City of Sydney's plans for decentralised water

The City of Sydney is re-thinking water in our city. Decentralised water is about improving water efficiency, sourcing water locally and improving the quality of our waterways. Learn more http://ow.ly/m1dhc

[instrumental music]
[Voiceover:] We're creating a smarter, more sustainable Sydney.

[water running]
Water is one of our most valuable resources ,

but we use drinking quality water for things that don't really need it

while storm water

[rain and thunder]
and water from our showers,

washing machines and basins goes down the drain

wasted.
[pipe draining]

That's why we're planning a decentralized water system.

This includes a local, recycled water system alongside our current water network.

This local water will be treated and then distributed using a separate purple pipe.

It will be used for non-drinking purposes only like watering gardens and parks and flushing loos.

By using treated and filtered recycled water,

we could help supply the city of Sydney's non-drinking water needs

leaving our drinking water for drinking.
[water dripping]

In 2010, Austin, Texas saved more than 7 billion litres of water [Yee-Haw]

through the use of reclaimed water

and Singapore has one of the largest water recycling plants in the world

Recycling water will help us preserve
our precious drinking water

and by introducing innovations like rain
gardens in our parks and streets

[rainforest sounds]

we'll also reduce pollution
going into our water ways,

adding to the water saving actions
we're already doing.

Creating a sustainable Sydney 2030;
a green, global and connected city.

[pen scratching]