Recycled water plumbing
We provide recycled water to a number of new growth areas within the Lower Hunter.
Currently, three Lower Hunter suburbs have dual water supplies, known as dual reticulation:
- Gillieston Heights
- Thornton North
- Chisholm
Dual reticulation or 'third pipe' schemes deliver highly treated recycled water to residential areas through a separate purple/lilac pipe. This pipe supplies recycled water that is suitable for use in toilet flushing, garden irrigation, washing machines, car washing and surface cleaning only.
An application for a recycled water connection may be submitted by the property owner, or a person that has authority to act on behalf of the property owner (e.g. plumber, builder or managing agent).
What you need to know
If the property owner, builder or managing agent is to make the application to connect, it is your responsibility to ensure all applications have been submitted and inspections booked prior to any physical water connection works.
Resources
Connecting a recycled water service
Follow this three step process to connect a recycled water service.
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Step 1: Submit an application
To complete the application, you will need the following information:
- The your licence number, name and contact details.
- Book inspection dates for the connection works.
- The date when the water meter frame will be ready for our meter contractors to install the meter. This should be within 24 hours of the water connection.
This process must take place no more than two weeks prior and a minimum two days prior to making the physical connection to water and/or sewer.
At the application stage you will be notified of any special considerations applicable for the recycled water connection/s. For example, pre-laid water service and any drilling requirements.
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Step 2: Connect the recycled water service
Drinking water and recycled water pipes within properties must be kept separate and clearly identified in accordance with Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA), Australian Standards AS/NZS3500: Plumbing and Drainage, and our guidelines.
All new homes built in suburbs with a recycled water supply will have to undergo a series of inspections by NSW Fair Trading at various stages of construction – the last being a 'recycled water final inspection' carried out by NSW Fair Trading when construction is completed and prior to house occupation.
You are required to:
- Ensure the 'pre-laid' recycled water service is 'turned up' at the same time as the drinking water connection is undertaken, however there must be no connection to the recycled meter tap.
- Incorporate a locking pin on the recycled water meter tap and must remain locked in the off position during the house construction phase. The recycled water meter tap must not be accessed until NSW Fair Trading has approved the recycled water final inspection.
The recycled internal water supply can be temporarily pressurised during the construction phase by a water connection from the drinking water supply - downstream of the property drinking water meter. This water connection should incorporate an isolation valve to isolate the recycled water service only if required.
Some new 'pre-laid' recycled water services have been installed with a capped polyethylene (PE) 'municipal valve' located underground just inside the property boundary. These service types are to be left capped underground.
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Step 3: Inspection of the recycled water connection
It is the licensed plumber’s responsibility to arrange all recycled water inspections with NSW Fair Trading.
Once NSW Fair Trading has undertaken the final recycled water inspection and the installation has been approved, the recycled water meter frame can be reconfigured ready for the installation of the recycled water meter.
You are required to:
- Remove the bypass supply form the drinking water meter frame
- Install an approved recycled meter spacer.
- Remove the locking pin and the turn recycled meter tap on.
- For 'pre-laid' recycled water services with an underground 'municipal valve', once the final recycled water inspection has been approved, the recycled water service can be extended above ground from the municipal valve, the recycled meter frame constructed and recycled service turned on the 'municipal valve' and recycled meter tap.
Any modifications to recycled water plumbing requires inspection by NSW Fair Trading.