Fact Sheet - The Environment

General

• 850 million litres of water recycled annually through WRAMS
• 800 million litres of sewerage per annum, from all Sydney Olympic Park venues, Newington and Silverwater Correction Centre, is treated and recycled. This would otherwise be discharged to Sydney sewers and ocean outfalls.
• Approximately 200ML of stormwater per annum treated and reused as recycled water.
• 25% of electricity energy used in the precinct is 'green-power' generated from solar energy resources and buildings in the Park have been constructed with a consciousness for sustainable material use.

Water Reclamation and Management Scheme (WRAMS)

• WRAMS is the only scheme of its type in Australia and probably in the world.
• WRAMS has been operated continuously since mid July 2000 and met all mandatory performance standards (chemical, physical and biological).
• It supplies recycled water to most of the venues/facilities at Sydney Olympic Park and the residential suburb of Newington servicing over 5,000 customers. The system is designed to service a population of around 25,000.

WRAMS achieves:

• reduction of drinking water use by 50%
• almost complete elimination of sewage discharge from the Sydney Olympic Park and Newington areas. The Park is actually importing sewage from external sources to meet recycled water demands
• maximum beneficial reuse of sewage, through local treatment and production of a high quality recycled water for many non-potable uses
• significant reduction in stormwater pollution of creeks, rivers and beaches
• protection and enhancement of fauna and flora habitat in natural and constructed urban wetlands.
• establishment of aesthetic, attractive and pleasant recreational areas.

WRAMS process:

1. Water Reclamation Plant - biological sewage treatment
2. Water Treatment Plant - hi-tech micro filtration, desalination and disinfections
3. Brickpit Water Storage - 300ML stormwater reservoir
4. Dual Water Reticulation Network - dedicated recycled water pipe system to each customer

• sewage treated in the water reclamation plant using advanced biological treatment processes, without using any chemicals
• partially treated water is then transferred the Water Treatment Plant where it is filtered
• Chlorine is used to disinfect the recycled water before it is sent to our customers
• recycled water is safe, clear in colour, odourless and complies with all water quality standards established by the NSW Department of Health.

Connection to WRAMS is a mandatory requirement for all new development at Sydney Olympic Park.

Benefits of WRAMS:

• WRAMS recycles almost two million litres of water a day (sewerage and storm water) and re uses it for toilet flushing and irrigation
• preserves our precious drinking water
• delivers high quality recycled water for non-drinking purposes at the lower costs than drinking water
• reduces pollution of waterways, rivers and oceans
• enables us to create habitat for flora and fauna at Sydney Olympic Park
• allows irrigation of around 300 hectares of the parklands

Uses of water:

Recycled water at Sydney Olympic Park costs 15 cents less than drinking water supplied by Sydney Water (98 cents a litre v 83 cents a litre). Recycled water from WRAMS is safe for its intended purposes:

• toilet flushing,
• watering gardens, lawns and parks
• washing clothes
• fire-fighting - which is very timely
• washing cars, windows, brickwork
• filling ornamental ponds

Recycled water from WRAMS is NOT suitable for:

• drinking, cooking, showering
  

Sustainable buildings and energy sources

Buildings in the Park have been constructed with a consciousness for sustainable material use. Some of the specific design features of each development are detailed below.

Residential

• 50% reduction in potable water consumption (130 litre/per person/day) through connection to WRAMS, selection of equivalent AAA rated water fixtures, low flush toilets and other water conserving appliances
• A design that maximizes natural ventilation for the majority of dwellings (15% of apartments will be offered energy efficient air conditioning as a tenant option)
• Commitment to using renewable energy to meet a proportion of the base building energy requirements
• Commitment to using sustainably sourced timber
• Commitment to minimal use of PVC where alternative materials are available
• Commitment to 25% reduction in embodied energy of construction materials
• Commitment to use of nontoxic substances

Commercial

• A design that aims to reduce energy consumption by 50% compared with other commercial developments
• Inclusion of renewable energy source to power a proportion of the base building energy requirements. Tenants will also be encouraged to use renewable energy power sources
• A design that aims to reduce potable water consumption by 50% through connection to WRAMS, selection of AAA rated water fixtures, AAA appliances, minimum flush toilets - consideration of waterless urinals as part of tenant fitout
• The development will include a plasma display board in the lobby that will detail the ongoing operational energy performance of the building - and encourage its tenants to adopt energy efficiency strategies for their business operations
• Commitment to achieving 90% recycling of materials during construction and 60% during the building's operation
• Commitment to minimal use of PVC where alternative materials are available
• Commitment to material selection with whole of life consideration; maximise use of prefabricated material, sustainably sourced timbers and use of non-toxic substances