In this section:

Archived Media Releases

Recycled water use shows how to do it

Media Release | 7 April 2008

South Australia's first private rural living domestic wastewater reuse scheme near Victor Harbor has been launched by Minister for Water Security Karlene Maywald.

A group of 20 householders, led by former Premier Dean Brown, have formed a co-operative to pipe recycled water from the Victor Harbor Wastewater Treatment Plant network to their homes for outdoor use.

The householders, called the Finniss Road Recycled Water Group, have each spent about $1,200 on average to construct a network of pipes to transport 20 million litres of treated wastewater a year from the plant to their properties.

Minister Maywald congratulated the residents for their initiative, saying it is a great example of how householders can work together to become more water efficient.

"The scheme is being used as a demonstration project with the view of replicating it in other parts of South Australia, depending on interest from residents," she says.

"SA Water has been working closely with residents involved with the Finniss Road scheme to get it up and running and to ensure unrestricted use of treated wastewater complies with regulations enforced by the Department of Health."

Mr Brown says Finniss Road residents decided to investigate treated wastewater use in response to restrictions and to reduce demand on traditional water sources in their area.

"Our use of this treated wastewater proves water recycling can be done practically and cost-effectively," he says.

"This reuse scheme differs to projects like Mawson Lakes because we have taken the initiative to investigate this ourselves as private homeowners and we are retrofitting our existing properties with the capacity to use recycled water outside."

Minister Maywald says South Australia already leads the nation in recycling treated wastewater and more projects like the Finniss Road scheme will increase reuse even further.

"We currently reuse 20% of our treated wastewater to irrigate parks, gardens and horticulture, which is twice the national average. However, with State Government projects currently in planning or construction, we will increase reuse to nearly 45% over time.

"SA Water operates a network of effluent treatment plants around the State and there is potential to reuse more of this treated wastewater in outdoor use, relieving the pressure on our potable water supplies, such as the River Murray."

Minister Maywald says SA Water is developing a Recycled Water Masterplan for the City of Victor Harbor to ensure use of recycled water is developed practically and sustainably. This will be complete by the end of May 2008.

"The Victor Harbor plant treats 900 million litres of water a year and some of this water is already delivered to the Victor Harbor Golf Club and a private vineyard.

"SA Water called for registrations of interest from residents interested in being part of a similar scheme to the Finniss Road group.

"Should all potential customers accept the terms and conditions for receiving the recycled water, all treated water discharged from the plant could be used.'