Yarra Valley Water's innovative Kalkallo Stormwater Harvesting & Reuse project is located at Merrifield, a new 900ha mixed use development adjacent to the Hume Freeway at Kalkallo.

The Kalkallo Stormwater Harvesting & Reuse Scheme includes the design and construction of a large wetland with an integrated 65 million litre capacity storage basin. The stormwater treatment plant will draw from the storage basin and treat the water to drinking water standard. The runoff to Kalkallo Creek will closely match the existing hydrology but set a new benchmark stormwater best practice, achieving greater than 70% Nitrogen removal.

DCE were involved in preparing the feasibility for this project early in the process whilst working for developer MAB Corporation. DCE were then engaged directly by Yarra Valley Water to assist with preparing the business case and securing a Federal Government Grant which ensured the project to be viable. DCE has continued to work with Yarra Valley Water through the detailed design and construction supervision phases of this project to ensure it is delivered on time and within budget.

The project has already achieve significant recognition including winning the 'Masterplanning and Design' category award at the Victorian Stormwater Industry Association's 2009 Stormwater Excellence Awards. In addition to this, papers on the project have been presented at the Australian Water Association conference in Brisbane, International Water Association conference in Montreal, Canada and Singapore International Water Week.