The recycled water scheme comprises three elements – water capture, treatment and water delivery. Stormwater is captured and treated in constructed wetlands to a standard suitable for injection into aquifers where it is stored for future turf and verge irrigation purposes. The stored water is then extracted from the aquifers and distributed by a network of pipes which link the schemes and deliver water to Council and external customer sites. Playford Water has the potential to distribute between 1 and 1.5 billion litres of recycled non-drinking water annually.

Native groundwater can also be supplied from seven community wells located across the City of Playford. Due to location and varying salinity levels across the wells, this water is mixed with recycled water via tanks and then distributed to customers for turf irrigation.

One of the MAR schemes has been modified to store treated reclaimed water in the aquifer, which will provide an additional source of supply and water security. Playford Water has a contract to purchase reclaimed water from SA Water’s Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant between May and September each year until 2032.

A 65-kilometre network of reticulation pipes connect the harvesting sites and wells to our customers. Our SCADA systems manage the operation of the MAR scheme, which provides real time reporting and warnings.

Recycled water is supplied on a separate system to SA Water and can be identified as a purple-coloured pipe.

Playford Water’s Business Plan will see Council continue to pursue new growth in customers to improve our green spaces, keep water costs down, and ensure that our recycled water operations remains financially secure.

We are currently working with the Department for Environment and Water to explore an opportunity to supply an additional 173 million litres of water to more public open space, verges, sporting fields and schools.

Playford Water is proud to provide an efficient operation that delivers financial, environmental and social benefits for our community. Some of our recent achievements include:

• Improved water security and greater flexibility across all sites due to better water licencing arrangements under a new, improved State Government Water Allocation Plan (WAP).
• Issued the highest rating (Category A) under ESCOSA’s (Essential Services Commission of South Australia) verified trust and accountability (VTA) framework.
• Updated the Safety, Reliability, Maintenance and Technical Management Plan (SRMTMP) document, in alignment with Office of the Technical Regulator (OTR) audit recommendations.
• Upgraded and modernised customer connections, data loggers to enable remote readings, accurate flow data, alarm notifications and improved planning.
• Improved reliability and increased flow by interconnecting the system and introducing an automated master/slave system to maintain service when there are well failures.
• Gained EPA approval to reduce attenuation time, leading to more flexible water harvesting and reduced system downtime.
• Installed gravity injection at MAR sites, resulting in electricity savings and reduced wear and tear on pumps.
• Trialling an after-hours system with an external provider to ensure MAR staff are not required to be on call 24/7.
• Undertaken carp control to improve water quality and allow compliant operation of Councils Wetlands and waterways.
• Pump resets have been automated so they do not go offline after minor power outages.
• Standardisation of electrical protection equipment across all MAR sites.
• Improved reliability of System Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Operational Technology (OT)/Information Technology (IT) platform through continuous improvement and fine-tuning.

Council responsibilities

For new infrastructure, Council will:

• Connect to the Recycled Water Main on Council land, including an isolation valve near the customer boundary.
• Provide signage for installation on irrigated areas.
• Supply and install a lilac flow meter.
• Install a pressure-reducing valve if necessary.
• Install an orifice plate or similar if required to regulate flow rate.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements in collaboration with the customer.

For field sign-off, Council will:

• Inspect signage installed by the customer.

Customer responsibilities

For field sign-off, the customer must:

• Meet all of the customer connection requirements (see below).
• Ensure irrigation aligns with the approved Irrigation Management Plan.
• Provide all necessary documentation to confirm system verification and testing.

For ongoing field verification, the customer must:

• Regularly inspect the system for leaks.
• Verify the irrigation system operates as agreed, including pressure and flow rate compliance.
• Ensure the RPZ backflow prevention device is tested and registered annually.
• Report damaged or vandalized signage to the Council for replacement.
• Schedule a qualified plumber for a cross-connection audit per Office of the Technical Regulator (OTR) guidelines:
  • Audits to be conducted every five years.
  • Additional audits required if property ownership changes or any modifications to the irrigation systems.

• Final compliance certificates are to be supplied to Council.

