Waverley and Barracluff Park Groundwater Harvesting System

In the 1800s Waverley Park was used for flower shows, cattle grazing, Chinese market gardens and of course sport. Waverley Oval came into being in 1890 when it took over the part of the park formerly used for the market gardens.

Maintaining Waverley Oval grounds to a first-class standard requires a large amount of water. This is why Council has installed a bore in Waverley Park to capture water from an aquifer located deep under the park. Council is using this sustainable water-harvesting technique to supply water for Oval irrigation, improve the overall look of the park, reduce our reliance on Sydney’s drinking water supply and to meet the needs of future generations.

We have carried out detailed studies to make sure that the water we take from this aquifer is of good quality and can be extracted without harming the aquifer.

How does it work?

The system pumps water from the aquifer, it is then filtered and stored in a 50,000-litre underground tank, which is connected to a fully automated irrigation system.

Innovative features of the system include:

  • computer controlled water extraction from the aquifer to ensure that water harvesting occurs at a sustainable rate
  • automatic back-up system with town water
  • remote alarm monitoring of system operation.


Barracluff Park Groundwater Harvesting System

Green playing fields could be seen as a luxury in times of climatic change. This is why Waverley Council has installed a bore in Barracluff Park to capture water from an aquifer located deep under the park.

Council is using this sustainable water harvesting technique to manage the upkeep of the park and reduce our reliance on Sydney’s drinking water supply.

We have carried out detailed studies to make sure that the water we take from the aquifer is of good quality and can be extracted without harming the aquifer.

How does it work?

The harvesting system pumps water from the aquifer, filters it and stores it in a 25,000-litre underground tank, which is connected to an automated irrigation system and remote-controlled water filling station for Council trucks.

Harvested water from the aquifer is used to:

  • irrigate Barracluff Park
  • clean stormwater drains
  • water street trees and gardens


It is estimated that this initiative saves 2.4 million litres of drinking water per year.


Groundwater Ecosystems

Groundwater is a valuable asset that flows through gaps in the underground rock; these are known as aquifers. Aquifers store large quantities of rainwater water which is absorbed through the porous surfaces of the earth. Groundwater makes up around 23% of the earth’s fresh water, making it a valuable water supply.

Use of groundwater needs to be carefully managed as aquifers not only store water but supply water to sensitive ecosystems such as wetlands, swamps, estuarine habitats and coastal vegetation.

Waverley Council is committed to sustainable management of the aquifers and ecosystems connected to this valuable water source.