Dialysis waste water helps clean up Sydney streets? You’re kidney-ing me…

Paul Eyers
By Paul Eyers
3 Min Read

Used dialysis machine water will be used to clean up Sydney’s streets, in a shocking treatment plan to help clean up the city.

The bizarre prescription is part of a new partnership between the city council and the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital that aims to turn the water used by the machines, which function as artificial kidneys, into a valuable resource for street cleaning.

This first-of-its-kind partnership hopes to declare a clean bill of health for the council’s utility usage, helping the city save 1.5 million litres each year by using recycled dialysis water instead.

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital’s dialysis machines require around 500 litres of ultrapure water during each treatment session. This water is purified through reverse osmosis, which creates runoff during the process that would otherwise go to waste.

The initiative will see that run-off, now collected by two purpose-built 10,000-litre tanks, after which it will blast grim and dirt off the floors of Sydney’s CBD. 

The makeshift water transplant means the hospital reduces waste, and the city keeps its streets cleaner, with fewer emissions and resources required.

Dialysis machines are used in hospitals to help clean the body of toxins when Kidney's are not functioning properly.
Dialysis machines are used in hospitals to help clean the body of toxins when Kidney’s are not functioning properly.

Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore AO says the initiative would help boost the city’s resilience during water restrictions or times or emergency needs.

“Water is our most precious resource,” he said.

“Finding ways to better manage it is crucial to Sydney’s resilience, especially as drought periods lengthen due to the climate crisis.

Due to the water’s pre-dialysis treatment process, it contains low levels of calcium, magnesium, and other particles, which are a perfect match for street cleaning.

This composition means less residue and streaking, fewer abrasions to surfaces, and less equipment scaling – a winning combination for efficiency and eco-friendliness.

The composition of dialysis machine waste water makes it perfect for streets
The composition of dialysis wastewater makes it perfect for cleaning Sydney’s streets.

“By collecting the water from Royal Prince Alfred, we are also reducing emissions and travel time for our trucks, which don’t have to return to depots in Alexandria or Ultimo to refill after cleaning the streets,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

The City of Sydney now taps into this water every week, filling its trucks with an estimated 30,000 litres saved by the dialysis machines.

Chief Executive of Sydney Local Health District, Deb Willcox, says the project would help discharge Prince Alfred Hospital’s environmental goals.

Sydney Local Health District has invested in the infrastructure to build these tanks as part of our ongoing sustainability program,” she said.

“We are very happy to partner with the City of Sydney to ensure the water is put to good use and do our part for the environment.”

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Paul Eyers has worked as a journalist for a range of media publishers including News Corp and Network Ten. He has also worked outside of Australia, including time spent with ABS-CBN in the Philippines. Stepping away from the media, Paul spent five years sharpening his tools in construction - building his skill set and expertise within the trade industry. His diverse experiences and unique journey have equipped him with an insider view of Australia’s construction game to dig deep into the big stories.