Decentralised solutions for water-smart communities - Lisa Mclean - HotHouse WATER
As we build new urban developments to meet the demands of our growing population we need to start thinking in smarter and more integrated ways about water infrastructure. Flow Systems is a dynamic new company that is installing some of the most innovative water solutions in Australia. The name of the game for Flow is decentralised technologies that allow for precinct-scale recycling of waste water and storm water. One of Flow’s most high profile systems in Sydney is the internationally award winning Central Park complex, which uses the world’s largest onsite Membrane Bioreactor to recycle waste water from apartments and businesses. The recycled water gets used to flush toilets, wash clothes and irrigate those enormous green walls that tower above Broadway. Elsewhere in the city Flow Systems are plumbing the new development at Green Square. A big focus there is storm water harvesting - 900 KL per day (or 150 Olympic Swimming Pools per year) is harvested and purified for local reuse. This includes storm water running into the area from further up the catchment, meaning that Green Square acts like a giant filter. 3 tonnes of pollutants per year are filtered out and prevented from entering the ocean. Could widespread urban storm water filtration make a big difference in reducing plastic and toxic pollution along our coastlines? And how about the water we could save? You may not realise it but each year Sydney flushes out to sea enough waste water to fill the entire harbour. With that amount of recycled water to play with, just think of how we could transform our cities into verdant green oases whilst simultaneously giving a break to our rivers, dams and aquifers.
Companies like Flow Systems are installing and developing world-leading technologies that are actively building liveable water-smart cities of the future. Lisa Mclean joined us at HotHouse to talk to us about working on this exciting frontier. Her role as Executive Manager of Corporate Affairs and Marketing was honed with the Clinton Climate Initiative, and as Communications Director and Climate Advisor to former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally. In addition to her work with Flow Systems Lisa also directs Carbonwise, a low carbon business management consultancy.