4350water blog - recent search term ...

"peter taylor gets another rise"

Still laughing ...

SEQ recycled water - suburban recycled sewage spills increase - Anna Bligh aims to cover up ...

Spilt sewage in Queensland fuels fears on recycled water

Greg Roberts | January 30, 2009

Article from: The Australian

Treated sewage and industrial effluent have been spilled on four occasions over the past two weeks -- including three times in one day at different sites -- in another blow to southeast Queensland's $2.5billion recycled water scheme.

Faulty valves in pipelines were responsible for two of the discharges.

Authorities insisted there was no risk to public health or to the environment.

Critics of drinking recycled water argue that accidents arising from human error are the main reason for concern about its safety.

The state Government was forced to suspend plans to add recycled water to southeast Queensland's drinking supplies next month in the face of public concerns about its safety, but the effluent will be added if dam levels fall to 40 per cent. They were at 46 per cent yesterday.

The Australian reported two weeks ago that state authorities had covered up an accident last July in which more than 500,000 litres of waste water were spilled at the Bundamba Advanced Water Treatment Plant west of Brisbane.

The plant is one of three treatment facilities connected by pipes in the western corridor recycling scheme, the biggest of its kind in the southern hemisphere.

On January 13, the Environmental Protection Authority investigated a spill of 500 litres from a recycled water pipeline in the Ipswich suburb of Goodna.

The spill was detected by Brisbane City Council inspectors.

The EPA was alerted to no fewer than three spills at widely dispersed sites on January 21.

At the Gibson Island recycling facility, near the mouth of the Brisbane River, 2000 litres were spilled from a diversion pit.

In the Brisbane riverside suburb of Pinkenba, 12,000 litres were spilled because of faulty valves in the pipeline.

In the southern Brisbane suburb of Stretton, 100,000 litres were spilled from a pipeline, again because of a faulty valve.

The Environmental Protection Agency said there was no evidence of environmental damage from the first spill.

Investigations were continuing into the latest three spills, but the EPA said the environmental impacts were expected to be negligible because the leaked water met drinking-water requirements. The faulty pipeline parts had been replaced.

Australian National University microbiologist Peter Collignon, a critic of drinking recycled water, said the spillages highlighted the safety risks of the western corridor scheme.

"In any malfunctioning water system, 80 per cent of the time it's human error to blame rather than the efficiency of a screening system or some other piece of equipment," Professor Collignon said.

"That's why the risks involved in using this equipment are real."

Queenslanders for Safe Water president Merilyn Haines said the state Government should publicly reveal spillages when they occurred.

"It was bad enough that they covered up last time," Ms Haines said.

"How can we be expected to trust them when they're not open with the public? We shouldn't have to rely on the media."

However, Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg, continuing his "small target" strategy in the lead-up to a state election by saying little about policy, declined to comment on whether he agreed with the Government's critics.

Western Corridor Recycled Water Project spokesman Paul Rees said the scheme treated waste water that would have been discharged into the Brisbane River.

"We take all environmental incidents, including leaks, seriously," Mr Rees said.

"We notify the EPA of environmental incidents involving the project."

In addition to its western corridor woes, the Queensland Government has been under fire over delays to the commissioning of its $1.2 billion Gold Coast desalination plant.

See - The Australian - Spilt sewage in Queensland fuels fears on recycled water.

Trust us ...

SEQ recycled water - Support for recycled water evaporates ...

Recycled water is such a political football.

Against it while campaigning, in favour of it when in office.

Support for recycled water evaporates

29 January 2009

The Liberal National Party's state election candidate for Redlands has distanced himself from his previous support for drinking recycled water.

Peter Dowling says he is concerned about the fact recycled water will be be sourced from a sewerage network that includes medical and hospital waste - a change of tone from his comments from two years ago that recycled water was "the smartest option for the future".

Cr Dowling, who will keep his job as a local councillor until a state election is called this year, voiced strong support for adding recycled water to dam storages during an interview with the Bayside Bulletin in 2006 when he declared it would "actually be cleaner than most of the water we have in the dam now".

The former deputy mayor made the comments on December 4, 2006, after the then-premier Peter Beattie announced he would ask South East Queensland voters to support recycled water through a referendum. The poll was later abandoned.

At the time, Cr Dowling said the addition of recycled water to dam storages would provide a more regular water source for the region and strong governments needed to make "tough decisions".

