Magazine - Recycled Sewage Keeps Parks Green

By Editor in Local Authority on 8th Jan 2008 6:40

Recycled water from Werribee's western treatment plant is hot property as Victoria's drought drives demand through the roof.
City West Water has sold nearly 114 million litres of Class A recycled water in the first 12 months of operation at its two recycling standpipes.
The plant is earning a pretty penny from sales, with government and industry buyers forking out 71 a litre for the precious former sewage.

Melbourne's parks are the main beneficiaries.
Local councils snapped up 65 per cent of the treated effluent to keep sporting ovals and gardens green.
However City West Water managing director Anne Barker said a range of businesses were beating the drought by buying recycled water.  "It isn't just councils and sports facilities using recycled water," Ms Barker said. "It's a viable alternative for car washing, graffiti removal, dust suppression, and industrial uses."

Portable toilet company Splashdown, made famous by the hit movie Kenny, has used the recycled water to flush more sewage at events such as Moomba and New Year's Eve in the city. Splashdown managing director Glenn Preusker said using recycled water for portaloos completed a "circuit system" because the waste from the toilets was then taken for recycling. "We worked out that, just at Moomba, using the recycled water saved the equivalent of an Olympic-sized pool of fresh water," Mr Preusker said. "We're encouraging all event organisers we work with to go down that track, and use recycled.
"There is an increased cost in doing that, but with the current water shortages a lot of people are interested in doing their bit."

City West Water said the 71 price was only 75 per cent of the cheapest price for drinking water; cartage costs then boost the price.
About 40 water carters have been approved to access recycled water from the standpipes, and they supply almost 120 customers.
Ms Barker said the prospect of another dry summer meant demand would soon swallow the plant's full production capacity of 25 million litres a month.

Article by: Mary Bolling
Source: http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun

Read more articles in Local Authority, by Editor or from January 2008.