Cleaner recycled water increases climate risk ...

Improving the standard of recycled water threatens to push up Australia's greenhouse emissions, and governments must consider if better quality waste water can be justified under a low carbon future, water companies have warned.

In a report released today, the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) — a national body representing water retailers — has highlighted the environmental catch-22 of recycled water, saying recent improvements to treatment standards "didn't adequately consider the impact on the water sector's greenhouse gas emissions".

The report said a four-fold increase in energy consumption had been experienced at water treatment plants forced to lift their filtration of sewage from "secondary" to "tertiary" standard.
...

See - The Age - Cleaner recycled water increases climate risk.