Stormwater and groundwater harvesting

Waverley Council is one of only a few Sydney councils with its own extensive, recycled water system. This infrastructure is underground to preserve open spaces and parks, and helps save drinking water and improve the water quality at our beaches.

The Bondi Stormwater Harvesting Scheme supplies approximately 50 million litres of treated stormwater for park irrigation and toilets in the restored Bondi Pavilion and South Bondi. In addition, an extensive underground filtration system treats excess stormwater runoff from Campbell Parade, resulting in cleaner water at Bondi Beach.

The Bronte Stormwater Harvesting Scheme collects and treats stormwater, which is then re-used for toilets, park irrigation, Bushcare activities and ocean pool cleaning. The scheme saves over 16 million litres of water each year and reduces the volume of stormwater discharged to Bronte Beach.

The Tamarama Stormwater Harvesting Scheme supplies treated stormwater for park irrigation and toilets in Tamarama Park. The scheme supplies approximately 14 million litres of water each year and reduces the volume of stormwater discharged to Tamarama Beach. As part of the scheme, a large capacity underground sediment basin has also been installed to prevent sediment and other pollutants entering the ocean at Tamarama Beach.

Waverley Park Groundwater harvesting scheme improves irrigation reliability at this first grade playing field and parklands by storing and treating groundwater seepage flows. Groundwater harvesting at Barracluff Park in North Bondi keeps the park green and healthy, while also supplying water for Council water trucks, which support Council managed trees throughout Waverley. With onsite sensors that respond to climate trends, these systems deliver improved water security during drought, and save approximately 14 million litres of drinking water each year, and by reducing stormwater run-off, they minimise the pollution in our local marine environment.

Council is also actively working with Sydney Water to progress the Refresh Vaucluse and Diamond Bay project, which will connect the suburbs of Watsons Bay and Vaucluse and parts of Dover Heights to the Bondi Water Resource Recovery Facility. This will divert untreated effluent flows from the last three remaining ocean outfalls in Sydney to the Bondi wastewater plant. Construction of the first phase commenced in 2024 at Parsley Bay.

Tamarama Stormwater Harvesting
Tamarama Stormwater Harvesting