Recycled Water Target Final Report

P r o g r Report prepared for the Department of e Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population s and Communities (DSEWPaC) s a g a i n s MARSDEN ASSOCIATES t JACOB t h e n a ti o n a l t a r g e t o f 3 0
P r o g r Report prepared for the Department of e Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population s and Communities (DSEWPaC) s a g a i n s MARSDEN ASSOCIATES t JACOB t h e n a ti o n a l t a r g e t o f 3 0
Marsden Jacob Associates Financial & Economic Consultants ABN 66 663 324 657 ACN 072 233 204 Internet: http://www.marsdenjacob.com.au E-mail: economists@marsdenjacob.com.au Melbourne office: Postal address: Level 3, 683 Burke Road, Camberwell Victoria 3124 AUSTRALIA Telephone: +61 3 9882 1600 Facsimile: +61 3 9882 1300 Brisbane office: Level 14, 127 Creek Street, Brisbane Queensland, 4000 AUSTRALIA Telephone: +61 7 3229 7701 Facsimile: +61 7 3229 7944 Canberra office: Unit 10, 11 Mackay Gardens, Turner ACT 2612, AUSTRALIA Telephone: +61 2 6247 6549 Perth office: Level 1, 220 St Georges Terrace, Perth Western Australia, 6000 AUSTRALIA Telephone: +61 8 9324 1785 Facsimile: +61 8 9322 7936 Sydney office: Hunters Hill, New South Wales, 2110 AUSTRALIA, Telephone: 0418 765 393 Authors: Kym Whiteoak, Phil Jones, Phil Pickering +61 3 9882 1600 kwhiteoak@marsdenjacob.com.au
This report has been prepared in accordance with the scope of services described in the contract or agreement between Marsden Jacob Associates Pty Ltd ACN 072 233 204 (MJA) and the Client. Any findings, conclusions or recommendations only apply to the aforementioned circumstances and no greater reliance should be assumed or drawn by the Client. Furthermore, the report has been prepared solely for use by the Client and Marsden Jacob Associates accepts no responsibility for its use by other parties.
MARSDEN ASSOCIATES JACOB
The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian Government or the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are factually correct, the Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this publication.
Commonwealth of Australia 2012

This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Populations and Communities, Public Affairs, GPO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601 or email public.affairs@environment.gov.au
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
Page
Executive Summary.............................................................................1 1 Introduction................................................................................10

1.1 1.2 Project scope...................................................................................................11 Report structure...............................................................................................12
Water Recycling in Australia........................................................13

2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Recycled water in Australian water supply planning........................................13 The national picture current and expected water recycling in Australia to 2015.........................................................................................................15 National recycled water themes.......................................................................19 Stormwater recycling.......................................................................................21
New South Wales.........................................................................23

3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Discussion........................................................................................................23 NSW water recycling 2009/10..........................................................................24 NSW progress against the Commonwealth target to 2015...............................26 Stormwater reuse in NSW................................................................................29
Victoria.......................................................................................30
4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Discussion........................................................................................................30 Victorian water recycling 2009/10....................................................................30 Victorian progress against the Commonwealth target to 2015.........................35 Stormwater reuse in Victoria............................................................................38
Queensland.................................................................................39
5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Discussion........................................................................................................39 QLD water recycling 2009/10...........................................................................40 QLD progress against the Commonwealth target to 2015................................43 Stormwater reuse in Queensland.....................................................................46
South Australia...........................................................................47
6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Discussion........................................................................................................47 SA water recycling 2009/10.............................................................................48 SA progress against the Commonwealth target to 2015..................................51 Stormwater reuse in SA...................................................................................51
Western Australia........................................................................54
7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Discussion........................................................................................................54 WA water recycling 2009/10............................................................................55 WA progress against the Commonwealth target to 2015.................................56 Stormwater reuse in WA..................................................................................58
Tasmania....................................................................................59
8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4
Discussion........................................................................................................59 Tasmanian water recycling 2009/10................................................................60 Tasmanian progress against the Commonwealth target to 2015.....................61 Stormwater reuse in Tasmania........................................................................61
Northern Territory.......................................................................62
9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Discussion........................................................................................................62 NT water recycling 2009/10.............................................................................62 NT progress against the Commonwealth target to 2015..................................63 Stormwater reuse in the Northern Territory.....................................................64
10 Australian Capital Territory..........................................................65

10.1 Discussion........................................................................................................65 10.2 ACT water recycling 2009/10...........................................................................66 10.3 ACT progress towards the Commonwealth target to 2015...............................67 10.4 ACT Stormwater reuse.....................................................................................68
11 Opportunities to enhance recycled water use in Australia.............70