The customer’s rights and obligations when connecting to the scheme are fully specified in the Water Supply Agreement. Some important conditions include:

• identification signs must be erected at entrances, at each corner of the customer’s premises, and near any holding tanks, painted in accordance with the relevant Guidelines and marked “Warning Recycled Water - Do Not Drink!”;
• hose fittings connected to the Recycled Water system must be of a different colour to those on the potable water system so that the two are not interchangeable;
• irrigation systems must be installed and operated so that surface run-off and ponding do not occur and that there is no impact on natural watercourses and wells;
• the recycled water must only be used for the authorised use and the customer must not use or allow it to be used for any other purpose;
• any work undertaken to the irrigation system must be undertaken by a licensed plumber;
• access must be provided to Council in a timely manner for audits of the pipeline system;
• a backflow protection device must be installed and audited;
• the customer must not make any adjustments or modifications to the irrigation system unless approved in writing by Council and must ensure that no cross connections are created with the potable water supply through other plumbing activities;
• the customer must notify Council of any emergencies or faults in the recycled water scheme or damage to signage as soon as practicable on the emergency service number;
• the customer must warrant it has a basic knowledge of recycled water uses and the risks associated with its use;
• the customer must maintain its irrigation infrastructure in good condition and abide by all relevant laws, guidelines, codes and standards, and provide evidence of compliance as required by the Water Supply Agreement;
• the customer may ascertain the details of any interruption to the supply of Recycled Water from Council on the Emergency Telephone Service.

Council’s rights and obligations with respect to the recycled water scheme include:

• Council may enter the customer’s premises after giving a minimum of 24 hours written notice, except in the case of emergency, when no notice will be required:
  • for meter reading, system maintenance and management, auditing of internal pipework and connections; and
  • to do anything Council must or may do under the Water Supply Agreement, or in accordance with any legislation or statutory authority.
• At the end of each billing period, Council will provide a report on the usage of recycled water by the customer during that billing period.

Council must maintain an Emergency Telephone Service as a 24-hour contact for the customer to notify Council of faults, emergencies and force majeure events.

The Council will endeavour to supply the volume of recycled water required by the customer. However, the recycled water scheme is not constructed to the same specifications as a drinking water supply. The Council cannot guarantee a minimum or maximum volume each year and can make no guarantees as to:

• the quality of recycled water once it passes each irrigation point; and
• the flow rates and pressure at which recycled water will be supplied to the customer.

The Council may also wholly or partially suspend, interrupt or reduce the supply of recycled water due to unusual drought, maintenance or repairs, or any other reason outlined in the Water Supply Agreement.

The Council will, as far as is reasonably practicable, undertake maintenance at a time least likely to inconvenience customers and notify customers of any proposed suspensions or interruptions.

If water supplies are suspended, interrupted or reduced the Council may, but is not obliged to, provide an alternative source of supply of mains water. Council will not be liable for any losses or costs incurred by the customer.

The customer may request an explanation for any unplanned maintenance or interruption, which will be supplied within 10 business days of receipt by Council.

All of our prices are consistent with the principles established under the National Water Initiative, as required by ESCOSA.

Recycled Water Charge: The Recycled Water Charge is a usage-based charge that is set to recover the full cost of the scheme. Prices recover costs including operating costs, overheads, depreciation, and a return on assets (the latter two excluding gifted assets). These costs are divided by total volume to arrive at a price per kilolitre and smoothed over a number of years to ensure stability for our customers. The pricing also aims to ensure the Recycled Water Charge represents a discount on SA Water potable water prices.

Service Charges: Are based on costs which include mobile data, a yearly subscription to a monitoring platform and ongoing maintenance and administration.

Connection Fees: Are based on the full, direct cost of connecting each new customer and are managed via a water supply agreement.

Rationale for the price movements between the 2024-25 and 2025-26

The Recycled Water Charge has increased by 1.7 % to reflect increases in cost due to inflation.

The Service Charge increased by 2.5 % to reflect increases in cost due to inflation.

Connection Fees are cost reflective and move with changes in direct, underlying cost.

Supply of Recycled Water
Recycled Water for irrigation $2.93 Per kL
Service Charge per quarterly $54.80

Alternatively, visit Council's Fees and Charges Schedule and look for the 'Supply of Recycled Stormwater' section.