Why do we need purified recycled water?

Purified recycled water is vital to securing South East Queensland’s water supply because it addresses two main issues facing our region.

Climate variability and climate change

Currently, 95 per cent of our water supply is dependent on dams and weirs, which are susceptible to long droughts, such as the one we are experiencing now. South East Queensland’s climate is already highly variable, and when combined with increasing uncertainty regarding global climate change, this may adversely affect rainfall and dam storage levels. This creates significant risks to our supply. Purified recycled water enables us to diversify the sources from which we obtain water, it provides a climate resilient source of supply and helps ensure the region’s water security.

Increased demand for water

South East Queensland continues to experience the fastest growth rate of any urban region in Australia. Currently, almost 2.8 million people live in South East Queensland and this figure could increase to more than 6 million by 2056. Even with significant new efficiency measures to reduce water consumption, this sustained level of population growth is substantially increasing the region’s demand for water.

While the $9 billion Queensland Government infrastructure program is expected to ensure supply to at least 2028, the draft South East Queensland Water Strategy released in March 2008 indicates that additional water supply sources will be needed after that time. It is also important to note that apart from the proposed Traveston Crossing Dam and Wyaralong Dam, there are limited opportunities to develop new dams in South East Queensland. Purified recycled water, along with desalination, is expected to provide up to 30% of our water supply by 2056. It is an important element of the draft South East Queensland Water Strategy, which aims to provide long term water security.

Construction of climate resilient water sources well underway

In 2006, the Queensland Government investigated and approved the construction of two climate resilient water supply sources – namely the Gold Coast Desalination Project at Tugun and the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project (WCRWP). (Climate resilient means that the water supply sources are not significantly affected by weather patterns.) The desalination plant will convert seawater into drinkable water, while the WCRWP will convert waste water into purified recycled water through a 7-barrier process. The purified recycled water will be used for:

• Blending into Wivenhoe Dam to form part of our drinking water supply
• Power stations (Swanbank is already online and Tarong and Tarong North are expected to come on line in June 2008)
• Industry and possibly agriculture.

Benefits of using purified recycled water

There are many benefits derived from using purified recycled water as part of our drinking water supply. These include:

• It is a climate resilient source of water
• It helps to guarantee our water supply which is essential for maintaining our lifestyle
• The purification process for purified recycled water will significantly reduce the release of nutrients and other environmentally detrimental compounds to Moreton Bay, which will help to protect the bay.

Future proposed purified recycled water schemes

In the draft South East Queensland Water Strategy, 80 activities and initiatives were identified for actioning in the next 10 years. The recommendations included that two additional purified recycled water schemes be investigated:

• Augmentation of North Pine Dam
• Augmentation of Hinze Dam.

The Strategy also states that in the long-term, purified recycled water schemes could be developed at:

• the Sunshine Coast
• Toowoomba

In order to meet the anticipated supply gap, by 2056 it is expected that desalination and purified recycled water may make up 30 per cent of the water supply.