11.1 Excess recycled water capacity.......................................................................70 11.2 Demand for recycled water Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR)...............................72 11.3 Identification of recycled water projects..........................................................73
Identification of recycled water projects
LIST OF TABLES
Page Table 1: Desalination plants by location and volume........................................................14 Table 2: Wastewater and stormwater recycling targets by location..................................15 Table 3: 2015 projections from current report, compared to 2008 report.........................19 Table 4: Melbourne recycled water volumes supplied as a percentage of total sewage flows.................................................................................................................................33
Table 4: Melbourne recycled water volumes supplied as a percentage of total sewage flows
LIST OF FIGURES
Page Figure 1: Australian wastewater recycling 2009/10, by capital cities and rest of Australia (ML/year)............................................................................................................................1 Figure 2: Australian wastewater recycling 2009/10, by jurisdiction (ML/year).....................2 Figure 3: Expected Australian wastewater recycling by jurisdiction, 2015 (ML/year)...........3 Figure 4: 2009/10 recycled wastewater volumes and augmentations to 2015 by capital city and rest of jurisdiction (ML/year)..................................................................................4 Figure 5: Current and expected wastewater recycling by 2015, by use (ML/year)...............5 Figure 6: Projected supplies of recycled water compared to capacity, 2015 (ML/year)........7 Figure 7: Expected stormwater recycling capacity by 2015, by jurisdiction (ML/year).........8 Figure 8: Australian wastewater recycling 2009/10, by capital cities and rest of Australia (ML/year)..........................................................................................................................16 Figure 9: Australian wastewater recycling 2009/10, by jurisdiction (ML/year)...................16 Figure 10: Expected Australian wastewater recycling by jurisdiction, 2015 (ML/year).......17 Figure 11: 2009/10 recycled wastewater volumes and augmentations to 2015 by capital city and rest of jurisdiction (ML/year)................................................................................18 Figure 12: Current and expected wastewater recycling by 2015, by use (ML/year)...........20 Figure 13: Current and expected wastewater recycling by 2015, by use (ML/year)...........22 Figure 14: NSW wastewater recycling volumes and proportions, 2009/10 (ML/year).........24 Figure 15: Sydney wastewater recycling by use, 2009/10 (ML/year).................................25 Figure 16: NSW non-metropolitan wastewater recycling by use, 2009/10 (ML/year).........26 Figure 17: Wastewater Recycling Sydney Metropolitan Region......................................27 Figure 18: Sydney wastewater recycling growth to 2015 (ML/ year).................................28 Figure 19: Expected NSW recycling and implicit Commonwealth target (ML/year)............29 Figure 20: Victorian wastewater recycling volumes and proportions, 2009/10 (ML/year). .31 Figure 21: Melbourne wastewater recycling by use, 2009/10 (ML/year)............................32 Figure 22: Planned and actual recycled water, Western Water, 2004/05 to 2014/15........34 Figure 23: Wastewater recycled 2009-10 Regional Victorian Water Authorities (ML/year) .........................................................................................................................................35 Figure 24: Melbourne wastewater recycling to 2015 (ML/year).........................................36 Figure 25: Wastewater recycled to 2015 non-Melbourne Victorian water authorities (ML/year)..........................................................................................................................37 Figure 26: Expected Victorian recycling and implicit Commonwealth target (ML/year).....38 Figure 27: Queensland wastewater recycling volumes and proportions, 2009/10 (ML/year) .........................................................................................................................................40 Figure 28: SEQ wastewater recycling by use, 2009/10 (ML/year)......................................42 Figure 29: Regional QLD wastewater recycling by use, 2009/10 (ML/year).......................43 Figure 30: SEQ wastewater recycling to 2015 (ML/year)...................................................44 Figure 31: Wastewater recycled to 2015 rest of Queensland (ML/year)..........................45 Figure 32: Expected Queensland recycling and implicit Commonwealth target (ML/year).45 Figure 33: South Australian wastewater recycling volumes and proportions, 2009/10 (ML/year)..........................................................................................................................48 Figure 34: Metropolitan Adelaide recycled wastewater percentage, 1996/97 2009/10.. .49 Figure 35: Adelaide Wastewater recycling 2009/10, by type (ML/year).............................49 Figure 36: Non-metropolitan wastewater recycling, South Australia, 1996/07 2009/10. .50 Figure 37: Recycled water progress to 2015, South Australia (ML/year)............................51 Figure 38 Perth drinking water supply demand gap to 2060 (GL/year)...........................55 Figure 39: Western Australian wastewater recycling volumes and proportions, 2009/10 (ML/year)..........................................................................................................................56 Figure 40: recycled water progress to 2015, Western Australia (ML/year)........................58 Figure 41: Tasmanian wastewater recycling volume and proportion, 2009/10 (ML/year). .60 Figure 42: Expected Tasmanian wastewater recycling and implicit national target, 2015 (ML/year)..........................................................................................................................61
