The recycled water pipe systems (purple pipes) in Pimpama and Coomera on the Gold Coast will be flowing with Class A+ recycled water for toilet flushing and outdoor use by Christmas 2008. The two suburbs in the city’s north are experiencing a population boom, with the current population of 17,000 expected to reach more than 150,000 by 2056.
Gold Coast City Council, together with Gold Coast Water, developed the Pimpama Coomera Waterfuture Master Plan in 2004. The Master Plan is an internationally award winning program which addresses water conservation across the entire urban water cycle through the use of Class A+ recycled water, rainwater tanks, water sensitive urban design and wastewater management. It is the largest integrated urban water cycle management plan of its kind in Australia.
Council awarded construction and engineering firm, Abigroup, with the contract to implement the final component of the Master Plan – Package D. Abigroup will oversee the planning, design and construction of Package D, which includes:
- design and construction of Class A+ recycled water network mains
- construction of additional wastewater and drinking water mains to cater for the growing population
- building drinking and recycled water reservoirs to ensure supply
- pumping stations to distribute wastewater, drinking water and Class A+ recycled water around the network.
Gold Coast’s Water Sustainability Committee Chair, Councillor Daphne McDonald, said all new homes in Pimpama and Coomera are being fitted with two separate sets of water pipes (dual-reticulation).
“Purple pipes will provide Class A+ recycled water for toilet flushing and external uses, and traditional blue pipes will provide drinking water,” she said. “Rainwater tanks will also provide water for use in the cold washing machine tap. All of these initiatives will combine to reduce the use of drinking water in the region by up to 84 per cent.”
With Package D works beginning early this year, Councillor McDonald said it is very exciting to see this innovative water wise community of the future coming to fruition.
For further information on the Pimpama Coomera Master Plan or its infrastructure works visit www.goldcoastwater.com.au/pimpamacoomera
