Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling Phase 2
The Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling Phase 1 were released in November 2006 (see below). Phase 2 of guideline development is underway and will focus on three modules - stormwater reuse, managed aquifer recharge and recycled water for drinking.
In June 2007, governments endorsed the release of a draft set of guidelines in relation to the recycled water for drinking module, as a basis for public consultation. This includes endorsement from the Environment Protection and Heritage Council, the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council and the Australian Health Protection Committee.
A copy of the draft guidelines, entitled Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Managing Health and Environmental Risks (Phase 2): Augmentation of Drinking Water Supplies, can be downloaded below. Also available for download is a document entitled Fact Sheet/Frequently Asked Questions. This document provides important contextual information and should be read in conjunction with the draft guidelines.
Consultation on drafts of the other Phase 2 modules is anticipated later in 2007.
Documents for Download:
Please click the link or the icon to download these documents:
Australian Guidelines for Water Recyling Phase 1
Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling Phase There is considerable pressure to increase water recycling to cope with ongoing drought and increasing demand for water. Water recycling programs are being developed by all jurisdictions as key elements of integrated water cycle management. Recycling, particularly substitution for non-drinking water uses of potable water, is seen as critical to effectively managing demand and deferring expensive new infrastructure.
Consequently, the Environment Protection and Heritage Council and the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council initiated the development of national guidelines for water recycling. The guidelines comprise a risk management framework and specific guidance on managing the health risks and the environmental risks associated with the use of recycled water.
Phase one of the guidelines focuses on:
- large-scale treated sewage and grey-water to be used for:
- residential garden watering, car washing, toilet flushing and clothes washing;
- irrigation for urban recreational and open space, and agriculture and horticulture;
- fire protection and fire fighting systems;
- industrial uses, including cooling water; and
- grey-water treated on-site (including in high rise apartments and office blocks) for use for garden watering, car washing, toilet flushing and clothes washing.
The phase one guidelines have been endorsed by the Environment Protection and Heritage Council, the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council and the Australian Health Ministers' Conference, and can be downloaded below.
A report National Guidelines for Water Recycling – Managing Health and Environmental Risks – Impact Assessment, which assesses the likely impacts of a move to a national risk management framework, can also be downloaded below.
The new national recycling guidelines represent a significant advance on existing guidelines, and by facilitating greater flexibility and innovation, are likely to encourage greater expansion of water recycling over the longer term.
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