Explosions and stoppages - golden potable reuse example Windhoek cops another beating ...

... this time in the Canberra press.

The troubles of Windhoek were first raised in Australia through the water blogs. The issue was then highlighted in the free Toowoomba weekly newspaper with the sister daily publication The Chronicle ignoring the point.

Those involved in the Toowoomba debate always thought it very odd that the poorly designed recycled water plant in Windhoek was used as a prime example of why we should drink recycled water.

It showed how few examples of potable reuse there are in the world when experts and governments needed to rely on such a troubled example in their attempts to convince those in Australia to drink recycled water ...

Excerpt from the Canberra Times:

Trouble water recycling

27 May 2007

There have been two explosions and 19 stoppages in as many days at an African water recycling plant that Actew lists on its website as an example of how other countries are enjoying the benefits of purified water.

The 230,000 residents of Windhoek, Namibia, have been drinking recycled water since 1968, but a new plant completed in 2002 has suffered a range of problems, according to the Namibian newspaper.

The newspaper claims the problems included: producing 6000 cubic metres of purified water a day less than its intended design of 21,000 cubic metres; using substantially larger quantities of chemicals than its designers said would be needed; and being out of commission for long periods during one period there were 19 stoppages in as many days.

The Windhoek council said in court documents quoted in the Namibian there had been two explosions at the plant and there were grave concerns over safety.

The documents said, "It is evident that the plant is not designed for continuous use in a mission critical industrial application. This is so because of obvious design errors."

However, the quality of the water produced by the plant was acceptable.

Windhoek's water reclamation plant is among those listed on Actew's website.

Actew's website, which explains the process behind the corporation's water recycling plans, states that: "Purified water has been used to supplement water supplies around the world for many decades.

"These global destinations enjoy the benefits of purified water. So too can Canberra."

Head of the Infectious Diseases Unit at the Canberra Hospital Peter Collignon said the risks posed to residents if a water recycling plant failed would be huge. As a result, a water recycling plant should only be a last resort for drinking water, Professor Collignon said.

If a problem did occur at Canberra's water recycling plant, hundreds of thousands of people could be exposed.

"Why put the population at risk if there are other, reasonable alternatives?" he said.

There were other options Actew and the Government should explore before using recycled water for drinking, including greater use of dam outflows and non-potable water for irrigation.

Sydney water consultant Keith Stollard, who was involved with the outsourcing of firms to work on the Namibian plant, said there had been no health issues with that plant in recent years.

The only issue he was aware of was a brewing firm disparaging a competitor in Windhoek brewery for using recycled water.

"I've drunk recycled water with no problems at all," Mr Stollard said.

In an interim report issued last Friday, Actew's expert health panel issues found "no clear deleterious health risks have been observed" from water use overseas, according to the panel's review of available material.

The report said, "The quality of the purified water from the proposed plant is crucial to the health and safety of the community, and must not be compromised."

Extensive sampling and monitoring programs would be required to ensure the water met Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

A second interim report on environmental issues published on Friday by water consultant engaged by Actew, found a well-designed and well-operating water recycling system could provide water cleaner than that found naturally in catchments.

The report, which made only preliminary comments, also found that proposed recycling system could pose environmental risks such as contamination of animals, algal blooms and uncontrolled aquatic plant growth, groundwater contamination, and expansion of alien fish species.

Many of these issues needed further consideration, the report said.

See - Windhoek - explosions and stoppages - troubled times indeed.