Protecting St John of God Murdoch Hospital Construction Site with ARI Stormwater Filtration Devices (SFDs)
2025 | Case Study
Summary
During the expansion works at St John of God Murdoch Hospital, construction company Built faced a challenge common to large-scale building projects: preventing sediment, soil, and construction waste from entering stormwater systems. Disturbance of soil, demolition activities, and heavy machinery movement significantly increased the risk of contaminated runoff entering the surrounding environment.
In partnership with ARI Water, Built installed Stormwater Filtration Devices (SFDs) to capture sediment and waste throughout the construction phases. Within just two weeks, the SFDs successfully captured measurable volumes of soil, sand, and construction debris, preventing these contaminants from entering the stormwater network.
This case study demonstrates how ARI’s filtration technology not only protected the hospital site drainage network and a constructed wetland next to the site but also highlighted the hidden waste burden of construction runoff, underscoring why stormwater management should be a core part of construction environmental compliance.
Background & Context
• Project: New building addition at St John of God Murdoch Hospital, Murdoch, WA.
• Construction Partner: Built, a leading national contractor with a strong focus on
sustainability.
• Challenge: Construction phases involve soil disturbance, demolition residues, concrete
wash-off, and building waste, all of which are highly mobile during rainfall events.
• Risk: Without intervention, stormwater drains on site could discharge this material into the local stormwater network, damaging ecosystems and increasing regulatory exposure.
The Challenge
• Sediment & Waste Load: Large quantities of loose soil and sand exposed during excavation and foundation work.
• Construction Waste: Small plastic fragments, concrete slurry, and general debris are
common in active worksites.
• Stormwater Vulnerability: Heavy rainfall can quickly flush this material into drains, clogging infrastructure and polluting waterways.
• Industry Gap: Most construction projects underestimate the scale of waste mobilised by
stormwater during active phases.
Baseline observation showed significant sediment accumulation in stormwater pits even before major rainfall events.
The Solution: ARI Stormwater Filtration Devices (SFDs)
To address this, ARI Water installed custom-fitted SFDs at stormwater drain inlets across the active work zones.
Key Features:
• High-capacity sediment capture - specifically engineered to trap soil, sand, and
construction debris.
• Rapid installation - integrated within existing pits with no disruption to construction
activities.
• Adaptable inserts - designed for construction-phase waste loads, easily replaced as
needed.
• Maintenance-friendly - captured waste is removed via simple cleaning and filter
replacement.
Installation:
Implementation & Monitoring
• Installation Date: 16th August, 2025
• Location: St John of God Murdoch Hospital - new building, Orthonova.
• Process:
1. ARI Water conducted a site survey to identify the drains most at risk.
2. SFDs were deployed in high-load catchments.
3. Monitoring was conducted over two weeks to measure captured waste.
Two-Week Maintenance Results:
• Significant accumulation of soil and sand from excavation phases.
• Capture of construction waste particles (plastic, concrete slurry, packaging residues).
• Prevention of blockages in downstream drains.
Maintenance Day:
Analytics Snapshot:
• Sediment captured | Construction debris: 58 kg debris | 24kg debris over 2 drains,
respectively.
• Drain blockages prevented: 100% success (no flooding during rainfall events)
Broader Impact for the Construction Industry
This project demonstrates that:
• Construction runoff is a major but often overlooked pollution source, especially during
excavation and foundation stages.
• Stormwater drains are frontline protection points, and without filtration, large waste loads are discharged into the environment.
• Cost savings: SFDs reduce the need for expensive post-construction drain cleaning,
sediment remediation, and environmental penalties.
• ESG advantage: Adoption of proactive stormwater protection enhances a construction
company’s sustainability profile and compliance record.
Conclusion
The St John of God Murdoch Hospital expansion project, with Built, proves that stormwater management is essential for responsible construction. By capturing waste and sediment at the source, ARI’s SFDs prevented pollution, reduced maintenance costs, and showcased a practical way for contractors to protect both their projects and the environment whilst meeting their ESG and SDG goals.
Next Steps for Industry:
• Deploy SFDs as standard on all major construction projects.
• Include stormwater protection in construction environmental management plans.
• Use data from captured waste loads to build stronger ESG and compliance reporting.
With this study, ARI Water demonstrates to the broader construction sector that every phase of
building creates measurable stormwater risks, and that SFDs offer a cost-effective, scalable
solution.
To find out more about how MKS Health Technologies can assist your business with ARI Water solutions please get in touch.