Figure 43: Northern Territory wastewater recycling volume and proportion 2009/10 (ML/year)..........................................................................................................................63 Figure 44: Expected Northern Territory wastewater recycling and implicit national target, 2015 (ML/year).................................................................................................................64 Figure 45: Total ACT storage levels since 2006.................................................................66 Figure 46: ACT wastewater recycling 2009/10 with/without return flows (ML/year)...........67 Figure 47: Expected ACT wastewater recycling and implicit national target, 2015 (ML/year) .........................................................................................................................................68 Figure 48: National recycled water with project capacity, 2015 (ML/year)........................71 Figure 48: National recycled water with project capacity, 2015 (ML/year)
Executive Summary
1. The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC) commissioned Marsden Jacob Associates (MJA) to undertake an assessment of progress towards a national target of wastewater recycling of 30 per cent by 2015. Across Australia, 16.8 per cent of wastewater flows were recycled in 2009/10. On current estimates, national wastewater recycling by 2015 is expected to range from 18.7 per cent to 20.3 percent.1 2. While the majority of wastewater recycling in 2009/10 stems from urban reuse (Figure 1), a greater proportion of wastewater flows are recycled outside of capital cities (21.7 per cent as opposed to 15.2 per cent in capital cities).
Figure 1: Australian wastewater recycling 2009/10, by capital cities and rest of Australia (ML/year)
Source: MJA analysis based on various sources.
3. Figure 2 summarises wastewater recycling by jurisdiction. Volumetrically, the largest volumes recycled are in the states with the largest populations Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. However, South Australia reuses the highest proportion of wastewater at 28 per cent, followed by Victoria (24 per cent) and Queensland (24 per cent). Tasmania and the Northern Territory recycled the least by both volume and proportion, facing the lowest demand and abundant potable supplies in most of their major centres.
This range is based on the potential inclusion of Perths Groundwater Replenishment recycled water project, which is planned to produce 25-35 GL per year by 2015 if it goes ahead (we have used the average of 30GL per year).
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Progress against the national target of 30% of Australias wastewater being recycled by 2015
Figure 2: Australian wastewater recycling 2009/10, by jurisdiction (ML/year)
4. Figure 3 shows expected wastewater recycling to 2015. Nationally, recycled wastewater is expected to reach 18.7 per cent of wastewater flows in 2015, or 20.3 per cent if Perths Groundwater Replenishment2 project proceeds. Augmentations are expected mostly in NSW, which is dominated by an 18GL per year environmental flow / potable substitution project in Sydney, and smaller augmentations in Victoria. These are mostly increased supply from existing projects, and various small new initiatives.
Shown as IPR (indirect potable reuse) in the Figure. IPR projects augment drinking water supplies indirectly; for example through high level treatment before storage and filtration in natural aquifers, or by storage in rivers and dams prior to retreatment and delivery through potable supply systems. Perths project involves groundwater aquifer storage.
Figure 3: Expected Australian wastewater recycling by jurisdiction, 2015 (ML/year)
Source: MJA analysis based on various sources. Note: * The National average increase reflects inclusion of indirect potable reuse (IPR). In addition, if Perths Groundwater Replenishment IPR project is implemented, WAs recycling proportion would increase to 30 per cent. In addition, the national average would be boosted with the addition of SAs stormwater recycling projects totalling 10GLper year, taking their recycling proportion to 30 per cent.
5. There are expected declines in water recycling proportions in Queensland, predominantly from a reduction in output from SEQs Western Corridor Recycled Water Project (WCRWP) compared with 2009/10. In addition, recycled water use in South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and the ACT is expected to flatten, reducing the output in percentage terms as wastewater volumes grow with population. 6. Western Australias recycling to 2015 is dependent upon the potential for Australias first operating wastewater recycling project used for indirect potable reuse (IPR). If approved, the Groundwater Replenishment project will supply between 25 and 35GL per year to Perths potable supplies, using recharge to aquifers. This would increase recycled water use in WA from 12 per cent to 30 per cent, and the national proportion to 20.3 per cent, as well as potentially revolutionising recycled water use in Australia. 7. The contribution of stormwater reuse to total water recycling in 2015 is shown in orange bars in Figure 3. The main contributions are in South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT. These volumes do not contribute to percentages shown in the Figure, which represent recycled wastewater use only.
