McGillivray Oval chosen for major treated wastewater trial

25/6/03
Premier Geoff Gallop has announced that the McGillivray Oval sports complex in Floreat will be irrigated with highly treated wastewater in a major water recycling trial.
At the opening of the State's first Water Recycling Workshop, Dr Gallop said the two-year trial was set to lead to a dramatic cut in the pressure on Perth's water supplies.
The trial at the University of Western Australia's sports park will see up to two million litres of specially treated recycled water used daily for six to nine months of the year to irrigate the playing fields.
The water will come from the Water Corporation's adjacent Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The Government viewed this trial as a major step in its commitment to achieving a water reuse target of 20 per cent by 2012 and underlined its commitment to protecting our unique environment for future generations.
"A key outcome of last October's Water Symposium was the desire in the community to see more use made of our very significant wastewater stream," the Premier said.
"I am pleased that we are able to establish so quickly a major trial at McGillivray Oval that could open up new possibilities to reduce pressure on water supplies throughout Perth.
"If the trial is a success - and there are strong indications it will be - it could open the way for other parks, golf courses and recreational areas throughout Perth to be irrigated with treated wastewater rather than groundwater."
The Water Corporation successfully operates about 40 water recycling schemes in regional centres, but the McGillivray trial will be the first time treated wastewater has been used to irrigate a Perth recreation complex.
Dr Gallop said while water reuse in country Western Australia had reached 40 per cent, the figure for Perth was only about three per cent.
This would be boosted significantly when the Kwinana Water Recycling Project for industry began operating in two years. But large-scale city irrigation of parks, gardens and other areas was required to reach the 20 per cent target.
"About 100 gigalitres of treated wastewater is returned to the marine environment each year," the Premier said.
"This is clearly an important potential water resource and the Government is keen to ensure that the water available from Perth's wastewater treatment plants can be used to provide water for parks, gardens, green space, industry and irrigated agriculture."
The recycled water from the Subiaco plant used on McGillivray Oval will go through the normal treatment process and then undergo additional filtration and chlorine dosing before being conveyed through an 800m pipeline that will connect to the sports park's existing reticulation system.
Only the ovals will be watered with other areas around the buildings, sand pit and road verges continuing to be watered with bore water.
The reticulation will operate when the sports fields are not being used and irrigation will cease at 1am. The trial area will also be signposted to ensure all users are aware of the new irrigation system.
The trial is a joint initiative between the UWA, the Water and Rivers Commission and the Corporation, in close co-operation with the Health Department of WA and the Department of Environment.
Premier's office: 9222 9475