The City is one of the very few local governments that recycles treated effluent and harvests stormwater for re-use as a non-potable water supply. The City utilises this water to irrigate its open spaces and other community facilities including schools, as well as for industry processing operations.

The City’s non-potable water supply system collects two main sources of water: treated sewerage (effluent) from the South Boulder Wastewater Treatment Plant and stormwater collected following rain events. The captured water is stored in the City’s storage dams.

Between 2020 and 2023, the City invested $12.2m to upgrade the South Boulder Waste Water Treatment Plant lagoons, installing a new pipeline and pump facility, as well as making improvements to the Old Boulder Lagoons Pump Station.

Stage One - $19m

• Construction works (including the Rock Filter upgrade) at the South Boulder Waste Water Treatment Plant, and construction of a new water recycling dam at the existing Racecourse Dam site, which will result in improved recycled water treatment infrastructure and additional water basin storage.

Stage Two - $46.3m

• Construction of two further dams and enhanced recycled water movement from the South Boulder Waste Water Treatment Plant to the Swan Lakes Dam (pipeline and pump station).

Stage Three - $26.7m

• Construction of one dam, a desalination pilot processing plant in partnership with industry, and evaporative controls on selected dams/basins.

The City is actively seeking continued support to secure funding for this project.