Bronwyn Pearce - Alternative Water Projects
Bronwyn was introduced by David Percival. Bronwyn Pearce works with the Community and Social Involvement team at City West Water. Her role involves presenting education programs to the business’ diverse customer base and community. Bronwyn described water as liquid gold. Although it covers 70% of the earth’s surface, little of it is fresh water. The Yan Yean Reservoir was the first dammed in Victoria. The Thomson Reservoir is the largest at the top of the system. Melbourne Water is the wholesaler of our water and City West Water are one of the three water Retailers owned by the Victorian Government.
Water Services
Rainwater is stored in the Thomson, Upper Yarra, O’Shannassy, Silvan, Sugarloaf, Maroondah and Greenvale reservoirs and are managed by Melbourne Water. Water may be stored in these reservoirs for many years. A long period of storage helps to purify the water naturally. The water is mostly purified through natural processes, however may require further treatment before it is suitable for drinking.
The purified water leaves Melbourne Water's reservoirs and enters the pipes of the three retail water companies (City West Water, South East Water and Yarra Valley Water) so that it can be distributed to customers in the Melbourne metropolitan area.
Each year City West Water supplies around 93 billion litres of drinking water to customers. Melbourne uses almost a billion litres of water a day.
Sewerage Services
City West Water collects all wastewater that enters the sewer within the service area and transports it to the Altona Treatment Plant or Melbourne Water's Western Treatment Plant for treatment. City West Water transfers approximately 94 per cent of the sewage and trade waste it collects to Melbourne Water’s Western Treatment Plant in Werribee. The remaining six per cent is treated at City Wests Altona Treatment Plant
At the Western Treatment Plant, sewage is treated using a modern lagoon system and naturally occurring bacteria to break down the biodegradable material. Treated wastewater that is not used as recycled water is discharged into Port Phillip Bay.
Recycled Water
City West Class A recycled water:
- reduces demand on our water catchments
- helps us all save a significant amount of drinking water
- reduces the amount of wastewater discharged to Port Phillip Bay
- provides a safe, alternative water source for gardening, irrigation of public parks, golf courses, car washing and more.
Recycled water is delivered to customers via distinctive purple pipes. Class A recycled water is produced by Melbourne Water at its Western Treatment plant. To meet the increasing demand for recycled water, City West Water have a number of projects in the pipeline, including an Altona recycled water project, stormwater harvesting schemes and a dual supply project that aims to supply recycled water to households in three Wyndham Vale estate.