Blackwater technology in high-rise office tower

Recycling treatment plant under construction

DEXUS and co-owners DWPF and Cbus Property announced that NSW Water Minister Phil Costa has awarded the first combined private network and retailer’s water recycling licence to the 1 Bligh Street development, making it Sydney CBD’s first high-rise commercial office tower to incorporate blackwater recycling technology.

Minister Costa said construction is under way on a recycled treatment plant in the basement of the new development to treat wastewater for use in the building’s toilets and cooling towers.

“This licence is the first of its kind to be granted to a Sydney high rise and will save 100,000 L of precious drinking water a day,” Minister Costa said.

“This licence, granted under the Water Industry Competition Act 2006 is part of a NSW Government strategy to secure Sydney’s drinking water by attracting private investment in recycled water projects.”

Under the project:

“Recycling is an important part of our Metropolitan Water Plan to secure Sydney’s drinking supplies, along with key initiatives including desalination, water efficiency and dam upgrades,” Minister Costa said.

“It is vital we attract private investment into water recycling to ensure we meet our target of recycling 12% of Sydney’s water needs by 2015.

“This project will reduce the volume of wastewater being pumped to Bondi and entering the ocean.”

The 1 Bligh Street development is co-owned by DEXUS, DEXUS Wholesale Property Fund and Cbus and is being built by Grocon. Aquacell will build and operate the recycled water infrastructure.

Aquacell CEO Colin Fisher said the granting of the licence is an important part of a sustainable future for NSW. “Recycled water schemes like this will ease pressure on water, energy and land as our population increases - this legislation ensures ongoing management is robust and a level playing field is achieved. Only organisations that meet the highest standards can be issued a licence, which streamlines the approval process for future schemes. We are really honoured to be the first company to be granted the licence.

“We plan to add other sites in NSW to our licence, which will open the way for developers to access private sewer and recycled water schemes where they are urgently needed.”

Grocon CEO Daniel Grollo said the company’s core value of sustainability was being embraced with the incorporation of blackwater sewer mining on 1 Bligh Street. “Water is a precious resource and its preservation is being achieved through the use of this system. This system provides 100% recycled water for toilet flushing, as well as 90% of cooling tower make-up water - thus demand on the water infrastructure is drastically minimised. It has been great to work with DEXUS/Cbus Property and Aquacell on this initiative.”

NSW Minister Costa said the 1 Bligh Street development will be opened in May 2011.