"I think it's a decision the State Government should make," he said during the interview.

Cr Dowling has since been named as an LNP election candidate and recently issued a "clarification" of his position - but insisted his views had not shifted because of his preselection.

He is critical of the Bligh Labor Government, which late last year was forced to back away from its plan to permanently top up Brisbane's Wivenhoe Dam with purified recycled water. The government now says it will only do so if combined dam levels drop below 40 per cent of capacity.

Cr Dowling said while he had tried recycled water before and it tasted okay, he shared the concerns held by many residents and believed it should not be forced on them.

Recycled water "should be made available for use in activities such as power generation, specific non-food industries as well as in agricultural production activities" but should only be added to drinking water supplies as a last resort, he said.

MP happy to drink recycled water

Labor Member for Redlands John English says he would be happy to drink purified recycled water, but has downplayed the chances of it being supplied to local households.

The Bligh Labor Government performed a backflip late last year when it scrapped plans to add recycled water to Brisbane's Wivenhoe Dam regardless of dam levels.

The government's new policy is to add treated effluent to that dam only if levels fall below 40 per cent.

Mr English said recycled water was safe, but it was not being added directly to Redland City water supplies.

He said the Redlands area did not yet need to draw on South East Queensland supplies anyway.

"Until our water needs are over and above what Straddie and Leslie Harrison Dam can source, then - and only then - will we start drinking water from the Eastern Pipeline Interconnector (via the water grid)," he said.

Mr English conceded the Redlands would also have to draw on regional supplies if there was some kind of emergency at a local water treatment plan, such as a fire.

See - The Redland Times - Support for recycled water evaporates.

Politicians will say anything to get elected or re-elected ...

Why CSG water should stand a better chance now former Mayor Thorley is gone (redux) ...

Worth revisiting.

Now more than ever, Premier Anna Bligh needs the jobs that expansion of the coal seam gas industry would create.

Friday, August 08, 2008

Why CSG water should stand a better chance now former Mayor Thorley is gone ...

There is little doubt that progress at a local and State government level on coal seam gas water was harmed by the campaign by the former Toowoomba City Council to ignore any water source option that didn't involve recycling sewage.

As the coal seam gas companies pushed forward with their plans and offered to assist the region with water source problems, their comments fell on deaf ears down at City Hall.

The prospect of an abundant water source which could drought-proof the region would have meant disaster for the Toowoomba City Council's plans to force Toowoomba residents to drink recycled water.

The Toowoomba City Council was prepared to forgo investigating a rain-independent source of water so they could push forward with their ill-fated rain-dependent recycled water proposal - complete with the proposed multi-million dollar water-edutainment centre/public funded multinational sales outlet out at Wetalla.

The recent comments by QGC speak volumes:

“The water is plentiful and there will be a lot more of it as the coal seam gas industry grow[s].”

“We are simply saying ‘look at this water.’ It is [a] fantastic opportunity for Queensland.”

“We have already produced potable water in our own reverse osmosis trials. Let’s use this plentiful resource – not let it slip through our fingers.”

It is a serious indictment on the former Toowoomba City Council that they ignored this water source and did everything they could to dissuade people from believing it was a credible water source.

Why?

To pursue their recycled water dream at any cost and whatever they thought might follow.

The departure of former Mayor Thorley robbed certain elements within the Council of their public 'anti-CSG water' mouthpiece.

An attempt to draft Councillor Ramia into this role in the past few months failed abysmally.

And so it seems that the Federal and State governments are finally taking notice of CSG water as a potential water source for the region.

Toowoomba residents should, however, not fool themselves into thinking that Anna Bligh cares what water they drink.

She doesn't.

She's a politician and all she cares about are votes - for her.

The actions of the State government in recent weeks make this clear.

Some may say that the State government had little choice other than to announce the Wivenhoe-Cressbrook pipeline.

If Toowoomba dams are almost drained by the next State election, it would give the State opposition a free election kick - even though Toowoomba would still be able to draw on bore and GAB supplies.

Politics.

Some may draw comfort from the fact that, as Anna Bligh looks at the CSG industry, she sees jobs, economic development and votes.

By combining the resources of the Qld government and the CSG companies to deal with the water byproduct, the CSG industry will be able to expand more rapidly leading to more jobs, more prosperity and, by Anna's calculation, more votes.

