With strict water restrictions in place in Victoria, the use of recycled water to clean BP's service stations will save nearly 350,000 litres of much-valued water per year.

As BP re-brands its service stations across Australia with new colours and the green, pearl white and yellow 'Helios' symbol, it has also committed to a cleaning program to maintain the vibrancy of the new look.

Programmed Maintenance Services has been contracted to wash 540 BP service stations in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia. In Melbourne recycled water, generated by PMS subsidiary Barry Bros. Specialised, is being used.

"When we approached BP with the option of using recycled water, they jumped at the opportunity," Peter Lawler, Retail Account Manager PMS said.

"With each Melbourne site requiring at least 1000 litres of water and 284 service stations to be cleaned in the next 18 months, we estimate that we will save nearly 350,000 litres of mains water," Peter said.

Barry Bros.' Xtracta water recycling plant pumps and purifies water from power and telecommunication roadside pits, enabling this otherwise contaminated water to be treated and reused.

First trialled in the City of Port Philip in Melbourne, the Xtracta technology has recycled over 1 million litres of water in its first six months. In addition to the BP project, this water has been used to irrigate sporting fields, water public gardens and clean a major commercial building in Melbourne.

Irrigation with the treated water takes place at night, in line with water restrictions. PMS is also painting a large proportion of BP sites as the new corporate image is rolled across the country.