Harvesting Stormwater for Potable Reuse
The harvesting of stormwater for reuse can improve the environment while providing an alternative source of water for various uses. Read about New South Wales’ first large-scale indirect-to-potable stormwater harvesting project.
Stormwater is generated from rainfall and includes runoff from hard surfaces such as car parks, footpaths, roads, and natural surfaces. While some stormwater percolates through the soil, most of it in urban centres falls on impervious surfaces and flows untreated into waterways.
Stormwater harvesting is the collection and storage of this runoff for treatment and reuse later. Storage can be above-ground or below-ground with stormwater pumped or diverted there during periods of rain.
Benefits of stormwater harvesting
The two main benefits of stormwater harvesting are:
- Enhanced management of waterways: Restoring the health of the aquatic ecosystem from less pollution running off urban areas as well as decreasing the frequency of flash flooding
- Enhanced water security: The harvesting of stormwater provides an alternative source for a variety of uses, including indirect potable reuse and the irrigation of sports fields and parks
New South Wales’ indirect-to-potable stormwater harvesting project
Orange City Council in New South Wales, Australia has implemented NSW’s first large scale, indirect-to-potable stormwater harvesting project. The Blackmans Swamp Creek stormwater harvesting scheme can provide around 1,300 megalitres of additional water into the Orange’s raw water supply each year from the city’s stormwater system, meeting around 25% of the city’s total water needs.
The concept of the scheme involves capturing a portion of the high flows in Blackmans Swamp Creek during storm events and transferring these into the nearby Suma Park Dam to add to the city’s water supply. The harvesting of the stormwater for eventual potable use is possible due to the:
- Proximity of the creek to the dam
- Availability of existing infrastructure
- High level of water quality treatment available at the council’s main water filtration plant which treats raw water from the dam (treatment includes ozone treatment and biologically activated carbon filtration)
Furthermore, there is a constant source of stormwater for the scheme with the creek running through Orange’s urban environment, with reliable runoff occurring from the roads, footpaths, car parks, and other sealed surfaces in the catchment area.
The take-out
Stormwater harvesting is a win for both the environment and humans.
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