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Recycled Water Mains Estimates
Recycled water is a sustainable solution used to conserve fresh drinking water by repurposing treated wastewater. In Australia, recycled water mains are typically made from PVC pipes that are color-coded purple or “lilac” to distinguish them from potable water pipes, which are blue. This color coding helps to clearly differentiate between the two types of water supply systems, ensuring they are easily identifiable during installation and maintenance.
Recycled water is commonly used for non-potable applications such as laundry use and toilet flushing. This helps reduce the demand on fresh water sources and supports environmental sustainability. In new subdivisions, it is often required to install both potable and recycled water networks. These two systems may either run alongside each other on separate sides of the road or in the same shared trench.
Two Possible Layouts for Recycled Water and Potable Water Systems
1. Separate Trenches (Separate Runs for Potable and Recycled Water):
In some cases, potable and recycled water mains are installed in separate trenches on opposite sides of the road. Each system will have its own trench excavation, bedding material, pipe laying, and backfilling.
This setup requires careful coordination to ensure the two systems are installed correctly and safely, with proper separation between the two pipes.
2. Shared Trench (Both Mains in the Same Trench):
In other cases, recycled and potable water pipes are installed in the same trench, on the same side of the road. This method is more cost-effective but comes with its own set of challenges, particularly when it comes to trench sizing and the amount of bedding material required. Since the trench is shared, it will need to be wider to accommodate both pipes.
This increases the cubic meters of trench excavation and the amount of bedding material, which must be calculated carefully to avoid overestimating or underestimating costs.
Challenges of Shared Trenches
When both recycled and potable water pipes are in the same trench, special attention must be paid to the bedding material and excavation volume. The trench will need to be wider to fit both pipes, increasing the total volume of excavation. Moreover, the challenge of managing two pipes in a shared trench comes into play, especially when it comes to property connections.
In situations where property connections need to be made across the road, careful attention is required to avoid conflicts between the two pipes. If both pipes are at the same level, one pipe could block the other during the connection process. To mitigate this, one pipe is slightly lifted during installation to ensure that property connections can be smoothly carried out. This careful management of pipe levels ensures there are no interruptions or delays when connecting the mains to properties.
Property Connections and Water Connections
Each lot in the subdivision will receive two connections: one for potable water and another for recycled water. This means that for each property, careful planning and time management are required to ensure that both connections are made accurately and with minimal disruption.
Whether the pipes are in separate trenches or shared trenches, it is crucial to allow enough time for pipe laying, ensuring that both the potable and recycled water pipes are installed at the correct depth and level.
Stop Valves and Lids
An important consideration in the installation of both potable and recycled water systems is the stop valves. The lids for stop valves used for recycled water are different from those for potable water.
These differences in the components, including the lids, result in varying costs. Understanding the specific requirements for both types of systems is essential for accurate cost estimation, as different materials and techniques are required for each.
At WSE Sydney, we understand the complexity of estimating recycled water mains installations, especially when managing separate or shared trenches. We take all the necessary factors into account, including accurate trench sizing, bedding material calculation, pipe laying techniques, and managing potential conflicts between the two systems.
Our team ensures that both potable and recycled water systems are installed according to Sydney Water specifications and that your project stays within budget.
📧 tenders@watersewerestimatingsydney.com.au
📞 +61 451 404 645