SEQ recycled water - Anna Bligh ready to dump proposal for recycled sewage ...

Excerpt from the Australian:

Anna Bligh ready to dump proposal for recycled sewage

20 November 2008

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh yesterday left the door open to scrapping her recycled sewage plan, as it emerged that the 2.6 million residents of the state's southeast may not be told if their drinking water has been contaminated.

The shift by Ms Bligh follows a series of reports by The Australian, which highlighted concerns by experts about whether viruses and other contaminants would be blocked by the planned seven-stage screening process.

With pressure mounting on the Government as continuing rain raised dam levels further yesterday, Ms Bligh said she would listen to advice from the Queensland Water Commission about whether the scheme should proceed as planned early next year.

"If at any stage the commission advises we are in a position to make some different decisions, then I would certainly take that advice," she said. "I have not had that advice at this stage."

Ms Bligh has previously insisted that the scheme was necessary to secure future water supplies for Australia's fastest-growing region.

Government sources said if the plan to pump 60 million litres of recycled sewage and industrial effluent a day into the drinking water supply proceeded, the results of testing would be made public only in exceptional circumstances if they indicated very high levels of contaminants.

A public announcement would be made only if authorities considered there was a substantial risk to public safety.

Queensland Health population health director Linda Selvey said her department would determine "as deemed appropriate" whether a public notification would be issued if levels of contaminants in excess of national standards were detected.

The average level of southeast Queensland's three main dams rose to 42 per cent yesterday. SEQ Water spokesman Mike Foster said it could rise to 45 per cent next week. Further heavy falls are forecast in catchments in the weeks ahead.

The level was 23 per cent last year when Ms Bligh announced the recycled water plan and the cancellation of a plebiscite on the proposal.

Ms Bligh said yesterday the Government had a responsibility to secure supplies but would listen to the water commission.

"If there was any advice that we could change our tack on this, of course we'd take it," she said.

"We've had a lot of rain this week, but we don't know what the situation will be in February or March next year. We'll be looking at this on a monthly basis and we'll be making sure people have enough water."

Ms Bligh is expected to call an election early next year and is understood to be anxious that the Opposition may exploit voter concern over recycled water.

Facing a barrage of questions from concerned listeners on talkback radio yesterday, QWC chief executive John Bradley said the commission had no plans to disband the scheme, as recycled water was essential to secure the region's future supplies.

Mr Bradley hit back at critics of the scheme, accusing them of scaremongering.

He singled out Australian National University immunologist Peter Collignon, who has questioned in interviews with The Australian whether screening can block viruses and other contaminants.

See - What will Bligh do.