No-one would 'lettuce' drink recycled water would they ...

Just when Brisbane is gearing up for its SEQ recycled water referendum comes news from down south that everyone is stumped as to why the lettuce is stunted and the golf greens are brown from the use of recycled water.

Apart from the Goulburn Mayor's proposal to push ahead with his great Goulburn recycled water experiment, the Beattie government is the only government in Australia currently proposing that its residents drink recycled water. No other state in Australia is currently proposing this.

The recycled water used in Victoria is likely to be of different quality to that which would have been used under the Water Futures project. But no-one is quite sure what type of recycled water Premier Beattie is proposing to pour into Wivenhoe Dam. Information is thin on the ground, leading people to think that the Beattie government has little or no idea on the issue.

So it's bad news for the Beattie government when the use of recycled water is called into question in Victoria.

From the Chronicle:

Burnt greens cause for water recycling concern

22 December 2006

Problems sound alarm bells to ears of horticulturalists

by Rebecca Vonhoff

Stunted lettuce and burnt grass are evidence of the great unknown in the recycled water debate, says Rosemary Morley.

Reports in Victoria this week about the effect of recycled water on horticulture "should send great big alarm bells ringing to everyone out there", Mrs Morley said.

Recycled water from the Werribee Sewage Plant used on the nearby golf club has prompted managers to question the water's chlorine content after the club's greens were burnt.

It has also been revealed lettuce crops in the Werribee district have begun to turn yellow and had their growth stunted.

Tests have ruled out fertilisation and farm practices as causing the problems, leading many farmers to blame the recycled water used in irrigation.

South Rural Water is investigating the crop problem and officials say, while the cause has not yet been determined, recycled water could be responsible,

Clinton Rodda, general manager of water supply with Southern rural Water, told ABC Radio the crop problems relate to "a limited number of customers who had issues with lettuces planted after the 15th of September".

"It seems there was a three or four week period where the lettuce just simply did not take off, didn't grown anywhere near as well as they would have normally, and for that period of time, most of those crops haven't proceeded through to their full size."

The crop anomalies have been reported to Victoria's chief health officer, Dr Robert Hall, though Dr Hall has said he had not been advised of any health threats cause to the public from eating the vegetables.

The developments have caused Mrs Morley to re-evaluate her stance on recycled water.

"I've always been for recycled water for industry and agriculture, but now maybe we have to look at agriculture if it's for food," she said.

The unexplained effects of recycled water highlights Mrs Morley's concerns about the issue.

"They just don't know what is going on and that's our whole point," she said.

"There's health concerns and no answers, and while that's the case we shouldn't drink it."


Interesting that the recycled water industry is largely silent on this issue at present.

Premier Beattie's response will most likely be - 'trust me' ...

Step 1: find some "experts" ...

Like something right out of the Toowoomba City Council's failed Water Futures campaign.

An excerpt from the Courier Mail:

Experts to explain recycled water

20 December 2006

The Queensland Water Commission will establish an expert advisory panel to provide independent scientific advice on purified recycled water.

Commission chair Elizabeth Nosworthy made the announcement this morning at a special meeting hosted by Premier Peter Beattie in Brisbane to determine how to best manage the state's water woes in the next decade.

More than 100 business, government and community leaders attended the briefing, which featured presentations from water experts on the controversial issue of recycled water, as well as the effects of climate change on the southeast corner.

Ms Nosworthy said this morning that Professor Paul Greenfield from the University of Queensland would chair the new advisory committee, which would report directly to the commission.

The commission would pass on the findings to the public.

...

See - Step 1: find some 'experts'.

Interestingly, on Qld news last night, Dr Greg Leslie was espousing the benefits of recycled water.

Toowoomba viewers must have had an intense sense of déjà vu. The only thing missing was his claim that he'd be happy to feed it to his 5 year old (she must be 6 by now).

And now an 'expert' panel is to convened - sounds like the Water Futures Advisory Panel.

No prizes for guessing who might end up on Beattie's 'expert panel'.

Did they not learn anything last time around ...

Jondaryan Shire wants a vote on 17 March ...

