Integrated Water Management in Practice - Aquarevo Development, Melbourne

The use of alternative water supplies such as rainwater, recycled water and desalinated water are key to supporting the needs of Melbourne’s growing population and the challenge of climate change.

Melbourne’s population is predicted to grow from 5 million to 8 million by 2050, and an estimated 1.5 million new homes will need to be built. Victoria’s population is also predicted to reach 10 million people by 2051, with major urban centres such as Melbourne, Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong expected to almost double.

Climate change phenomenon are making our weather patterns more intense and less predictable. Against the backdrop of climate change and Melbourne’s growing population, indicative analysis suggests that major system augmentation is required. Aquarevo is a residential community currently under construction in Lyndhurst, south east of the Melbourne CBD, that will implement an integrated approach to the supply of water and sewerage services. It is a unique joint development between South East Water and Villawood Properties, aiming to reduce each home’s demand for drinking water by up to 70%.

South East Water is investing significant R&D into developing and testing the integrated water management technologies for Aquarevo. Implementing these leading edge technologies gives South East Water the opportunity to prove the benefits on a scale rarely possible, showing benefits to the householder and showing that they can make a contribution to future water supply sustainability and security.

This presentation will discuss the development process and the sustainable technologies that will be included in the Aquarevo residences, such as a rainwater harvesting system to supply a hot-water system for bathing, an App for customers to view usage and tips, a smart rainwater tanks equipped with stormwater mitigation technology, and an on-estate water recycling treatment plant producing Class A standard recycled water.