Toxic build-up prompts policy for CBD
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Tuesday, 7 May, 2002 - 22:00
PROPERTY owners in the CBD are being asked to do their bit for the Swan River amid increasing concern about the waterway’s toxicity.
In a bid to increase businesses’ awareness of the issue, the Swan River Trust has developed a policy focusing on waste from water cooling towers on city buildings.
Typically, cooling tower waste contains chemicals and biocides added to inhibit corrosion.
The cost of changing the disposal of cooling tower waste will be significant, but it’s not just property owners who will be hit – the Water Corporation will have to install considerable infrastructure in the city to accommodate the new disposal system.
Until now, the water from cooling towers in buildings has been emptied into the stormwater drains, which carry water to the Swan River.
The accumulation of toxic chemicals in the river, including heavy metals, has prompted the Swan River Trust to push for disposal of this water into the sewerage where it can be treated properly.
The policy has been developed in conjunction with the City of Perth, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Water Corporation, the Property Council of WA and the Swan River Trust.
Previously, water from cooling towers has been allowed to go into stormwater drains and into the Swan River, Swan River Trust acting river manager Dr Jane Latchford said.
“Basically if a building has a cooling tower of a certain size we are asking the owner to retrofit it so the water goes into the sewerage drain,” she said.
“But we’re allowing them up to 10 years to do it, and all new cooling water towers will have to connect to the sewerage.”
The organisations involved with the new policy’s development are in the process of putting together a package to inform property owners about the changes
“We are also getting a data base together so we know the major buildings in the area that aren’t connected,” Dr Latchford said.
“In some cases it will amount to quite a significant cost and that’s why we’re telling them they’ve got 10 years.”
Water Corporation supervisor operations industrial waste Peter Wilmot said there had been concern about emptying cooling tower waste into the Swan River for some time.
“The original driver was the detection of a build-up of heavy metals in the river,” he said.
“I think the way the trust sees it is that the river has got some problems and this is one of the things that isn’t helping.”
The 10-year compliance period is recognition of the costs and infrastructure required to change the way cooling tower waste is disposed of.
“It’s partly recognition of how quickly people can do things, but there’s also quite a lot of infrastructure support required from us,” Mr Wilmot said.
“All the key players think it will take somewhere between five and 10 years, but the theory is to get the biggest ones (buildings) first.
“The logic is that, in the first few years, the build up (of toxic chemicals) will go down.”
Property Council WA chief executive officer Joe Lenzo said it was a big ask for building owners.
“That’s why it’s being phased in over a period of time,” Mr Lenzo said.
“It means quite a significant change and our role is to ensure there is a proper phasing-in process. We’re also looking at some new technology whereby some of the pollutants may be stripped out in the process.
“It’s a process of dialogue and information and our role is to ensure this doesn’t happen overnight.”
In a bid to increase businesses’ awareness of the issue, the Swan River Trust has developed a policy focusing on waste from water cooling towers on city buildings.
Typically, cooling tower waste contains chemicals and biocides added to inhibit corrosion.
The cost of changing the disposal of cooling tower waste will be significant, but it’s not just property owners who will be hit – the Water Corporation will have to install considerable infrastructure in the city to accommodate the new disposal system.
Until now, the water from cooling towers in buildings has been emptied into the stormwater drains, which carry water to the Swan River.
The accumulation of toxic chemicals in the river, including heavy metals, has prompted the Swan River Trust to push for disposal of this water into the sewerage where it can be treated properly.
The policy has been developed in conjunction with the City of Perth, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Water Corporation, the Property Council of WA and the Swan River Trust.
Previously, water from cooling towers has been allowed to go into stormwater drains and into the Swan River, Swan River Trust acting river manager Dr Jane Latchford said.
“Basically if a building has a cooling tower of a certain size we are asking the owner to retrofit it so the water goes into the sewerage drain,” she said.
“But we’re allowing them up to 10 years to do it, and all new cooling water towers will have to connect to the sewerage.”
The organisations involved with the new policy’s development are in the process of putting together a package to inform property owners about the changes
“We are also getting a data base together so we know the major buildings in the area that aren’t connected,” Dr Latchford said.
“In some cases it will amount to quite a significant cost and that’s why we’re telling them they’ve got 10 years.”
Water Corporation supervisor operations industrial waste Peter Wilmot said there had been concern about emptying cooling tower waste into the Swan River for some time.
“The original driver was the detection of a build-up of heavy metals in the river,” he said.
“I think the way the trust sees it is that the river has got some problems and this is one of the things that isn’t helping.”
The 10-year compliance period is recognition of the costs and infrastructure required to change the way cooling tower waste is disposed of.
“It’s partly recognition of how quickly people can do things, but there’s also quite a lot of infrastructure support required from us,” Mr Wilmot said.
“All the key players think it will take somewhere between five and 10 years, but the theory is to get the biggest ones (buildings) first.
“The logic is that, in the first few years, the build up (of toxic chemicals) will go down.”
Property Council WA chief executive officer Joe Lenzo said it was a big ask for building owners.
“That’s why it’s being phased in over a period of time,” Mr Lenzo said.
“It means quite a significant change and our role is to ensure there is a proper phasing-in process. We’re also looking at some new technology whereby some of the pollutants may be stripped out in the process.
“It’s a process of dialogue and information and our role is to ensure this doesn’t happen overnight.”