The City of Sydney is seeking tenders to develop a decentralised water masterplan to produce more 10 % of the Australian city’s water supply from local sources.
Utilising a city-wide non-potable/recycled water network, the plan would also cut pollutants discharged into Sydney Harbour and Cooks river by around 50%.
The tender, which also calls for a total water cycle management plan, closes on September 7. It will explore different business models to implement the master plan, including a private-sector water-services company or a public/private joint venture.
The inner city currently imports 32 million m³ of drinking-standard water from Warragamba Dam, but only 20% is used for cooking, drinking and washing. The remaining 80% could be supplemented by recycled water for toilet flushing (19%), air-conditioning cooling towers (15%) and irrigation (3%).
Australian cities will face a growing demand for water over the coming decades as the population increases and the weather becomes hotter due to climate change, according to a new report by the Water Services Association of Australia. By 2026 major cities will face a 39% increase in water demand or 600 million m³/year.
Tender documentation is available from: Amy Wong, Tendering Clerk
Tel: +61 2 9246 7516
Fax: +61 2 9265 9697
Email: awong@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au