Major upgrade to water resource recovery facility in Sydney

Sydney Water has awarded a contract for the first two upgrades to the Rouse Hill Water Resource Recovery Facility in Sydney's North West. Awarded to Fulton Hogan, the contract is part of a larger project known as the Northwest Treatment Hub Program. The program will see progressive updates to all three treatment plants that service the area. The other two Water Resource Recovery Facilities locations are Castle Hill and Riverstone.

The works to be undertaken include a new odour control facility, new and upgraded treatment systems and upgrades to switch rooms and transformers.

Bernard Clancy, Sydney Water Project Director, confirmed the investment would ensure the growth in the area has appropriate wastewater treatment services. He said the recycled water could be used for gardens or flushing toilets to save precious drinking water, which is a bonus for environmental sustainability.

“Rouse Hill provides 32,000 customers with recycled water. Every year, surrounding households and industrial customers in the local area consume two billion litres of recycled water — that’s the equivalent of about 800 Olympic-sized swimming pools,” Clancy said.

Sydney Water’s Water Resource Recovery Leader, Jon Hiscock, also welcomed the upgrade.

“This is very exciting news. We look forward to working with Fulton Hogan as we build for the health of our current and future communities, the environment, and enhance our ability to recover and reuse resources such as recycled water,” Hiscock said.

Tony Williamson, Sydney Water Production Manager North West Hub, echoed those thoughts.

“It’s exciting to see that SWCs response to increasing population growth and environmental expectation is getting the balance right. Incorporating sustainable solutions and delivering the best possible customer experience and value is what we are all about.”

Several improvements addressing the plant’s environmental impact on the local area lie at the heart of the project, including noise and odour reduction.

“This upgrade ensures that the plant will maintain a very high standard of treatment as the population of Sydney’s North West continues to grow. We live in an international city with a unique natural environment, which treatment plants like Rouse Hill enhance,” said Fulton Hogan General Manager Steve Hall.

Upgrades to the Rouse Hill Water Recycling plant will commence in June. The plant will continue to deliver recycled water without interruption during the 18-month construction period.