams). It could provide up to 25 per cent of Greater Sydney’s water needs by 2056. For more on PRW, visit the information page on our website.
PRW will reduce our reliance on rainfall as our primary water source. It will support population and housing growth, but has other benefits including healthier waterways, reduced likelihood of severe water restrictions and more options for responding to drought, floods and climate change.
The infographic below shows the steps in the process for the treatment and proposed introduction of PRW to the drinking water supply. Click on the image to view in more detail.
What is the project?
The proposed introduction of PRW involves a new advanced water treatment facility at Quakers Hill producing purified recycled water to be transferred to Prospect Reservoir. PRW added to the reservoir would mix with other water from Warragamba Dam and be treated again at the Prospect Water Filtration Plant.
The project involves:
- expanding wastewater treatment capacity to service forecast growth
- enhancing the quality of wastewater generated at Quakers Hill WRRF with advanced treatment processes
- a new Purified Recycled Water Plant, including ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, advanced oxidation (ultra-violet light and chemical oxidant) and chlorination
- new pipeline(s) to transfer recycled water from Quakers Hill to Prospect Reservoir
- infrastructure at Prospect Reservoir to add recycled water into the water supply
Sydney Water has published a Scoping Report on the project, available on the NSW Planning Portal. This report describes the project in detail, demonstrates alignment with government plans and strategies and summarises expected impacts.
When is this happening?
It takes years to plan, procure and secure approval to deliver Major Projects. For this project, we’re currently in the planning stage which includes preparing the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The community and stakeholders will have the opportunity to make submissions to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure through public exhibition of the EIS in late 2025.
Provided the necessary community support and government approvals are received, transfers of PRW to Prospect Reservoir could start mid-2032.
How can I get involved?
We encourage stakeholders and the community to find out more and provide feedback on this project so we can deliver it in a way that meets community expectations.
Ways to get involved are listed below:
- Visit our PRW Demonstration Facility at Quakers Hill
- Take a short virtual tour of our Demonstration Facility
- Invite our Wonders of Water van to your community day or join us at its next public event.
- Want a more detailed look at the process? Have a look at the chemical engineering students virtual tour developed with the University of New South Wales.
- Speak to us directly by emailing prw@sydneywater.com.au or calling 13 20 92
- Complete our project survey to have your say
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PRW pop-up display at Diwali Festival
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As a part of several multicultural events planned for the project, our attended Cumberland City Council’s Wentworthville Diwali Festival on Saturday 9 November alongside Sydney Water’s Events Team. The festival attracted approximately 15, 000 people with 1027 people participating in the team’s Water Literacy quiz, visitors to the stand were able to receive a number of prizes for participating in the quiz.
Diwali is an important cultural event for thousands across NSW creating a great opportunity to engage Sydney’s multicultural community and families. Our team spoke to 36 people on the project for the proposed introduction of Purified Recycled Water (PRW) and the Quakers Hill to Prospect project with 83% positive engagement on PRW.
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Ryde Wharf Markets PRW pop-up display
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Sydney Water hosted a pop-up display at the Ryde Wharf Markets at Anderson Park on Sunday 27 October as part of our ongoing series of Purified Recycled Water (PRW) project engagement displays. We spoke to 30 community members with 83% positive engagement on PRW with lots of interest in the quality of tap water and the use of home filtration systems.
The project engagement team also had the opportunity to engage on other future work in the area for the Greater Parramatta and Olympic Peninsula Water Cycle Management project, which could also support future PRW scheme.
Free shower timers and water bottles were provided to visitors to the stand.
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PRW Pop-up at Wentworth Point Night Markets
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On Friday 4 October at the Wentworth Point Night Markets, Sydney Water hosted a pop-up display to engage with the community on the proposed project for the introduction of Purified Recycled Water (PRW). The display also provided information for locals about how the Greater Parramatta and Olympic Peninsula Water Cycle Management could also support a future PRW scheme.
Approximately 48 people were engaged with on PRW with 63% of conversations positive towards PRW. Engagement with the community centred around the importance of education and awareness across Greater Sydney to ensure the community are engaged on the project.
