Australian guidelines for water recycling
The National Water Initiative encourages the reuse and recycling of water where cost-effective and requires the development of national health and environmental guidelines to promote water sensitive cities.
Recycled water is one viable option to reduce water shortages and many water recycling programs are being developed by jurisdictions as key elements of integrated water cycle management. Recycling, both for the augmentation of drinking water and for non-drinking water uses, is an important option to help meet existing water demand and defer expensive new infrastructure.
Consequently, the Environment Protection and Heritage Council and the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council initiated the development of phases 1 and 2 of national guidelines for water recycling. The guidelines comprise a risk management framework and specific guidance on managing the health risks and the environmental risks associated with the use of recycled water.
Phase 1: sewage and grey-water
Phase 1 of the guidelines focuses on large-scale treated sewage and grey-water to be used for:
- residential garden watering, car washing, toilet flushing and clothes washing
- irrigation for urban recreational and open space, and agriculture and horticulture
- fire protection and fire fighting systems, and
- industrial uses, including cooling water.
It also covers grey-water treated on-site (including in high rise apartments and office blocks) for use for garden watering, car washing, toilet flushing and clothes washing.
The Phase 1 guidelines have been endorsed by the Environment Protection and Heritage Council, the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council and the Australian Health Ministers' Conference.
Phase 2: stormwater, managed aquifer recharge and augmentation of drinking water
The Phase 2 guidelines provide guidance on the planned use of recycled water, stormwater and groundwater to augment drinking water supplies, including indirect potable re-use.
The Phase 2 guidelines for the augmentation of drinking water supplies were endorsed by the Environment Protection and Heritage Council, the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council in April 2008.