About ERA Water
About ERA Water
It all begins with an idea. During the millennium drought, the State Government’s Water for Good plan included the concept of waterproofing Adelaide by diversifying the sources of water available in the Adelaide region. From this, came Water Proofing the East and similar plans for the western, southern and northern suburbs of Adelaide.
From this initiative, ERA Water was born.
Eastern Region Alliance Water (ERA Water) is a joint venture between the City of Burnside, the City of Norwood, Payneham & St Peters and the Town of Walkerville in the provision of recycled stormwater for use to irrigate reserves and open spaces in the eastern suburbs of Adelaide. ERA Water owns in excess of $20 million of infrastructure, including over 40km of water distribution pipe, used to capture, treat, store and deliver stormwater to irrigate both Council parks and reserves, as well as areas of privately controlled open space.
What are the benefits of ERA Water?
Drought-proofing Adelaide’s eastern suburbs by providing an alternative source of water supply to SA Water, which is particularly critical in times of drought and water restrictions.
Helping the River Murray by reducing reliance on potable water for irrigation purposes.
Improving levels of greening and amenity for residents.
Decreasing the discharge of polluted stormwater to Gulf St Vincent.
Providing external customers with access to recycled water for irrigation purposes at a competitive price.
How does it work?
ERA Water’s infrastructure captures stormwater flowing down Third and Fourth Creeks. The captured stormwater gets treated through wetlands and biofiltration and by UV disinfection before getting pumped into underground aquifers for storage, primarily during the wetter winter months. In summer, the captured stormwater is extracted from the aquifer and distributed through the ERA Water pipe network to over 40 different parks and reserves.
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Why does ERA Water exist?
Water management is a mosaic with many pieces that make up the puzzle – and water security is a big part of the overall picture. There is growing policy interest in a more integrated approach to urban water management involving both potable (mains water) and non-potable sources (such as harvested stormwater).
The eastern suburbs are known for their beautiful open spaces and streetscapes. This scheme is an environmental initiative that aims to keep our green suburbs leafy green. It really is a type of insurance to reduce risks of the impacts of drought on open spaces and streetscapes, while reducing the demand for water from the River Murray and stopping polluted stormwater from entering Gulf St Vincent.
ERA Water is only one piece of the puzzle - to see what else the ERA Water Councils are doing in relation to sustainable water management, click on the links below.
Who monitors ERA Water?
As a water utility, ERA Water's activities are subject to external regulation and licensing by State Government agencies, including the Essential Services Commission of SA (ESCOSA), which is the economic/water pricing regulator and the Department for Environment & Water (DEW) and Environment Protection Authority (EPA), which are the environmental regulators.
ERA Water is also scrutinised by an independent Audit Committee and external auditors, as well as each of the three Constituent Council’s Audit Committees and Elected Member bodies.