Water reuse and recycling in Australia — history, current situation and future perspectives

Abstract

Most of Australia has low rainfall. The population is small (25 ​M) but growing at 1.5%/yr. Water limitations are being exacerbated by climate change. By 1990, restraints placed on wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) discharges to receiving waters became an incentive for water recycling. The millennium drought (2000–2009) was a further driver for water recycling and desalination. Water reform policies, led to guidelines for recycled water, including stormwater and augmentation of drinking water. Advanced purified recycled water plants for indirect potable reuse were built in Brisbane. Dual pipes for drinking and recycled water were installed in new suburbs in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Agricultural, industrial and amenity recycled water use was expanded. Seawater desalination plants were installed in Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. After the drought, economics further influenced the future use of recycled water. Since catchment water was cheaper than recycled or desalinated water, desalination plants were mothballed or maintained at low processing rates. and Brisbane’s advanced water treatment plants were shut. Water policy complacency followed. However, Western Australia, which had declining rainfall, demonstrated to an accepting community that recycled water could be used for groundwater replenishment in Perth’s water supply. By 2019, drought conditions had returned to eastern Australia. Desalination plants were reactivated and Brisbane’s indirect potable recycling scheme prepared for reinstatement. Regional towns faced water shortages and were looking for diversity of water supply. Reviews have been undertaken of the future for direct potable recycling, a debate that needs to be initiated with the consuming public.