Purple pipes for recycled water in Jondaryan Shire ...

Jondaryan Shire press release:

Purple pipes for recycled water in Jondaryan Shire

15 May 2006

Purple pipes for Jondaryan Shire

Jondaryan Shire will provide treated recycled waste water for outside and non-drinking uses following a decision to introduce purple pipes into new housing estates.

The move is seen as an important contribution to making more efficient use of water supplies in the region.

Council at last Tuesday’s general meeting (May 9) decided to work with a local developer to install a dual reticulation system in a new 158 lot development at Boundary and Shoesmith Roads in Westbrook.

The system will comprise purple pipes for recycled water and conventional pipes for the drinking supply.

"This was an opportunity too good to miss to begin installation of dual reticulation systems in Jondaryan Shire. The longer we leave it, the more expensive it is to go back and lay purple pipes in existing developments," Mayor Peter Taylor said.

"All water currently supplied to households and industry is treated to drinking standard, but less than 15% is used for drinking or food processing. The supply of treated recycled water in purple pipes for non-drinking uses by residents will make an important contribution to ensuring long term sustainability of the region’s water reserves."

"With the costs of drinking water ever increasing, as well as the obvious shortage of the resource, it makes financial and environmental sense to have the 85% of our water supplies used for flushing toilets, watering gardens, mixing concrete and the like supplied in a separate pipe. This allows recycled water to be used without any of the fears some have in the community about drinking it."

The mayor said the installation of the purple pipes would be occurring ahead of the supply of recycled water which requires an upgrade to water treatment plants. However, there were considerable savings to council and developers in the laying of both sets of pipes together when trenches were dug for new estates and as houses are built and internal plumbing can easily be fitted.

"This was the approach taken by Gold Coast City Council in new estates in Pimpama, inspected by Jondaryan councillors in February, he said.

Jondaryan Shire requires rainwater tanks to be installed in new developments and is considering a rebate scheme for existing householders to install tanks.

It is also working towards the reintroduction of bore water if this becomes necessary, has applied for an artesian license and is discussing with larger industry users water reuse and the availability of their own bore supplies.

"I will continue to push for the formation of a regional water body supported by the newly formed State Water Commission so that all councils can help one another find the best solution to the immediate and longer term water shortages," Mayor Taylor said.

See - Jondaryan moves ahead with recycled sewage for non-potable use.