Who knows - Toowoomba may ultimately end up with the water source it should have had right from the start - all because Anna Bligh wants to keep the economic boom in Queensland going ...

Toowoomba Regional Council - Mayor and Councillors throw absolute hissy fit at Cr Cahill's charity donation ...

4350water blog said that privately the Mayor and other Councillors would be steaming at Councillor's Cahill's decision to donate his bonus to charity.

Seems they couldn't keep their views private -  letting rip at Councillor Cahill in the Chronicle, thus ensuring the community thinks they are just angry because they got caught stuffing ratepayers' money into their pockets ...

Colleagues turn hostile over donation

29 January 2009

The Chronicle

Toowoomba Regional Councillor Bill Cahill's decision to donate his entire $20,000 amalgamation bonus to charity has sparked a hostile and defensive reaction from fellow councillors.

Councillors yesterday labelled Cr Cahill's act of charity as “flashy”, “grandstanding” and “beating his own drum”.

On Tuesday, councillors formally voted to give themselves a 9.4% pay rise, ignoring staff recommendations that they accept a 4% increase.

Mayor Peter Taylor's pay packet rose 14% to $156,894 plus benefits.

Councillor Noel Strohfeld yesterday questioned the timing of Cr Cahill's donation decision, made after councillors formally voted to secure their controversial pay rises.

“I am surprised that if he felt that strongly that he didn't make any comments at the meeting where it could have been discussed,” Cr Strohfeld said.

“From my point of view, for the 27 years I've been involved in local government, money has never been the object of what I do.

“I support the community and I won't name the figure because I don't think it's appropriate.

“But a quite sizeable portion of what I have earned in local government has made its way back into the community in some way, shape or form.

“I don't believe in flashy statements and flashy shows."

“You don't need to beat a drum to say you are doing things for the community.”

Councillor Ros Scotney said her community donations were done privately.

“If someone would like to go through my cheque book when I was Mayor of the Pittsworth Shire Council and count up my donations to the Pittsworth community, it would be a very substantial amount.

“And I will continue to do that.

“If Cr Cahill wishes to be a grandstander, he can be.”

Cr Anne Glasheen told The Chronicle: “If or when I decide to donate to a charity, it won't make the front page of the paper.”

Mayor Peter Taylor said that Cr Cahill's decision to donate part of his salary was his personal choice.

“I regularly make donations. But I won't be seeking any publicity when I make a donation and I suggest that most members of the public don't either,” Cr Taylor said.

Cr Joe Ramia said Cr Cahill was a very generous man.

“Good luck to him and I'm glad the charity got the money.

“That's up to him, that's his money and I'll do what I want with mine.

“I don't want my photo on the front page of The Chronicle.”

Cr Peter Marks, who sits next to Cr Cahill at meetings, said the donation to Teen Challenge was a good choice of organisation.

Cr Mike Williams said: “Good on Bill for making a donation. It's a good cause.

“You'll find, like most other councillors, my wife and I make donations to charities and community groups through our business but we don't make noise about it.”

Cr John McVeigh also said that he and his wife made regular donations, but they had always chosen to not make them public.

Cr Carol Taylor said she and her husband's charitable donations were kept private.

Cr Paul Antonio said: “During my career in Local Government, I have continually supported charities as a matter of personal choice.”

If Cr Cahill wishes to be a grandstander, he can be.

See - Councillors turn on Cr Cahill.

"But we make donations!"  "If could see our cheque book you'd know just how much."

Sorry, too little too late.  You were caught with your hands firmly in ratepayers' pockets and when one Councillor chose to do the right thing in the circumstances, you were all caught out.

Welcome to the NRL all those Councillors who still think they're playing in little league ...

Toowoomba Regional Council - Cr Cahill donates his $20,000 bonus - Mayor and other Councillors say no way ...

Councillor Bill Cahill has set an example to other Toowoomba Regional councillors by donating his $20,000 amalgamation bonus to charity.

His bonus will go to charity in instalments over the next four years.

Councillors yesterday formally voted to give themselves a 9.4% pay rise, ignoring staff recommendations that they accept a 4% pay increase.

Mayor Peter Taylor scored a 14% pay rise to $156,894.

Cr Cahill's new salary of $95,790 for 2009 consists of a base salary of $88,590 plus an amalgamation bonus of $7200.

The increases have sparked an enormous community reaction. Letter writers to The Chronicle have been outraged at the pay hike.

