Orica's Treated Water Recycling Program

Orica extracts contaminated groundwater from the Botany Sands Aquifer for treatment at its Groundwater Treatment Plant (GTP), as part of the Botany Groundwater Cleanup Project.  

In December 2006, Orica started recycling the treated groundwater. It did this by including  a reverse osmosis treatment process at the GTP to produce high quality treated water that can be used by local industrial, commercial and some residential (non-potable) customers in the Botany and the surrounding area. Orica's Environment Protection Licence requires Orica to maximise the use of GTP treated water and water recycling is also in line with State Government's Metropolitan Water Plan.

Orica's recycling program is an exciting initiative that will provide water supply benefits to Sydney. See the Premier's News Release ( 95 KB) of December 2006 on Orica's water recycling.

The reverse osmosis units at the Groundwater Treatment Plant

How Much Water is Being Recycled?

The GTP treats up to 7 ML/day of groundwater with approximately 2 ML/day being discharged as waste during the treatment process. Up to 2.5 ML/day of treated water is currently being resused by neighbouring industries.

Who is Using Orica's Treated Water?

Orica's ChlorAlkali Plant and Qenos at BIP and neighbouring Solvay Interox all currently use treated groundwater for industrial applications. The GTP also uses treated groundwater for certain service applications.

Expanding the Program

Orica will look for opprotunities to treat other water sources for industrial resuse, but no feasible projects have yet been identified.