All Jondaryan Shire residents are likely to be included in the referendum on recycled water to be conducted by the State Electoral Commission in south east Queensland in March next year.

Note that, in the two informal polls of Jondaryan Shire residents so far, they rejected drinking recycled water on both occasions.

Read the Jondaryan Shire press release: Jondaryan Shire wants to vote.

Dalby: historic gas water deal signed ...

Press release from Dalby Town Council:

14 December 2006

Historic water deal signed

Dalby residents could be drinking treated Coal Seam Gas (CSG) by-water as early as 2008 following the signing of a supply agreement between Dalby Town Council and Arrow Energy yesterday.

The agreement secures the water for town use adding reliability to existing supplies at a time when water is becoming an increasingly valuable resource.

Dalby Mayor Cr Warwick Geisel said that the agreement is a first for town supply in Australia and a significant milestone towards securing adequate long-term water supplies for Dalby.

"Arrow Energy will allow Dalby to access CSG by-water for the time the gasfields are operating, which is expected to be in excess of 15 years," Mr Geisel said.

"The scheme reduces the need for Council to access deep underground supplies by utilising water that would otherwise be evaporated. It enables Dalby to move into more reliable water sources that provide known capacity and this should have a positive influence on future development within the region," he said.

Planning is underway to establish the required infrastructure which includes a 23 kilometre pipeline running from Arrow's Tipton West gas fields to Dalby's Water Treatment Plant at an estimated cost of $3 million.

The project also requires the construction of a second desalination plant and upgrading of existing evaporation ponds as the CSG by-water has around twice the salinity of normal Dalby ground water.

Additional costs incurred by Council to treat and transport the water will result in higher water charges over the long-term with prices estimated to rise substantially.

Council's Director of Engineering Services Matt Sullivan said the rise is consistent with a nationwide trend towards paying more for water.

"As water becomes scarcer, the costs involved in finding and producing drinkable water for town supply will need to be met through increases in Council's pricing policy," Mr Sullivan said.

An Environmental Management Plan that meets Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines will be put in place to control environmental impact.

The Dalby Town Council plans to open the new plant for public inspection once it is operational and hold information days to boost community awareness of the process.

Federal Member for Maranoa Bruce Scott said he was delighted with the partnership approach between all levels of government and private enterprise.

"When we live on one of the driest continents on earth, all sources of water should be fully utilised, and this innovative project leads the way for bolstering Australia's scarce water supply," Mr Scott said.

"Furthermore, the availability of water underpins regional development for the area and it will encourage new industries and new jobs. I congratulate the Dalby Town Council and Arrow Energy for working together to develop this highly innovative project and I look forward to the future achievements from this smart water initiative," he said.

The scheme forms part of the $10 million Dalby Water Supply Redevelopment Project which aims to replace up to 1,200 megalitres per year of low reliability supplies and has the support of all levels of government as well as private enterprise.

Other water saving measures incorporated into the redevelopment project include upgrading the town's current recycled water systems and expanding the recycled water plant to provide 100 per cent of the town's treated wastewater for maintaining local playing fields, parks and gardens as well as use by industry.

Memo to Premier Beattie - need to revise SEQ water grid map ...

... if you intend to include Toowoomba.

See - most recent NRM&W SEQ water grid map.

Oops ...

Mayor Thorley backs the No campaign in the SEQ referendum ...

Yes she has done it.

It must be difficult for the Mayor - not knowing which way to jump - she doesn't want Beattie to succeed where she failed but she also desperately wants someone, anyone, to drink recycled water.

So it seems she's jumped to the No side for the SEQ referendum.

Mayor Thorley is quoted in today's Chronicle as follows:

Basing her figures on a Parsons Brinckerhoff report prepared for the Water Futures plan, the Toowoomba mayor said people would have paid about $40 extra in rates per year, had the recycled water scheme been adopted in July.

"Residents could instead expect to pay up to an additional $900 per household, per year for the Wivenhoe Dam connection announced by Peter Beattie this week."

The price difference could prove to be prohibitive for some people, Cr Thorley said.

See - Mayor Thorley advocates No case position for SEQ poll.