The bonus is paid fortnightly, but Cr Cahill said he would draw a lump sum cheque of $7188.73 and present it to Teen Challenge today.

“I'm happy with my salary. I don't need the bonus,” Cr Cahill said. “So I will be putting it back into the community.”

His comments are in contrast to those made by fellow councillor Carol Taylor.

Cr Taylor was the first to object to the original pay recommendation presented at last Wednesday's committee meeting, stating that councillors deserve more money.

“I certainly don't want to be seen as being money-grabbing. I suppose that is how it will be - but I think I'm worth it,” she said.

Cr Cahill said he had been determined to donate his amalgamation bonus ever since council was told that it was compulsory last year.

Council previously thought it was an optional bonus and set their pay to not include this amount.

However, once council was told that it was compulsory in October, they adjusted and reduced their pay accordingly in November.

Cr Cahill said he was delighted to hand over his hard-earned cash to Teen Challenge.

“The reason why I chose Teen Challenge is because they do an absolutely brilliant job in alcohol and drug rehabilitation,” he said.

“I'm very passionate about the work that they do in the community.”

Cr Cahill said he had made a commitment to donate his amalgamation bonus to charity each year until it finishes in March, 2012.

See - The Chronicle - Cr Cahill donates his bonus.

Yes he'll probably get a tax deduction for the donation but at least he recognises that the actions of the Mayor and other Councillors are outrageous.

Privately, they will be steaming that Cr Cahill has broken ranks and done this.

The pressure is now firmly on the Mayor and the other Councillors to follow suit ...

Toilet flushing trivia #387 ...

Hong Kong uses seawater for over 80% of its toilet flushing - has done since the 1950s.

Since the late 1950's, the Water Supplies Department has supplied seawater, primarily for flushing, in government and government-aided high density development schemes, but subsequently for flushing supplies throughout the urban areas and the new towns. Nearly 80% of the population is now supplied with seawater for flushing.

The extensive use of seawater has helped to reduce the demand on fresh water for flushing. During 2007, an average of 741,000 cubic metres per day of seawater was supplied for flushing purposes, conserving an equivalent amount of potable water.

Seawater is not treated to the same standard as fresh water but its standard still has to comply with the guidelines laid down by the department to prevent objectionable characteristics. The seawater is firstly screened by strainers to remove sizeable particles. It is then disinfected with chlorine or hypochlorite before being pumped to service reservoirs and for distribution to consumers.

See - Hong Kong Water Supplies Department - Seawater for Toilet Flushing.

City to considers contentious toilet-to-tap project during time of drought ...

Excerpt from San Diego Union-Tribune:

Wastewater to tap water?

23 January 2008

City to consider contentious project during time of drought

Escondido is considering reclaiming wastewater for use as drinking water to augment its water supply.

In addition, the inland city stands to save hundreds of millions of dollars by avoiding upgrades to its sewage treatment plant and an ocean outfall pipe if the plan succeeds.

Escondido is paying a consultant $50,000 to conduct a feasibility study. It is following the Helix Water District, which serves parts of East County, and the city of San Diego in considering the contentious idea, sometimes derided as “toilet to tap.”

The Helix board has approved an $80 million project in hopes of supplying 12 percent to 15 percent of the district's drinking water. An environmental review is being conducted.

The city of San Diego has temporarily increased water rates to help pay for an $11.8 million demonstration project at the North City Reclamation Plant at Eastgate Mall in University City.

But San Diego's demonstration project has faced protests. Opponents cited national studies indicating that reclaimed water can contain minute traces of hormones, drugs and chemicals, some of which are carcinogenic.

In Escondido, the debate has not yet begun because no one knows enough about the proposal yet. The consultant is expected to provide some of the answers.

“I have heard all sorts of negative things, but I don't know enough about the technology,” Escondido City Councilman Dick Daniels said.

“There are lots of solutions (to increasing the water supply). I haven't heard about them yet,” Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler said.

“If it's made clean enough and safe enough to drink, I wouldn't be opposed to it,” Councilwoman Olga Diaz said.

Escondido uses about 11.4 billion gallons of potable water each year, about 25 percent of that drawn from the San Luis Rey River and the rest imported. Like all cities, Escondido faces cutbacks to its imports because of the ongoing drought.

Escondido's utilities director, Lori Vereker, said the reclamation project would be similar to Orange County's, which uses a three-step purifying process to produce what she calls “ultra-pure” water.

