SEQ recycled water - Business turns off effluent recycling ...

No businesses have signed up as customers for Queensland's $2.5 billion water recycling scheme, despite a claim by Premier Anna Bligh that industry has embraced the option of using recycled sewage and industrial effluent.

Fresh doubts about the viability of the scheme surfaced as Ms Bligh came under fire for axing rebates for rainwater tanks and other water-saving devices.

The state Government last month backed down on plans to pump 60 megalitres of waste water a day to southeast Queensland storages from February, rising to 238ML later in the year. Recycled water will be added to the drinking water supplies only if dam levels fall below 40 per cent.

The western corridor recycled water scheme was intending to deliver 10ML a day to industry from early next year, with 30 per cent of the water produced at its three filtration plants earmarked for industry use.

Ms Bligh said the Government was unaware of any "appropriate" industries that had refused to sign up to use the recycled water.

"Industry has embraced its use and is expected to continue to do so," she told The Australian.

However, government and industry sources confirmed that no businesses had signed contracts, although chemical manufacturer Incitec Pivot was expected to do so soon, and negotiations were continuing with a small number of other companies.
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See - The Australian - Business turns off effluent recycling.