NEXTDC M3 Melbourne is a Tier IV data centre in West Footscray spanning more than 41,000 square metres. Located just 10 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, the facility supports Victoria’s digital growth and innovation across cloud computing and AI infrastructure.
Purpose-built to deliver industry-leading reliability for critical government and business cloud systems, the facility has been engineered for hyperscale growth and high-density computing. The site’s Tier IV classification reflects the facility’s high level of fault tolerance and resilience, designed to support continuous operation of its high-performance servers, storage and processing infrastructure.
Data centres are considered high-risk sites that require hydrocarbon management due to the presence of fuelled backup generators, transformer substations and associated infrastructure.
With resilient power and cooling infrastructure essential to critical operations, M3 Melbourne relies on significant backup power infrastructure to maintain continuity during interruptions to conventional electricity supply. The cutting-edge facility features a 2.7MW UPS system, backed by Rolls-Royce engines with a minimum of 24 hours of fuel stored on-site.
This backup power infrastructure makes hydrocarbon management and spill containment an important consideration for regulatory compliance and sustainability requirements, helping ensure stormwater contaminated by light liquids and oils is effectively treated. In the event of a spill, the Spillceptor® is designed to guarantee retention in all flow conditions.
Sustainable Outcomes with Multi-Stage Stormwater Treatment Trains
Three of Atlan’s locally manufactured fibreglass water quality devices were incorporated into M3 Melbourne. This multi-stage treatment train comprises primary treatment through an Ecoceptor Gross Pollutant Trap (GPT), secondary treatment through a Spillceptor® oily water separator, and tertiary treatment using FlowFilter.
The Ecoceptor GPT captures gross pollutants and prevents their conveyance to downstream tank systems and drainage. Intercepting litter, debris, and sediment, the device provides a critical first line of defence to protect local waterways.
The FlowFilter then provides tertiary stormwater treatment to further improve water quality before discharge. The SQIDEP-verified filtration system has demonstrated pollution removal efficiencies of 95% Total Suspended Solids (TSS), 93% Total Phosphorus (TP), 45% Total Nitrogen (TN), 90% lead, 53% zinc and 100% Gross Pollutants.
This multi-stage treatment approach is designed to meet the stringent compliance requirements of modern data centre development, meeting pollution removal objectives for gross pollutants through to finer suspended particles and hydrocarbons. This combination of treatment assets provides a comprehensive approach to water quality management.
Spillceptor Designed for Scale: High-Volume Spill Containment
At the M3 Melbourne facility, the installation of a large-capacity Atlan Spillceptor provides an essential layer of protection against hydrocarbon spills, safeguarding local waterways by maintaining full treatment capacity during major storm events.
Locally fabricated at Atlan Stormwater’s fibreglass manufacturing hub, the Spillceptor is designed to meet applicable regulatory compliance requirements for the catchment surrounding the site’s backup power generators. Measuring 20 metres long with a 3.6-metre diameter barrel, it is one of the largest Spillceptors Atlan has manufactured to date.
The device is engineered to manage treatment flow rates up to 460 litres per second, which is equivalent to the volume of an Olympic swimming pool every 90 minutes.
A key benefit of the Spillceptor® at M3 Melbourne is its gravity-fed design, eliminating the need for external pumps to treat incoming flows. This allows the device to meet the site’s substantial flow requirements while minimising additional mechanical infrastructure.
The Spillceptor meets BS EN 858 requirements for Class I oily water separators, with treated discharge achieving hydrocarbon concentrations of less than 5 mg/L (5 ppm).
Designed around 100% spill capture and 100% treatment flow, the device features no bypass, and provides fail-safe operation and protection from spills – guaranteeing hydrocarbon retention in all flows.
Compared with conventional concrete alternatives, which can require additional waterproofing and incorporate multiple joints, the Spillceptor’s FRP (Fibre Reinforced Polymer) construction provides a sealed, single-piece shell with inherent corrosion resistance.
Designed for long-term performance, the Spillceptor’s 100-year fibreglass design life will support sustainability objectives across the site’s lifecycle.
Protecting Joy in Water for Future Generations
Data centres are built around resilience, and Melbourne M3’s Tier IV classification underscores the importance of stormwater infrastructure engineered for scale, reliability and continuous operation.
As the data centre sector experiences continued growth, stormwater design plays a vital role in managing water quality, water quantity, environmental protection and regulatory compliance.
Atlan Stormwater provides end-to-end support across design, logistics, installation and maintenance. Our range of stormwater solutions offers adaptable strategies that support compliance, reliability, safety and project efficiency. For data centre developers and engineering teams, Atlan provides a single specialist partner to deliver stormwater management infrastructure.
Atlan’s approach is focused on bridging the gap between economics and environment. We believe clean waterways are a right, not a privilege, and work every day in our urban catchments to capture pollution at the source – creating infrastructure that protects our lakes, rivers and seas for generations to come.