In Orange County, the water is first cleaned to a standard fit for irrigation, and then put through reverse osmosis to remove salt. Finally, it is treated with ultraviolet light and hydrogen peroxide to kill any remaining bacteria, said Shivaji Deshmukh, program manager for the Groundwater Replenishment system of the Orange County Water District.

The water is pumped into the water basin, where it sits for six months and percolates through the soil for further cleansing before it is pumped up by the water agencies, he said.

Tests have shown that the product is cleaner than drinking water from the Colorado River, which has treated wastewater dumped into it by cities along its path, Deshmukh said.

Escondido's project likely would be governed by state regulations now being drafted to ensure the safe use of reclaimed water for drinking, a state Department of Public Health official said.

Vereker said the wastewater treated through the three-step purifying process could be injected into the groundwater basin, allowed to percolate through wetlands or added to one end of a city reservoir and allowed to flow to the other side before it would be treated and piped to faucets.

“It's controversial,” Vereker said. “But we, as a region, are running very, very low on water.”

By reusing all of the city's wastewater, cash-strapped Escondido also could avoid upgrading its aging wastewater treatment plant and spending $300 million to increase the size of an outfall pipe used to to discharge treated wastewater into the ocean, Vereker said. Both the plant and the pipe are nearing capacity.

Already, the city has run into trouble with the Regional Water Quality Control Board because of its inadequate wastewater facilities. In 2005, the city was fined $1.8 million for 451 instances of discharging inadequately treated wastewater into the Escondido creek and the Pacific Ocean.

The fine was negotiated down to $1.3 million this year, and is awaiting the regional board's approval next month.

Escondido currently recycles 4 million gallons of its daily production of 13 to 14 million gallons of wastewater, for irrigation and cooling a Sempra power plant.

The city has the capacity to reclaim 9 million gallons but does not have enough money to lay the purple pipes, at $2 million per mile, to transport the recycled water to customers.

See - Escondido considers toilet to tap.

Can't afford purple pipe?  Go for the cheaper option of forcing people to drink it ...

Toowoomba Regional Council - Greedy councillors make grab for more money ...

Cr Carol Taylor says: "I'm worth it"  or "It's mine, gimme!".

Cr Taylor thinks she works 240.5 hours a week or 34.4 hours a day over a seven-day week.

That's very impressive!

The Chronicle:

Mayor Peter Taylor and his fellow councillors have given themselves huge pay rises.

This is despite a council staff recommendation to the contrary.

Governance and administration manager Norm Garsden recommended to councillors that they accept a 4% pay rise.

However, Mayor Peter Taylor and the 10 councillors rejected his advice.

Cr Taylor opted for a 14% pay rise while councillors chose a rise of 9.4%.

Cr Taylor will now pocket $156,894 this year which is a self-appointed pay rise of $19,294.

Councillors will now earn $95,790 for 2009, an increase of $8230.
...

[A]t Wednesday’s meeting, Cr Carol Taylor sparked a vigorous discussion before councillors decided they would change the recommendation and pay themselves the maximum salary allowed by the tribunal.
...

See - Greedy councillors get noses in pay trough.

Councillors awarding themselves pay rises completely at odds with the current economic climate, what would be considered reasonable in the circumstances and what would be consistent with the pay increases of 1400 Council workers.

Acting in the best interests of the community or in their own self-interest?

You be the judge ...

SEQ - Recycled water delayed again ...

Southeast Queenslanders have gained an extra three month reprieve from drinking recycled water.

Treated sewage will not be added to dams until at least August, after early summer rain and lower-than-expected demand boosted supplies.

The Queensland Water Commission had initially expected combined dam levels to fall to 40 per cent - the trigger for adding recycled water - in May.

But QWC chief executive John Bradley said storms late last year put extra water in the dams.

He said the new forecasts also factored in a possible two-month delay in the commissioning of the Gold Coast desalination plant because of faulty pipe couplings and other problems.

"Current projections show the combined Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine dam level could be expected to reach 40 per cent of capacity in August this year, under a worst case inflow scenario," Mr Bradley said.
...

See - Courier Mail - Queensland won't need to recycle water for another three months.

It will be delayed until after the next State election ...

"I know the human being and fish can co-exist peacefully".

SEQ recycled water - Denial on recycled water spill challenged ...

