FAQs
- What is recycled water?
- Is recycled water presently in use?
- Can households use recycled water?
- Why is recycled water being used?
- What are the benefits of using recycled water?
- How can recycled water be used?
- Where does recycled water come from?
- What happens to treated effluent at the moment?
- Is recycled water safe?
- Are there guidelines for recycled water use?
- What is Melbourne Water doing to improve awareness and understanding of recycled water in the community?
1. What is recycled water?
Stormwater, greywater, rainwater and treated effluent are all alternative water supplies that, when treated as required, are suitable for a range of different purposes. This can include irrigating grazing land and crops, horticulture, industrial processing, residential dual pipe schemes, and to keep our public and recreational spaces green. On this website, ‘recycled water’ generally refers to fully treated water from sewage treatment plants. Recycled water is a valuable resource. It contributes to the conservation of drinking quality water, improves the reliability of our water supplies, frees up water for the environment and reduces the amount of treated water discharged into our bays and the ocean.
2. Is recycled water presently in use?
Recycled water is already being used in a wide range of applications, including irrigation (agriculture, parklands and golf courses), industrial use and for residential supply (toilet flushing and garden watering).
3. Can households use recycled water?
Class A recycled water can be used in households for non-drinking purposes such as toilet flushing and garden watering. In Melbourne’s east, TopAq currently supplies South East Water with Class A recycled water for use in residential schemes via dual pipe reticulation systems. In Melbourne’s west, City West Water is proposing to supply homes in the West Werribee dual pipe scheme with salt-reduced Class A recycled water for garden watering and toilet flushing.
4. Why is recycled water being used?
Water is a precious resource, yet we have traditionally used it once and disposed of it through our sewage treatment plants. There are many activities that do not require drinking quality water and could use recycled water (e.g. toilet flushing). By using recycled water that is treated for its intended use, less water from the potable (drinking) system is needed. As part of an integrated water management solution, water recycling is an important way to help preserve our drinking water supplies.
5. What are the benefits of using recycled water?
Recycled water has many benefits. It reduces the demand on fresh water, makes use of a resource that currently goes to waste and provides water security for many users. Water recycling schemes protect the environment by reducing the discharge of treated effluent into the bay and the ocean.
6. How can recycled water be used?
Recycled water can be used for a variety of uses, depending on the quality it is treated to.
In general terms, Class C recycled water can be used for crops such as tree plantations, vineyards, general agriculture, and the irrigation of golf courses and parklands subject to management controls. With further treatment to Class A, recycled water can be used on an unrestricted basis for horticulture, irrigation of market gardens where crops are eaten uncooked and open space recreation areas, and for garden watering and toilet flushing through ‘dual pipe’ schemes.
Some additional quality aspects may need to be considered for specific uses, including salinity and nutrients.
7. Where does recycled water come from?
Recycled water in Melbourne generally comes from our sewage treatment plants. In Melbourne, the largest treatment plants are the Eastern Treatment Plant at Bangholme and the Western Treatment Plant at Werribee. They provide large amounts of recycled water all year round. Some smaller, local treatment plants run by the metropolitan retail water companies also provide recycled water.
Another potential source of recycled water involves removing and treating sewage directly from sewer mains (sewer/water mining). The sewage is treated on location using an onsite treatment plant.
Stormwater harvesting and industrial reuse/recycling are other onsite recycling options that can be used for a number of purposes. The end use of the recycled water will depend on the water quality and treatment method.
8. What happens to the treated water at the moment?
Any recycled water that is not used from Melbourne Water’s treatment plants is discharged as treated water into Bass Strait and Port Phillip Bay. Approximately 28.9% of the total sewage flow in 2008/09 was recycled. Large flows from the Western Treatment Plant are also used onsite for habitat conservation at the plant's Ramsar-listed wetlands.
Through the increased use of recycled water, we will be able to further reduce the volume of water discharged and use it for purposes beneficial to the environment and the community.
9. Is recycled water safe?
Yes. Recycled water is treated to high standards to ensure it is fit for its intended purpose. There are Department of Health quality control standards that apply for its use. The treatment and supply system is designed to provide water that is fit for its end use.
10. Are there guidelines for recycled water use?
Yes.
Recycled water can be safely used for a variety of purposes appropriate to the level of treatment it has undergone, in accordance with:
- Guidelines for Environmental Management: Use of Reclaimed Water - EPA Victoria
- Guidelines for Environmental Management: Dual Pipe Water Recycling Schemes - EPA Victoria
- Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling
The standards are in line with interstate and international practice and permit a wide range of uses. Individual water recycling projects each require an Environment Improvement Plan, which complies with the requirements of EPA Victoria.
Visit the EPA Victoria website for more information.
11. What is Melbourne Water doing to improve awareness and understanding of recycled water in the community?
We are working with the Victorian Government and other stakeholders to develop a better understanding and awareness in the community of the value of recycled water. In June 2004, the Victorian Government released ‘Our Water Our Future’, a plan that outlines the Victorian Government's approach to water resources, including recycled water, which was updated in 2007 as The Next Stage of the Plan. The plan and other strategies are available at the Our Water Our Future website.