Development, Analysis and Monitoring of a WSUD and IWCM Strategy for the Groves Project in Mernda Victoria

A demonstration project for Water Sensitive Urban Design and Integrated Water Cycle Management has been established at The Groves at Mernda in Victoria. The urban estate contains 1,500 dwellings and employs water efficient appliances, rainwater harvesting and reuse of treated waste-water to reduce mains water demand and sewage discharges. A storm-water treatment train is incorporated that includes rainwater tanks, rain gardens, tree gardens, bio-retention swales and cascading basins. Analysis using a complex array of models has determined that the strategies are likely to reduce mains water demands by 45%, sewerage discharges by 24% and storm-water run-off by 65%. A monitoring programme has commenced to provide proof of concept information about the site.