Denial on recycled water spill challenged

Greg Roberts | January 21, 2009

The Australian

A claim by the Queensland government body responsible for the state's troubled $2.5 billion recycled water scheme that a massive industrial effluent spill did not affect a nearby river has been challenged.

It is the second time in a week that statements from the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project have been disputed. The latest claims about the project emerged as the chemical manufacturing giant Incitev Pivot signalled it would be the first private company to use recycled water from the project.

The Australian reported last week that 540 kilolitres of effluent and 120KL of cleaning water -- of a standard that made it "suitable for irrigating golf courses" -- were spilled last July when the valves on an industrial waste pipeline were not closed properly at the Bundamba Advanced Water Treatment Plant near Ipswich.

Critics of the western corridor scheme have pointed to human error as the main reason for concern about the safety of recycled water.

The western corridor company initially denied there had been a "recent" spill at Bundamba, admitting to the event only when pressed by The Australian.

Industry sources said opinion was divided among company personnel about whether the spill should have been referred at the time to the state Environmental Protection Agency.

The company said the spilled water had "soaked into the ground" and "there was no runoff into the Bremer River and no risk to public health or safety".

However, the EPA said much of the spilled water had flowed into a dam on an adjoining property.

EPA staff who inspected the site observed water from the dam overflowing through a natural gully into the Bremer River.

The EPA said it was unclear how much water made its way into the river, but testing had indicated it was of a quality that would not cause environmental impacts.

Asked to explain its initial statement, the western corridor company said a report to the EPA had stated there was "no visible sign of the waste water flowing into the Bremer River". On this basis, the company believed that none of the spilled water reached the river.

The company said the water was of a higher quality than if it had been released untreated into the Brisbane River, as would have happened before the Bundamba plant came into operation.

The Bligh Government was forced to suspend plans to add recycled water to southeast Queensland's drinking water supply from next month in response to concerns about its safety. By that time, industry was to have accounted for 30 per cent of water produced at Bundamba and two other treatment plants, but no companies have signed up to use it.

See - Denial on recycled water spill challenged.

That's today's story from WCRW anyway ...

Toowoomba Regional Council to pay $33,260 for 20 phone calls ...

... plus a couple of meetings and a community survey ...

See - Council launches air travel study.

Toowoomba's Deputy Mayor opposes fluoride ...

Deputy Mayor Paul Antonio today plans to make a “strong move” against the State Government forcing Toowoomba residents to drink fluoride.

Cr Antonio, council's water services committee chairman, said he was not against fluoridated water as he gave fluoride tablets to his children and praised its benefits.

However, he believed it should not be forced on residents.
...

Water fluoridation completion dates

Mt Kynoch Water Treatment Plant…December 2009

Crows Nest Water Treatment Plant… December 2010

Highfields Water Treatment Plant… December 2010

Millmerran Water Treatment Plant… December 2010

Yarraman Water Treatment Plant… December 2010

Cambooya Bores… December 2012

Clifton Water Treatment Plant… December 2012

Hodgsonvale Water treatment Plant… December 2012

Pittsworth - Brookstead Water Treatment Plant… December 2012

Wyreema Water Treatment Plant… December 2012

See - Antonio opposes fluoride move.

QWC starts YouTube marketing campaign for recycled water ...

Interesting comments about the non-existent Barrier 1 ...

Toowoomba faces $112m bill for water pipeline ...

The Chronicle:

Region faces $112m bill for water pipeline

16 January 2009

Toowoomba will be left to pick up a $112 million water bill if Mayor Peter Taylor cannot pry more funding out of the State Government's coffers.

In October 2008 Deputy Premier Paul Lucas said the State Government would subsidise the $187 million Wivenhoe/Cressbrook pipeline to the tune of 40 per cent or $75 million.

Answering recent calls from the public, Cr Taylor said funding negotiations were ongoing and council was determined to minimise any cost impact on ratepayers.

“It is a very complicated and delicate process we are involved in,” Cr Taylor said.

“There are a number of parties involved and we are still in discussions with all those parties.

“We have approached the Queensland Treasury and the Premier in an attempt to secure more funding.”

Cr Taylor said it was important for residents to note that the pipeline project wass not in any doubt.

“We are committed to this project. It is the best possible source of secure water for the region.

“Securing a viable water source is extremely important.

“But we do want to secure as much funding as possible to minimise its impact on the community.”

