Townsville City Council and Sun Metals Corporation have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that could see council supply recycled water to the zinc refinery for the next 25 years.
Mayor Jenny Hill said the agreement was a tremendous vote of confidence in council’s recycled water re-use scheme.
“The recycled water re-use scheme is an important part of Council’s three-point water security solution,” Cr Hill said.
“The MoU with Sun Metals will potentially help underwrite Council’s investment in the new recycled water facility that will be built adjacent to the Cleveland Bay Water Purification Plant.
“Under the arrangement, Council will supply up to 4.5 megalitres of water a day to the zinc refinery using a pipeline from the Cleveland Bay facility.”
“Sun Metals are very pleased to be working towards the potential of using recycled industrial water in our operations,” said Sun Metals CEO, Ki Won Park.
“One of the areas of expansion we are exploring is the development of hydrogen. Starting with recycled industrial water in the production process of making hydrogen makes sense.”
Cr Hill said council’s recycled water re-use scheme would reduce the use of potable water for irrigation and industrial water uses by replacing it with high quality treated wastewater.
“Treated water will be transported through a new network of pipes to irrigate facilities such as Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Murray Sporting Complex, Townsville Golf Course, Townsville Turf Club, the Palmetum and James Cook University,” she said.
“When the scheme is fully operational, we expect to be able to save up to 15 megalitres of drinking water a day, the equivalent of about six Olympic-sized swimming pools, from being used for irrigation or industry.
“Great progress is being made on the installation of the pipes for the scheme and Council can now start working towards the start of construction on the new facility at the Cleveland Bay Purification Plant.”
Council’s three-point water security solution also includes the construction of a new 1.8 metre diameter pipeline from the Burdekin River to Ross Dam and the Water Smart Package which is aimed at encouraging residents to use water wisely.