She is, of course, basing her comments on the Parsons Brinkerhoff report which failed to examine the actual costs of Mayor Thorley's Water Futures proposal. (The report also did not provide any figures for a Wivenhoe connection.)

Water Futures looks more and more like it would have been a blow out project costing the city somewhere around $150 million plus with the city needing to shoulder additional debt of somewhere around $80 million. And that's beng conservative!

Given that Toowoomba currently runs around $50 million of debt on its balance sheet, even with the somewhat generous interest rates offered by QIC, the debt required for Water Futures would have saddled Toowoomba residents with debt for generations.

Imagine the increase in rates just to pay the interest bill for the great Thorley experiment.

Somewhere around $150 per annum per household.

Anyway, Mayor Thorley says that the Wivenhoe link will result in a $900 per annum increase in rates per household. While this is just the Mayor plucking completely random numbers 'out of the sky' - as has been her custom, the No campaigners must be thanking her.

Mayor Thorley is now a confirmed SEQ referendum No case supporter.

The way to ensure that the Wivenhoe connection is not built, is to vote No on March 17. Toowoomba will then be able to access the other options closer to it.

She'd hate to admit it, but she's arguing for the No case once again ...

Initial Councillor contributions to 'Floptions' website do not favour recycled water for potable use ...

Things don't seem to be working out quite the way the recycled water industry might have thought they would with the launch of MP Flegg's Water Options (Floptions) website.

The first two Councillor contributions show a possible confusion between 'grey water' and 'recycled water' and a desire to use recycled water only for non-potable use:

Gold Coast MP Jann Stuckey - her opinion provides zero content on the use of recycled water. She has concerns with the State government's desalination plant plans, believes all homes should have water tanks and look at options to recycle 'grey water'. Commercial developments should also harness rainwater and recycle 'grey water'. But NO comment at all on recycled water. Hardly an endorsement.

See - Gold Coast MP Jann Stuckey.

Sunshine Coast MP Glen Elmes - in his opinion, pipelines should be fast tracked to get recycled water to industry and agriculture. He repeats that recycled water should be used for business and agriculture. Require all homes to have a water tank and to recycle 'grey water'. Commercial developments should harvest rainwater and recycle 'grey water'. And harvest stormwater for parks and gardens. But NO comment on using recycled water for potable use.

See - Sunshine Coast MP Glen Elmes.

Interesting.

There will no doubt be the odd Councillor who will throw caution to the wind regarding their own political career and advocate that their community start drinking recycled water.

But there are no takers so far ...

The Rose: Referendum coincidence ...

Spot the coincidence:

State Parliament will 'debate' the SEQ recycled sewage referendum question when Parliament resumes on 6 February 2007.

See - Hansard - 30 November 2006.

Former Beattie Government Minister Rose's committal hearing is set down for 6 and 7 February 2007.

See - News.com.au - Rose committal hearing date set.

Interesting coincidence ...

Lib's Flegg creates a water options website ...

... here - Water Options - seems the only option favoured is recycled sewage though.

But he might not get much time to get his views onto the website:

See - Plans to remove Flegg from leadership over summer.

Rudd gets blamed for Beattie's water woes ...

See - SMH - Rudd cops the blame.

Jondaryan Shire to throw off the shackles of the Thorley water regime ...

Is it any wonder?

More soon ...

State government proposes water solutions for Toowoomba ...

As always, it's necessary to read between the lines.

State government press release:

Premier and Minister for Trade The Honourable Peter Beattie

4 December 2006

State Cabinet addresses Toowoomba Water Needs

Toowoomba: State Cabinet today signed off on a number of recommendations from the Toowoomba Water Supply Taskforce designed to help alleviate the water crisis facing local residents and businesses.

Premier Peter Beattie and Deputy Premier Anna Bligh joined Member for Toowoomba North Kerry Shine to make the announcement today at Community Cabinet in Toowoomba.

"The worst drought on record is hitting this region hard," Mr Beattie said.

"Dam levels have fallen below 19% and level 5 water restrictions have been in place for the last couple of months. After the recent rejection by Toowoomba residents of using recycled water for residential use, we set up the Taskforce to examine a range of alternative short and long term water supply options."