Cr Taylor's recent attempt to secure Federal Government infrastructure funding failed. 

Toowoomba's dam levels were at 10.7% on Wednesday with Level 5 water restrictions in place.

See - Region faces $112m bill for water pipeline.

Probably still better than the $200-300 million that recycled water white elephant would have ultimately cost the city ...

SEQ recycled water - Spill at waste water site covered up ...

Excerpt from the Australian:

Spill at waste water site covered up

Greg Roberts | January 16, 2009

State government authorities covered up an accident last year at a water recycling plant near Brisbane in which more than 500,000 litres of industrial and hospital waste water were spilled.

The spill at the Bundamba Advanced Water Treatment Plant near Ipswich last July resulted in a report to the state Environmental Protection Agency. In November, the Bligh Government was forced to suspend plans to pump recycled water to Brisbane's Wivenhoe Dam from early this year following a series of reports in The Australian that raised concerns about water safety.

However, recycled effluent will be added to drinking water supplies if dam levels fall below 40per cent; they are now at 46per cent.

Critics of drinking recycled water argue that accidents arising from human error are the main reason for concern about its safety. The Bundamba plant is treating effluent that will be pumped to Wivenhoe Dam if dam levels fall.

Government sources told The Australian that a large spill of effluent occurred at Bundamba and compliance officers at the plant told managers it was sufficiently serious for a report to be prepared for the EPA.

However, the authorities decided not to publicly reveal the spill because of the sensitivity surrounding the recycled water debate. When first asked by The Australian to confirm the information, the government-owned Western Corridor Recycled Water Project company said: "We are not aware of any recent spill at the Bundamba plant."

When pressed, the company admitted that a spill had occurred, comprising 540 kilolitres of effluent as well as 120kl of water used to clean the plant membranes.

The water had been treated to a level that made it "suitable for irrigating golf courses".

The company said in a statement that the water had soaked into the ground; there was no runoff into the Bremer River; and there had been no risk to public health or safety.

The spill occurred because valves on the industrial waste pipeline were not properly closed after rectification works.

"The valves were closed immediately the spill was identified and the Environmental Protection Agency was notified of the incident," the company said. "Safety is the No1 priority for the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project. We operate according to strict standards and we take our environmental responsibilities very seriously."

Confirmation of the spill emerged as Premier Anna Bligh was forced to defend the $2.5 billion recycled water scheme following revelations by The Australian that no companies had signed up to use treated effluent.

Ms Bligh said 40 megalitres of water a day from Wivenhoe Dam was being saved because the government-owned Swanbank and Tarong power stations were using recycled water.

"This pipeline is not only about today's water needs," she said. "It's about planning for the future needs of one of Australia's fastest-growing regions."

Ms Bligh said that with a potential lifespan exceeding 50years for the western corridor pipeline, it was probable that industries using water would in future be attracted to land in its proximity.

See - The Australian - Spill cover up.

Also see - Courier Mail - 'Toxic spill at water recycling plant covered up'.

Also see  - Brisbane Times - Industrial waste spill near Ipswich: report.

Trust us ...

UNSW peddling false scientific claims - caught in pay-off scandal ...

The pastoralist nephew of one of Queensland's richest men believes he was "crucified" by false scientific claims that he had been developing his property to take water illegally from the last free-flowing river in the Murray-Darling Basin.

The University of NSW has admitted the research accusing Jake Berghofer was funded by opponents of irrigation development, and has been forced to back away from the findings by some of its most senior scientists.

...

Queensland Natural Resources Minister Craig Wallace said there were no breaches of the Paroo River agreement and that Mr Berghofer had done nothing wrong.

Richard Kingsford, who oversaw the study, conceded that the irrigation works identified on the property might have been legal, and that the agreement might not have been breached.

"That could be the case but I think there is still a potential breach," Professor Kingsford said. "Even if it's legal, we still should be concerned about irrigation in the only Murray-Darling system river that is undeveloped."

Professor Kingsford said the study was funded by the NSW-based Australian Floodplain Association, a fierce critic of irrigation upstream in the Queensland sector of the Murray-Darling Basin.

See - The Australian - Farmer Jake Berghofer hung out to dry by water slur.

Cheque-book research ...

Toowoomba City Council feather-duster brigade ...

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Best viewed in Firefox or Chrome ...

4350water blog - summer updates ...

... in the twitter box in the side bar ...