Call to grow up and drink recycled water

Andrew Mathieson
AUTHORITIES should put recycled water in the region’s drinking supplies, according to Geelong Environment Council.
President Joan Lindros said recycled water was the only option for adequate supplies in the future without environmental damage from “raiding aquifers and borefields”.
“It’s about time Geelong got up with more advanced countries like Singapore, USA and UK and recycled water for potable use,” she said.
“We’ve been skirting around the edges for so long now and it’s obvious rainfall is dropping and the population and demand for water is increasing. My view is that recycling water is the only way we’re going to have adequate water without harming the environment.
“Other countries drink recycled water without ill-effect, so there’s no reason why Geelong can’t.”
Ms Lindros’s comments followed the first in a series of Barwon Water forums in Geelong to “engage the community” on future supply options.
Barwon Water said it wanted community feedback on “new and innovative” water supply options.
Barwon Water managing director Michael Malouf said re-use of recycled water was a key option for consideration.
However, Mr Malouf told the Independent that supplementing drinking supplies with recycled sewage water was “not a government policy”.
Barwon Water was also not considering it as an option, he said.
Mr Malouf said re-use of recycled and storm water could be suitable for non-drinking purposes in new residential developments such as Geelong’s Armstrong Creek growth area.
The water authority planned to test the viability of storing water in underground aquifers for later use, he said.
The research would focus on Fyansford, Anglesea, Armstrong Creek and possibly Lara.
Mr Malouf said recycled water could be suitable for uses such as toilet flushing and watering gardens and parkland.
Re-use could lead to a 50 per cent reduction in the amount of excess treated water currently expelled into the ocean.
Mr Malouf said Class A recycled water to be produced at a new Black Rock treatment plant would be suitable for aquifer storage.
The plant was scheduled to open in 2011, he said.
Barwon Water chairman Roger Lowrey said the community forums would open the door to “healthy” dialogue on solutions to water-related issues such as climate change.
“These issues are complex and some of the decisions we have to make will be complex. Accordingly, we need the community to be informed, to have a say and to have confidence in the way we manage our water resources.”
Mr Lowrey said the community “debates” would also help identify additional “sustainable supply options” through research and new technologies.