Innovative Water Recycling Scheme Helps Reduce Demand on Town Water Supplies

Gosford City Council has developed an innovative stormwater harvesting and water recycling initiative at its Erina Depot native nursery to ensure its plants can survive and grow despite the current ongoing drought.

The Erina Depot Nursery, which prior to the introduction of water restrictions, was a relatively large user of town water, now has its own self-sufficient water supply that is helping save around 2,253 kilolitres of town water a year.

‘What we’ve done at the Erina nursery is design and install a water recycling system that enables us to collect, treat and store stormwater and rainwater for use in irrigating the nursery,’ explained Gosford City Council’s Director of Water & Sewer, Rod Williams. .

‘The water is captured from across the 3,000 square metre site in an underground drainage system. We then pass this water through a UV disinfection system. This treated water is stored in a 110 kilolitre tank ready to use whenever we need it.

‘At the same time, all excess stormwater is also captured and then treated in an existing drainage channel that’s been converted into a wetland where the sediments and nutrients are removed before the stormwater enters the nearby mangroves.’

As part of the overall project, the existing spray irrigation equipment at the nursery has been upgraded to a bottom-up system that’s about 60 per cent more efficient because it delivers the water directly to the plant’s roots through the bottom of the pots.

‘The plants are placed on a mat which acts like a big sponge, with the water soaking through the mat and on into the plants,’ explained Rod Williams. ‘When a pot is placed on the mat, the downward pressure triggers the watering system and much needed water is distributed to the roots of the plant.

‘The main benefits of the new system, apart from saving the use of town water, is that the surface of the pot remains dry most of the time which helps prevent the growth of weeds or algae. The pots also don’t end up sitting in puddles of water and, because the water is getting to where it’s needed most, the plants enjoy strong root growth.’

The Erina Depot Native Nursery project is just one of a range of non-drinking water recycling projects being implemented by Gosford Council to help reduce demand for town water.

To date, 31 recycling projects have identified as part of the Council’s Integrated Water Cycle Plan. Of these six are being further investigated while two major projects, a demonstration water mining project in Gosford CBD and a dual reticulation initiative to create additional water for irrigation in Kincumber, are expected to proceed if State Government funds are made available.

An application for funding have been lodged by Gosford City Council but a final decision on whether the projects will receive monetary support has not yet been made by the State Government.    

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