Sydney Water, SUEZ, and Acciona have joined forces to initiate the first phase of a crucial pre-treatment facility at Prospect. This initiative is vital for ensuring Greater Sydney’s drinking water supply during severe weather conditions.
The joint venture between SUEZ and Acciona will oversee the design and construction of the $838 million project, which has the capacity to process up to 500 million liters daily.
This facility will act as a key upstream element of the nearby Prospect Water Filtration Plant. Sydney Water has indicated that enhancements to the existing filtration plant are planned for a subsequent phase of the project.
Nearly 85% of households in Greater Sydney, approximately 4.3 million people, rely on the Prospect Water Filtration Plant, which sources and treats water from Warragamba Dam, Upper Nepean Dam, and Prospect Reservoir.
Nicholle Sparkes, Sydney Water’s Executive General Manager of Infrastructure Delivery, stated that the new facility and plant upgrades will ensure a steady supply of safe drinking water as climate change leads to more frequent extreme weather events.
“Sydney Water is essential in providing world-class drinking water whenever our customers turn on a tap, and this project will enhance the resilience of our network,” Sparkes remarked.
Caine Mertens, Sydney Water Program Director, noted that the upgrade will boost treatment capacity, enabling the program to maintain safe and reliable drinking water for millions even when raw water quality is compromised.
“This can occur after extreme storms following bushfires or prolonged droughts, which can lead to poor water quality inflows into our dams—situations we have encountered in the past decade,” Mr. Mertens explained.
The Prospect Pre-Treatment Plant Augmentation and Upgrade Project consists of three primary elements: the new standalone Pre-Treatment Plant, enhancements to the existing Prospect Water Filtration Plant, and the installation of a new tilting gate to better manage water flow into the Prospect Reservoir.
Construction of the new facility is set to begin in early 2025.
Source :Sydney Water
