Re-use & recycling
Recycled water is not a new concept to Australia but the use and regulation of recycled water has come a long way in recent years.
For decades, towns and cities have routinely used recycled water for non-drinking purposes such as for watering parks, ovals, industrial use and irrigation but less than 10 years ago, it was illegal in many cases to install a rainwater tank on a domestic house. Now it's increasingly illegal not to. Recycling by utilities was often experimental. Now it's a core part of supply planning to manage reduced inflows into our dams.
Australia experienced great interest and uptake of decentralised recycling schemes by urban irrigators and industry. It is also now evident that, when planned appropriately, in addition to providing water security benefits, recycling schemes can support improvements to waterway health, social amenity, reductions in water charges and asset replacement benefits.
'Large volumes of recycled water are now being used for non-drinking consumption. Even greater reliance on recycled water would contribute to more secure and sustainable urban water supply systems, as well as help protect our waterways from untreated stormwater and wastewater.'Mr James Cameron, media release 29 November 2010 |
The uptake of recycling supports water-security objectives and there have been many advances in the regulation of recycled water systems that allowed this to happen while ensuring that both public and environmental health are protected.
The development of the Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling package (including guidelines covering augmentation of drinking supplies, managed aquifer recharge and stormwater harvesting and re-use) enables a risk-based approach that provides regulators and practitioners of recycled water with the confidence to safely implement recycling schemes. There are also numerous demonstration projects and tools that assist Australia's understanding of how to manage the risks involved in recycling.
Many downstream communities in Australia already draw on water supplies that contain wastewater discharged by communities upstream. Adelaide is an example.
Some regions in Australia are now considering taking the next step by deliberately using recycled water to supplement drinking water supplies under carefully controlled conditions. This is called planned indirect potable re-use and involves adding highly treated recycled water into an existing drinking water source (such as a reservoir, river or aquifer) where it mixes with the "natural water" before it is later drawn on and further treated.
Not surprisingly, the more wide spread use of recycling and alternative sources of water is highlighting a range of inconsistencies and costly procedures involved with planning, implementing and regulating new recycling schemes across Australia. Considerable effort from all levels of government and industry is occurring to reduce the barriers to greater uptake of recycled water and the Commission is active in supporting these efforts.
Raising National Water Standards program and water recycling / re-use
Funding from the Raising National Water Standards program is being used to:
- develop guidance and frameworks to assist implement and regulate the new Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling
- develop scientific methods and screening tools to give assurance that recycled water is safe for human and environmental health
- fund Commission fellowships to increase the literature available on treatment efficiencies and approaches to the regulation of recycling schemes across all states and territories
- develop installation standards for domestic recycling schemes
- develop national recycled water forums and working groups to discuss opportunities for national approaches to the regulation of recycled water schemes.
The reform effort is now seeking to better align the regulatory institutions governing water quality and quantity and to achieve a streamlined approach to recycled water science, policy and practice across Australia.
Recycling produces a secure and sustainable source of water that is less dependent on climate and rainfall than "traditional" water supply options. There are also environmental benefits, as recycling typically requires less energy during the treatment process compared with desalination, and can reduce wastewater discharge to the environment. The Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling are endorsed by all Australian governments to provide a sound management framework that ensures recycled water is safe and reliable.
For further information on Australia's recycling efforts contact enquiries@nwc.gov.au