Does Turnbull have his facts right?
MP Malcolm Turnbull is relying on Israel and Singapore as reasons why Toowoomba residents should be drinking a cocktail of at least 25% recycled sewage.
BUT:
- Israel does NOT use recycled sewage for drinking - it uses it for non-potable purposes.
See - Water in Israel.
"By using recycled water for agriculture, fresh water is saved for human consumption. JNF’s research on the uses of recycled water, as well as the continued building of reservoirs all over the country, are an immediate solution to alleviating Israel’s water predicament and are an integral part of its plans for supplying water over the long term. "
See - Israel Water Crisis Facts and Figures.
And, like Singapore, they use desalination plants.
See - Desalination plant to provide 15% of Israel's domestic needs.
"Located on Israel's southern Mediterranean coast, the new Ashkelon SWRO plant will provide around 15% of Israel's domestic needs. It is the first of a number of similar large-scale seawater desalination facilities planned."
- Singapore uses around 1% - there's a big difference between 1% and one-quarter of your water being recycled sewage - something the Toowoomba City Council tries to downplay.
He was also unaware that Premier Beattie is working on the so-called "non-existent" other options.
So, has Turnbull got his facts right?
In Councillor Shelton's view:
" ... it underscored to me yet again just how much half-truths and false propositions are being used to convince Toowoomba people we are locked in to drinking recycled sewage water and that it will solve our crisis."
See - Lyle's blog.
10 Comments:
Turnbull is merely fuelling the NO campaign.
3:03 PM, April 05, 2006
Israel actually has the world's LARGEST RO desalination plant!
Veolia Water announces the start up of the Ashkelon Seawater Desalination Plant, south of Tel Aviv (Israel). With a daily production capacity of 320,000 cubic meters of drinking water (that is 108 million cubic meters a year), it is the world's largest desalination plant using reverse osmosis technology. The 25-year contract was signed in September 2001 with Veolia Water and its Israeli partners, following an international call for tenders published by the Israeli government. The contract covers the finance, construction and operation of the desalination plant, and represents for the consortium total cumulative sales for the term of the contract of around 1.5 billion euros. The plant was designed and built by Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies and its Israeli partners.
Press Release_ 12/21/05
3:09 PM, April 05, 2006
Turnbull has NOT got his facts straight
3:38 PM, April 05, 2006
This information was found in less than 5 minutes using google.
Mr Turnbull's use of Israel and Singapore as justification for Toowoomba to drink recycled sewage is fundamentally flawed.
3:52 PM, April 05, 2006
Turnbull stop being part of the problem and try to help with the solution
5:22 PM, April 05, 2006
CH2M Hill state in the Council's NWC application:
“Thus, the recycled water would represent 26% of the total yield or 29% of the water supply to Mt Kynoch. This ratio of recycled water is high by international standards and will need detailed review and further studies.”
Even Council's adviser, CH2M Hill, think it is high by international standards.
NOWHERE else in the world uses 25% recycled sewage for drinking let alone 29%.
Singapore is not a good example - it only uses 1% - TCC wants to use 29% or almost ONE THIRD of the water you will drink!
6:01 PM, April 05, 2006
Mr Turnbull, How you have underestimated the community, we will remember who's idea the reclaimed sewage water project is and vote against you and your Liberal party.
I am a Liberal Party voter and for the first time it will change.
7:23 PM, April 05, 2006
Turnbull's trip to Toowoomba seems to be losing the Federal government votes. Well done!
7:57 PM, April 05, 2006
Another politician who gets his facts wrong and misleads the public. I'm so sick of it.
11:36 PM, April 05, 2006
Perhaps Turnbull should come here to this blog post and explain his comments and point us to some facts backing them up.
That would be a good one wouldn't it.
I startung to hear the word STOOGE pop into my head.
12:35 AM, April 06, 2006
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