Uploaded November 2014 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Airservices Australia will save more than 30 million litres of drinking water each year, following the construction of a water recycling plant at its hot fire training ground facility in Melbourne.
The new high-tech water treatment plant recycles 100 per cent of the water used for fire fighting training and treats the water to a higher standard than that required by the Australian Guidelines for recycled fire fighting water.
As the only provider of aviation rescue fire fighting (ARFF) services in Australia, Airservices uses its major ARFF training ground about 240 days each year and fire fighting training can require up to 140 000 litres a day.
The water recycling plant commenced operation in April 2014 and discharges any additional extra water that is treated and not used as clean water into the sewer.
Before the water recycling plant was operational, Airservices drew water for training from Melbourne's potable water supply.
The treatment plant removes all fire fighting contaminants from the water, including fire fighting foam and fuels, before processing it through five treatment processes for reuse.
The treatment process includes ozone filtration, which is usually restricted to treating conventional town drinking water.
The fire training ground is used to train new recruits as well as recertify our specialist aviation fire fighters, of which there are more than 800 stationed at 23 airports around Australia. It is the largest fire fighting training facility of its type in the southern hemisphere.
Airservices Australia will save more than 30 million litres of drinking water each year, following the construction of a water recycling plant at its hot fire training ground facility in Melbourne.
The new high-tech water treatment plant recycles 100 per cent of the water used for fire fighting training and treats the water to a higher standard than that required by the Australian Guidelines for recycled fire fighting water.
As the only provider of aviation rescue fire fighting (ARFF) services in Australia, Airservices uses its major ARFF training ground about 240 days each year and fire fighting training can require up to 140 000 litres a day.
The water recycling plant commenced operation in April 2014 and discharges any additional extra water that is treated and not used as clean water into the sewer.
Before the water recycling plant was operational, Airservices drew water for training from Melbourne's potable water supply.
The treatment plant removes all fire fighting contaminants from the water, including fire fighting foam and fuels, before processing it through five treatment processes for reuse.
The treatment process includes ozone filtration, which is usually restricted to treating conventional town drinking water.
The fire training ground is used to train new recruits as well as recertify our specialist aviation fire fighters, of which there are more than 800 stationed at 23 airports around Australia. It is the largest fire fighting training facility of its type in the southern hemisphere.