Visitors to the stand were able to receive free shower timers and water bottles.
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Water is Life Youth Forum
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During October our team had the opportunity to work with our Community Education team to bring to life Sydney Water’s very first Water is life Youth Forum - an initiative to help build bridges in water literacy gaps and inspire the next generation.
Hosted by Shane Jacobson, the event promoted National Water Week with 100 students in Years 9-12 from across Greater Sydney. The project team talked about the proposed project to introduce Purified Recycled Water (PRW) and gave students the opportunity to understand the ways Sydney Water is working to secure the water supply they will inherit. Students were incredibly engaged leading various through provoking conversations and completing a survey indicating their sentiment towards PRW. With a total of 62% in support of PRW.
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Research shows global purified recycled drinking water use to double by 2050
Share Research shows global purified recycled drinking water use to double by 2050 on Facebook Share Research shows global purified recycled drinking water use to double by 2050 on Twitter Share Research shows global purified recycled drinking water use to double by 2050 on Linkedin Email Research shows global purified recycled drinking water use to double by 2050 linkA research project led by the Water Services Association of Australia has mapped out the future of purified recycled water across the world, indicating that it could be consumed by more than 55 million people over the next 25 years.
More than 100 cities could be using purified recycled water as part of drinking water supplies by 2050, with the number of people consuming it also expected to double.
Click the link below to read more:
World first research shows purified recycled drinking water use set to double
Image Source: Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) -
Sydney Uni students interested to find out more about PRW
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On 18 September 2024, the PRW project team, supported by staff from the Discovery Centre, hosted an information stand at Sydney University's Chemical Engineering campus. A project engineer from the project team was on hand to answer all the technical questions from students, who showed an interest in better understanding the filtration and reverse osmosis processes used to treat the water, and why the water would be chlorinated after the filtration process.
Around 60 students and faculty members visited the information stand. The students appreciated the opportunity to engage with Sydney Water, saying, "It's great to have companies come to campus so we can see what goes on in the real world."
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PRW public engagements at Parramatta Farmers Market
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On 25 September 2024, the Purified Recycled Water (PRW) project team engaged with members of the public at the weekly Farmers Market held in Centenary Square outside Parramatta Town Hall.
More than 80 local residents and visitors to the market were interested to know more about where PRW would be distributed, the type of infrastructure required for a project such as this one, and when it would be delivered.
After talking to visitors to the stand about the project, responses included, “We really need that,” and “sounds like a good idea, I’ve heard about it." Some visitors expressed an interest in doing a free tour the PRW Discovery Centre in Quakers Hill to learn more about the process.
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PRW pop up at Flavours of Blacktown
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The PRW Project Team had a great afternoon at the Flavours of Blacktown event on Saturday, 17 August.
The team spoke to 60+ local residents and visitors about purified recycled water (PRW), the upcoming PRW webinar, and Sydney Water's approach to creating a sustainable water future.
The majority of responses were positive, and those with questions about PRW were supportive of the project once they better understood the process. This was explained through the use of the filtration model, which demonstrates ultra-filtration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet light advanced oxidation.
Have your say
Videos
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We recently welcomed Olympic champion Jess Fox on a tour of our new Purified Water Discovery Centre at Quakers Hill.
Purified Recycled Water is water recycled from industry and homes (including from kitchens, showers and toilets) that has been purified to meet strict Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling to supplement drinking water sources (such as rivers and dams).
It could provide up to 25 per cent of Greater Sydney’s water needs by 2056.
We’ve built this facility to showcase some purified recycled water treatment technology, and to start important conversations with our stakeholders, customers and the community around the need to build a resilient and reliable water supply that doesn’t rely on rainfall.
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Have you ever worried about how much water we have? We use world-class technology to speed up the water cycle for our growing population.
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Learn about purified recycled water, including how it works, what benefits it has, and why it is a possible water supply solution for Greater Sydney, with Jo Taranto from Good for the Hood.
Maps
Who's Listening
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Email prw@sydneywater.com.au -
Email prw@sydneywater.com.au -
Phone 1800 172 263 Email gpopproject@sydneywater.com.au