Sydney Water

Foundations of Sydney's water supply (1788–1888)

Before European settlement in 1788, the area now occupied by Sydney was inhabited by the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, who relied on its waterways for drinking water, food, transport and gathering places. Sydney was selected as the site of the First Fleet settlement partly because of its natural harbour and the availability of fresh water from the Tank Stream. Governor Arthur Phillip sought to protect the stream by prohibiting development along its banks, while regulations introduced in 1803 prohibited activities that polluted the watercourse.^[2] The origins of Sydney Water date to 26 March 1888, when the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Amendment Act, 1888^[3] was enacted, repealing provisions of the Sydney Corporation Act, 1879^[4] relating to water supply and sewerage and transferring the property, powers and obligations of the Municipal Council to the Board of Water Supply and Sewerage.^[5]

Increasing urbanisation and industrial activity progressively contaminated the Tank Stream, leading to its abandonment as Sydney's principal water supply in 1826. Construction of Busby's Bore commenced the following year to convey water from the Lachlan Swamps (now Centennial Park) to Hyde Park, where it was distributed until 1858. Rapid population growth during the Australian gold rushes drove investment in new water supply and sewerage infrastructure, including the Bennelong Point Sewerage System (1857) and the Botany Swamps Water Supply Scheme (1859). Despite these improvements, untreated sewage continued to discharge into Sydney Harbour, contributing to pollution and outbreaks of typhoid fever and scarlet fever. The Sewerage and Health Board, established in 1875, proposed an integrated sewerage system serving Bondi, Botany Bay and Folly Point. During the 1880s, the Hudson Brothers Emergency Scheme supplemented Sydney's water supply from the incomplete Upper Nepean Scheme, while the Botany Sewage Farm became the city's first sewage recycling scheme, although it ultimately proved unsuccessful. The Upper Nepean Scheme subsequently linked the Nepean River, Cataract, Cordeaux and Avon rivers to Sydney through the Upper and Lower Canals, substantially increasing the city's water supply.^[2]

Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board (1924–1987)

In 1892, the Board of Water Supply and Sewerage was renamed the Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage (MBWS&S), while Manly Dam was completed. The Board assumed responsibility for Sydney's major stormwater channels in 1894. Between 1898 and 1902, the Western, Southern and Northern sewerage systems were progressively completed, together with a network of 20 sewage pumping stations that ended the discharge of untreated sewage into Sydney Harbour, significantly improving public sanitation. During the early 20th century, Sydney's water supply expanded with the connection of Wollongong in 1903 and the construction of Cataract Dam (1907–1915), Cordeaux Dam (1918–1926), Avon Dam (1921–1927), Nepean Dam (1925–1935) and Woronora Dam (1927–1941). Major sewerage works included the Southern and Western Suburbs Ocean Outfall Sewer No. 1 (completed 1916), the Northern Suburbs Ocean Outfall Sewer (1916–1930), the Southern and Western Suburbs Ocean Outfall Sewer No. 2 (1936–1941), and the Bondi Sewage Treatment Plant (1936–1953). In 1922, engineer E. M. de Burgh designed the Middle Harbour Syphon, an inverted siphon carrying sewer pipes beneath waterways.^[2]

In 1924, the MBWS&S was renamed the Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board (MWS&DB), gaining control of its own finances before formally commencing operations on 31 March 1925 under the Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage Act 1924. The Board was responsible for water supply, sewerage and stormwater drainage throughout the County of Cumberland, including the construction, operation and maintenance of water, sewerage and drainage infrastructure, sewage treatment, stormwater management and the extension of services to developing areas.^[6] It also produced detailed engineering survey plans documenting pipes, manholes, roads, tramways, railways, buildings, property boundaries and natural features across Sydney and its suburbs. Surveys date from 1904 to 1945, with most plans compiled between 1910 and 1940.^[6]

Between 1934 and 1942, Sydney experienced the Great Drought, during which dam storage fell to 12.5%, resulting in severe water restrictions until widespread rainfall replenished supplies in 1942. In 1980, the Blue Mountains water supply scheme was transferred to the MWS&DB. Between 1984 and 1990, deepwater ocean outfalls were constructed at the Bondi, North Head and Malabar wastewater treatment plants, significantly improving water quality at Sydney's beaches.^[2]

Modernisation and water security (1994–present)

The MWS&DB was renamed the Sydney Water Board in 1987 before being corporatised as the Sydney Water Corporation in 1994. The Prospect Water Filtration Plant was completed in 1996, followed by construction of the Northside Storage Tunnel to reduce wet weather sewer overflows into Sydney Harbour. In 1999, the Sydney Catchment Authority was established to manage Sydney's dams and catchments. During the early 2000s, Sydney Water introduced the Every Drop Counts Business Program and the Rouse Hill Recycled Water Scheme, while severe drought led to voluntary water restrictions in 2002 and mandatory restrictions in 2003. In 2004, the New South Wales Government released the Metropolitan Water Plan, proposing expanded wastewater recycling, improved water-use efficiency, leak reduction and construction of a desalination plant if dam storage levels fell to around 30%. Planning for the Sydney Desalination Plant began in 2005, with construction commencing in 2007. That year, the Water Industry Competition Act 2006 came into effect, allowing private sector competition in water and wastewater services, while Sydney Water also began constructing its headquarters in Parramatta. In 2009, the first private water licence was awarded to Veolia for a wastewater recycling project at Smithfield and Camellia.^[2]

The Sydney Desalination Plant at Kurnell opened in 2010, supplying drinking water to around 1.5 million people. The same year, the St Marys Advanced Water Recycling Plant began returning up to 18 billion litres of recycled water annually to the Hawkesbury-Nepean River. In 2011, Sydney Water opened the Water Recycling Education Centre, commissioned the Prospect Hydroelectric Plant and expanded its public engagement through social media. In 2012, the corporation entered into a long-term lease of the Sydney Desalination Plant.^[2] During 2023 New South Wales state election, confidential documents from KPMG and Clayton Utz regarding the privatisation of Sydney Water were made public. Dominic Perrottet, who was the Treasurer at the time had previously declared in March 2020 that he had no plans to even do a study on privatisation, but the documents revealed that studies had taken place in January 2020 and later in November 2021, with the reporting making it clear the study was done due to direct pressure from the Government.^[7] During and after the election NSW Labor pledged to enshrine government ownership of Sydney Water in the NSW state constitution.^[8][9]

Name changes

The forebears of Sydney Water include:

• Board of Water Supply and Sewerage (1888–1892)^[5]
• Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage (1892–1925)^[5]
• Metropolitan Water Sewerage and Drainage Board (MWS & DB) (1925–1987)^[10]
• Water Board (1987–1994)^[10] which had also been the colloquial name for the organisation for much of its history in the 20th century, and persists among longer term employees and older members of the community to this day
• Sydney Water Corporation Limited (1995–1999)^[11]
• Sydney Water Corporation (1999–present) – with "Limited" being dropped when the corporation changed from a state-owned limited company to a statutory state-owned corporation.

Presidents, 1888–1987

Managing Directors, 1987–date

Chairs, 1987–date