"There is no doubt that recycling was the most viable option nevertheless residents made it clear they did not want to proceed down that path at this stage."

"We need to look at other options that we can get up and running to help local Councils meet local water supply needs."

Mr Beattie said State Cabinet had approved as a long term solution the connection Toowoomba to the South East Queensland Water Grid via a new 47 kilometre pipeline from Wivenhoe Dam to Perseverance Dam.

Cabinet also approved a series of short term measures to help try and prevent any further water restrictions.

These include:

• $6 million in funding to the Jondaryan Council to bring forward the reinstatement of the Oakey town borefield. Reinstating the borefield will involve refurbishment of existing bores and the construction of a reverse osmosis water treatment plant

• $2.4 million to supplement Toowoomba's water supplies by tapping into groundwater from the Great Artesian Basin.

• $307,392 for the construction of a further 20 new bores in the area on top of $1.36 million funding already received as part of its Water Supply Basalt Aquifer Bores Project.

Ms Bligh said if Toowoomba was connected to the SEQ Water Grid it would have to examine the issue of recycling again as part of a broader water supply strategy for the whole region.

"On March 17 next year all residents serviced by the SEQ Water Grid - including Toowoomba - will have their say on introducing recycled water into existing water supplies," Ms Bligh said.

"Climate change is having a marked impact on our water security and we must continue to look at all options for future supply."

"One option is recycled water for residential use - not as part of our drought response but as part of our on-going water supply in good times and bad."

Mr Shine welcomed the recommendations and praised the work of the Toowoomba Water Supply Taskforce.

"Across the region and particularly in Toowoomba the drought has exposed the vulnerability of water supplies previously thought to be secure into the future," Mr Shine said.

"We need to put everything on the table and look at all the options to secure long term water supplies for our growing region."

"The Taskforce will continue to monitor water supplies while the drought continues and advise on any other supply options."

Toowoomba quizzes Beattie over second recycled water vote ...

See - ABC News - Why do we need to vote again?

Toowoomba City Council: why Wivenhoe link is not an option ...

Pipeline to Wivenhoe:

"If the project were to go ahead it would cost around $115 million with high operating costs, as water would have to be pumped up the Great Dividing Range."

"Capital cost - $115 million - 60% TCC: 40%: State government."

"High operating and maintenance cost due to increase lift from Wivenhoe to Toowoomba."

Source: Toowoomba City Council website.

Why the SEQ referendum is a farce ...

Excerpt from the Courier Mail:

Only short-term support

2 December 2006

Southeast Queensland's mayors are largely supportive of plans to put recycled water into dams, but some would rather not drink it forever.

A vote of 19 council areas will be held in March to gauge public attitudes to recycled water, though the specific question remains undetermined.

If a yes vote is successful, recycled water will be added to the southeast's supply from 2009.
But if not, the Government can still turn to recycled water in an "emergency" situation.

Premier Peter Beattie yesterday suggested 10 per cent as a reasonable proportion of recycled water to be permanently added to drinking supplies if the plebiscite is passed.

But a survey of the 18 members of the Council of Mayors reveals that a third would prefer recycled water only in the case of emergency.

The majority – nine mayors, mostly urban – supported the concept, although many wanted it to go to agriculture and industry first.

Three mayors would not reveal their position: Yvonne Chapman (Pine Rivers); John Brent (Boonah); Joe Natoli (Maroochy).

The Courier-Mail survey found the question of recycled water was far more complicated than the simple Yes/No referendum proposed by the Beattie Government in March.

In an unusual move, the result of the public plebiscite would be non-binding on the government and the No vote would be considered a Yes vote in the case of an emergency where there was no other water option.

That prompted some, such as Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke, to say the question appeared to be so confusing voters should put an "asterisk" next to their Yes vote to notify of conditions.

"The asterisk should indicate that I am voting 'Yes' provided the Government can guarantee it is safe," he said. "But I don't believe this is an issue that should be decided by a popular vote. It is either safe to be put into the water supply or it isn't."

Noosa Mayor Bob Abbott said he had been running a pro-recycled water campaign for six months.

But Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman and Redland Mayor Don Seccombe said they would support it in an emergency and only after other alternatives were tried.

"I would prefer to see the recycled water going to industry first to free up drinking water," Cr Newman said.

Many mayors said they would not try to direct public opinion one way or another unless their council voted to take a stand.

Logan Mayor Graham Able said his council would consider the issue within a fortnight.

"I don't have any hangups over recycled provided it is properly treated, but I won't be telling people what decision to make," he said.

Many rural mayors opposed the concept altogether but conceded it might be necessary.

"Our belief in Gatton is really simple," Steve Jones said. "At this stage we believe recycled water should be used principally for agriculture and industry."

Esk Mayor Graeme Lehmann agreed but conceded "you can't put your head in the sand".
"I will vote the way my community wants me to," he said.

Beaudesert Mayor Joy Drescher said she would accept it as a last resort but reserved her opinion until she saw the referendum.

"The devil is always in the detail," she said. "I would rather see it used for purposes that would not offend people."

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale said a strong education program was needed.

"It is not the history of the water, it is about the quality of the water," he said.

"Let's hope this whole debate is based on facts and not on emotions."

Premier Peter Beattie has suggested 10 per cent as a reasonable proportion of recycled water to be added to drinking supplies if a plebiscite is successful next year.
...

He further said the plebiscite question might include the percentage supply, but again the public opinion could be subject to change in an "Armageddon situation".

An education campaign is expected to be launched by the Water Commission ahead of the vote, with Mr Beattie claiming the vote should be based on science.

"We have to recognise that there is a yes and no position on this and we have to be fair," he said.

"While I don't agree with the no case, and neither does Anna (Bligh), they have a right to have their argument put to the people and that is why the independent body, the Water Commission, will put those arguments."

Opposition leader Jeff Seeney said the Coalition would determine its view on recycled water at its next joint meeting.

But he claimed the "drip feed" of information about recycled water from the Government was designed to deflect attention away from the Gordon Nuttall loans scandal.

"I'm very sceptical about the whole recycled water issue," he said.

"It's a political diversion. The whole issue is being made up as Peter Beattie goes along.

"Something as profound as drinking recycled sewerage needs to be planned a lot more extensively than this obliviously has.

"We've got no detail ... it's a different proposition to what we had a couple of weeks ago."

And it was also announced yesterday that a pipeline would be built from Lake Wivenhoe to supply Toowoomba and surrounding shires with emergency water.

See - Recycled water referendum is a farce.

Qld Water Commission will not prepare the referendum question ...

Poor Premier Beattie seems to be forgetting things.

Two days ago, the Queensland Water Commission was to prepare the referendum question, to ensure it was not politicised, with the draft to be submitted to Parliament next February for debate and confirmation by a House vote.

Seems not.

Yesterday, Premier Beattie had pretty much finished the question, without any help from the QWC:

"This (question) basically is: 'Are you or are you not in favour of drinking purified recycled water to a standard that's accepted by health officials around the world','' he said on ABC radio. The only issue is do we put in the 10 per cent (in the question).''

See - QWC's help not needed.

The bit about 'accepted by health officials around the world' is interesting.

Is he planning to conduct a poll of health authorities around the world, asking them whether they think putting 10% recycled sewage into Wivenhoe Dam would satisfy the health standards of their country?

Is he including third world countries in that survey?

Is he including various states in the United States which do not allow recycled water to be used for drinking purposes?

Is he including Qld which currently has no guidelines for using recycled water for drinking?

The farce has begun ...

Premier Beattie outlines recycled water content ...

See - ABC News - Recycled water content and London parallel.

Maybe 10%, maybe more in emergencies. Nowhere near the 25% proposed in Toowoomba.

"Meanwhile, the Premier has revealed he is thinking about proposing a 10 per cent mix of recycled water when south-east Queenslanders vote in a plebiscite."

"There was a parallel position with London," he said.

"They had roughly 10 per cent, but they had an extreme position of 70 and I said we would go nowhere near that."

London??

Do you get the impression he has no idea what he is talking about ...

Premier Beattie - I have no clue about reycled water ...

