NSW government rules out drinking recycled water in Sydney ...

The NSW government has released its water strategy for Sydney - the 2006 Metropolitan Water Plan (8 May 2006).

It makes the following comments in relation to the use of recycled water for drinking purposes:

The Government does not support introducing recycled water into Sydney's drinking water supply at this time for several reasons.

The independent expert analysis of the supply and demand balance shows that Sydney's water supplies are more than adequate to meet the demands of a growing population until at least 2015. Beyond that, there is a range of feasible options available to meet future needs.

Before any proposal to introduce recycled water to the drinking water supply can be seriously contemplated, implications for public health of such a scheme would need to be assessed. For example, such an assessment would need to consider the quality of the recycled water, dilution levels as the recycled water is mixed into the raw water in storages, retention rates in the storages and the presence of harmful micro-organisms or chemicals.

Further no such scheme could proceed without community acceptance. Local research shows community reluctance to accept the introduction of recycled water into the drinking water system at present.

See - Using recycled water in greater Sydney.

Also see - Water recycling wins priority treatment - but not for drinking.

There are examples around Sydney of unplanned indirect potable reuse, however, this should never be used as justification for the introduction of planned potable reuse schemes.

The NSW government's view is simple:

1. There are other water source options (something ignored by Toowoomba City Council).

2. There would need to be an assessment of the public health implications, including dilution levels and the presence of harmful micro-organisms or chemicals (questions the Toowoomba City Council refuses to answer - the Water Futures project involves drinking recycled water at levels - 25-29% - not done anywhere else in the world).

3. The community would need to want to drink recycled water (the referendum in Toowoomba will establish whether or not Toowoomba residents want to drink it).

The NSW government will probably draw fire for their stance but at least they have made their position clear.

It also looks like MP Turnbull will not need to be drinking recycled water at home any time soon ...