Water professionals support purified recycled water

Our water supply has been safely managed for generations by water quality professionals such as engineers, scientists and technicians. The introduction of purified recycled water is supported by peak industry representatives as a means of continuing to provide a safe and reliable drinking water supply.

• “The scheme in South East Queensland has seven barriers and each barrier is assessed, the risks are assessed and processes validated, verified and rigorously audited. The risk is no greater than the risks that we currently take. I have no doubt the design of the Queensland scheme and its proposed operation meet or exceed international best practice to provide a safe, reliable source of water.”
  Professor Paul Greenfield AO, Chair of Independent Scientific Expert Advisory Panel and Vice Chancellor; The University of Queensland. 
• “The recycled water processes that are being designed in Brisbane have technology that is treating the water to a far better standard than our current water treatment systems or wastewater treatment systems. The safety checks in between all of those treatment technologies is going to be far greater than any checks we have now so I think this water will be safer than the water in our current water treatment processes. I am very happy for my family and I to drink purified recycled water.”
  Dr Helen Stratton, Wastewater Microbiologist, Griffith University. Past President of Australian Water Association Queensland.
• “The Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Augmentation of Drinking Water, endorsed by the National Health and Medical Research Council, describes how water authorities can ensure that drinking water produced using wastewater is safe. This includes ensuring that potentially harmful chemicals are reduced to concentrations well below those that are detrimental to human health. By following these guidelines, SEQ will make sure that its residents are provided with a safe water supply, regardless of its source.”
  Dr David Cunliffe, Public Health Expert, Chair Drinking Water Augmentation Working Group.
• “Australia has world leading drinking water and recycled water guidelines to protect public health and world experts have reviewed all the evidence to ensure the systems and technologies used will produce consistently safe drinking water. A combination of mixing purified recycled water with natural water supplies, together with advanced water treatment technologies (with associated stringent controls and monitoring systems) will ensure that SEQ residents will continue to enjoy a safe water drinking supply, regardless of the source of the water.”
  Ross Young, Executive Director, Water Services Association of Australia. 
• “To provide the highest levels of safety, the water industry in Australia and internationally uses a risk management approach akin to the Hazard Analysis at Critical Control Points (HACCP) system used by the food industry. This approach ensures that water quality is maintained at every point from source to consumer. This is the reason a multi-barrier approach is being taken in Queensland and in jurisdictions around the world that use recycled water.”
  Tom Mollenkopf, Chief Executive, Australian Water Association.