Premier Beattie's comments yesterday:

"He has yet to spell out exactly what percentage of recycled water would enter the Wivenhoe system but today said he was tending towards 10 per cent. That was the proportion used in cities such as London, he said. "

See - Don't they do 10%?

Premier, if you could please show us a document, any document, that shows that London people drink water which contains 10% recycled sewage.

We're waiting ...

The South-East Queensland Water Recycling Plebiscite Bill 2006 ...

Read the Bill here: Queensland Water Recycling Plebiscite Bill 2006.

A few details:

Referendum date: 17 March 2007

Council areas included: Beaudesert, Boonah, Brisbane, Caboolture, Caloundra, Cooloola, Esk, Gatton, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Kilcoy, Laidley, Logan, Maroochy, Noosa, Pine Rivers, Redcliffe, Redland and Toowoomba.

Note - the legislation will permit the addition of other Council areas. However, at this stage, shires which purchase Toowoomba water (Jondaryan, Crows Nest, Rosalie) are once again excluded. They weren't happy at being excluded last time - how will they feel second time around?

Information Role: Queensland Water Commission.

Note: so the process is 'not politicised', the QWC will prepare the material in support and against the proposition. So the QWC will prepare both the Yes and No cases. That WILL be interesting.

Referendum question - to be prepared by the QWC and submitted to Parliament at its first sitting in 2007.

Note: Parliament does not sit again until 6 February 2007. So there will around 6 weeks from finalising the referendum question until polling day.

Voting - compulsory.

Recycled water - possible introduction date - late 2008.

Note: so no testing period.

Size of project - third largest in the world.

Note: expect a hefty percentage of Wivenhoe Dam water to be recycled water - may even exceed Toowoomba's 25%.

Referendum cost - around $10 million.

Result - Yes wins with 50% plus one vote

Binding/Non-binding - result is not binding on the State government.

Note: even with a No vote, Beattie may go ahead with the project - the pipes have been purchased!

See - Hansard - 30 November 2006.

Interestingly, Deputy Premier Bligh then went on to say that the government is seeking the views on using 'purified recycled water' which meets 'all health and safety standards'.

Only problem is that there are currently NO guidelines for the use of recycled water for potable use.

Deputy Premier Bligh then went on to provide some helpful examples to Parliament:

- Orange County - sorry, not completed.

- Virginia - sorry, that State wants to move away from unplanned reuse towards use for non-potable purposes only.

- Singapore - currently running at 1%.

- Windhoek, Namibia - sorry, discredited - plant plagued with problems.

She then went on to justify recycled water by providing some unplanned reuse examples.

It's as if the Deputy Premier missed the whole Toowoomba debate altogether!

She's using the same examples used by the Toowoomba City Council and they went down in a screaming heap.

Has the State government learnt nothing from the Toowoomba fiasco?

Seems not ...

Toowoomba on 'Shocks and Shockers' list ...

From yesterday's Chronicle:

City on "Shocks and Shockers' list

By Greg Berghofer

Toowoomba Mayor Dianne Thorley has declined to comment on a national television program that rated Toowoomba City Council's plans to introduce recycled sewage into its drinking water supply as number 15 in a list of Shocks and Shockers.

Cr Thorley said yesterday she did not see the program and therefore could not comment on its content.

On Tuesday night, Channel 9 screened the program as part of its 20 to 1 series, which rates topical events and issues, counting them down from number 20 to number one.

The program billed as Australia's 20 biggest Shocks or Shockers didn't make it clear if it considered the recycling plan to be a shock or a shocker.

Television and media personalities were asked to give their admittedly uninformed opinion on Toowoomba's plan to drink recycled sewage and many expressed extreme discomfort.

Those knee-jerk reactions were balanced with opinion from others who had further investigated sewage recycling.

The show also had file footage of prominent No campaigner Clive Berghofer claiming the plan gave Toowoomba the mantle of Poowoomba or S**t City.

The program used puns such as "Toowoomba voters poo-pooing the proposal in the July poll.


Once again, thank you Mayor Thorley for your invaluable help in putting Toowoomba on Australia's tourism map ...