Environmental Responsibility and Water Reuse

How water is managed on construction sites reflects a project’s environmental standards. As a compliance requirement and a cost factor, it is a visible indicator of how responsibly a project is being managed.

Site water is a resource

Construction and infrastructure projects generate significant volumes of water. Groundwater is intercepted during excavation and dewatering. Rainfall collects across the site area. Concrete works, dust suppression and site washing all contribute to the volume of water that needs to be managed.

Traditionally, the standard response has been to remove water from site as quickly as possible through pumping, containment and off-site disposal. Today, effective treatment systems allow site water to be reused on site, reducing costs and improving environmental outcomes.

Projects that capture, treat and reuse water on site reduce their reliance on external water supply, cut disposal costs and emissions, and demonstrate environmental responsibility to clients and regulators. On infrastructure and construction projects, the volumes available for reuse can be substantial.

Treat it to discharge standard, then reuse it

The starting point is the discharge criteria, which are the water quality standards that apply to any water leaving the site. They vary by location, regulator and project type, but the process is consistent. Site water must be assessed and treated before it can be discharged to stormwater, waterways or sewer.

Good treatment systems capture water from construction activity, remove sediment and contaminants, and produce water suitable for discharge or on-site reuse. Depending on site conditions and water quality requirements, treatment systems may include:

• Pump and pipe systems to transfer water to sediment tanks and clarifiers for initial settlement and solids removal
• Chemical dosing systems to treat turbidity and adjust water chemistry
• Filtration and monitoring equipment to verify quality before discharge or reuse
• Holding tanks and pump systems to store treated water for dust suppression, concrete batching or other site uses.

Setting up the system correctly from the start avoids non-compliant discharge events, rework, regulatory notices and project delays.

Reuse for immediate project value

Dust suppression is the most practical and common reuse application. On large civil, road or rail projects it is a continuous requirement. The water carts doing that work need to be filled, and treated site water is a convenient supply. When it replaces trucked in water, the saving in cost and external water demand can be significant.

Treated site water can also support concrete batching, compaction and general site washing. Every litre of treated water reused on site reduces demand on external water sources while helping lower operating costs.

The system works best when it is designed around reuse as an objective from the outset. That means planning around the discharge criteria, site water volumes, treatment requirements and reuse demand before construction begins, then designing the system to match.

Get the specialists involved early

Bringing in water management specialists at the pre-mobilisation stage allows for proper assessment of groundwater conditions, local discharge requirements and site-specific environmental factors. The result is a system that is sized and configured for the project’s actual conditions, and it can be commissioned and ready when construction starts.

Early engagement also reduces the risk of compliance problems during construction and supports stronger reporting to clients and regulators throughout the project.

Kennards Hire’s solutions for on-site water treatment systems

Effective on-site water treatment systems require more than equipment alone. Kennards Hire supports construction and infrastructure projects with tailored solutions for water treatment, filtration, discharge compliance, monitoring and water reuse, backed by specialist expertise from planning through to project completion.

Our range includes dewatering pumps, sediment tanks, chemical dosing systems, treatment plants, telemetry-enabled monitoring and water cart filling infrastructure.

To discuss a water treatment solution for your site, contact your local Kennards Hire branch or speak with our Operations Product Specialists.