Figure 4: 2009/10 recycled wastewater volumes and augmentations to 2015 by capital city and rest of jurisdiction (ML/year)
8. Figure 4 shows current recycled water volumes by capital city and the remainder of the State or Territory, in addition to expected augmentations to 2015. This chart highlights the volumetric contribution of Sydney to overall augmentations (from a comparatively low proportional base), and the potential of Perths IPR project to contribute to the total. Further, recycling in the ACT challenges the very definition of recycled wastewater, returning the vast majority of potable supplies (97 per cent) to the Murrumbidgee for downstream use, beyond more conventional recycling activities. NATIONAL RECYCLED WATER TRENDS 9. There are a number of common recycled water trends emerging nationally. These include a shift in recycled water use towards uses that substitute for potable consumption, a movement towards indirect potable consumption (IPR) of recycled water, an excess of recycled water capacity in several centres, and the more recent growth in stormwater reuse. A shift towards potable substitution 10. The early recycled water projects that produced significant volumes of water were predominantly agricultural initiatives which used recycled water with low levels of treatment. 11. Figure 5 shows current wastewater recycling projects by use (in blue), and expected augmentations to 2015. While agricultural projects dominate the historical picture, future augmentations are dominated by municipal, industrial and commercial, as well as environmental projects. These include Sydneys environmental flows project. Should it
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Progress against the national target of 30% of Australias wastewater being recycled by 2015 3
proceed, Perths Groundwater Replenishment project will also add a further 25-35GL per year of indirect potable reuse (IPR) to this picture.
Figure 5: Current and expected wastewater recycling by 2015, by use (ML/year)
12. Importantly, from an urban water supply perspective, up to half of wastewater recycling will substitute for potable supplies by 2015 (with the inclusion of Perths IPR project), and thus contribute to urban water supply security. Additionally, the Western Corridor project is being used as a potential 85GL per year drought response option, which is the first dedicated use of a recycled water project for urban water security in Australia. 13. As such, recent and future recycled water projects are contributing to urban water supply security as never before. Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR) developments 14. The use of recycled wastewater to augment potable supplies remains largely unsupported in Australia. In 2008 the Western Corridor project in SEQ was scheduled to be the first Australian IPR project in use, supplying 85GL per year into SEQ storages once combined storages fell below 40%. While this did not occur and rainfall has returned to SEQ, it remains an integral part of the States water supply strategy. 15. Perths Groundwater Replenishment project involves treatment of wastewater to drinking water standards followed by injection into an aquifer and subsequent recovery. If proven to be cost effective and with demonstrated community support, it will form an ongoing part of future potable supplies for Perths water supply system. By 2015, subject to approval, the project would produce between 25 and 35GL per year, with longterm volumes up to 70GL per year. 16. If successful, the project will revolutionise recycled water use and potable water supply planning in Australia, and could lead to far greater use of IPR in future.
17. An IPR project involving stormwater reuse is in operation in Orange, NSW. The first IPR project of any kind in Australia, it harvests between 1.3 and 2.1GL per year of stormwater from high flow events in Blackmans Swamp Creek, which is added to surface water storages. Further augmentations are planned to this project. Excess recycled water capacity 18. There is evidence in a number of jurisdictions of a significant surplus in supply over demand, or insufficient latent demand to justify further growth, especially where large scale projects have been developed. Examples include: SEQs Western Corridor Recycled Water Project has the capacity to produce 85GL per year of potable quality recycled water from a number of sites across Brisbane and Ipswich, with a delivery network already in place. While the project is currently being used as a drought management tool with potential IPR, estimated volumes recycled to 2015 are in the order of 14-22GL per year. Thus, there is a latent supply of around 65-70GL per year which could be used for industrial, commercial and municipal use, of which up to 32GL per year has been offered to agricultural users in the Lockyer Valley, should a demand arise, that can be met at the marginal cost of delivery;3 Melbournes Eastern Treatment Plant upgrade will result in 100GL per year of Class A treated wastewater available for use from July 2012. At this stage, no significant users have been identified, with current exploration of potential agricultural demand in the Bunyip Food Belt on Melbournes south eastern fringe. As with other agricultural schemes, capacity to pay is a key issue and longterm demand of more than 15GL per year would appear unlikely; a number of smaller centres such as Coffs Harbour (NSW) and Mackay (QLD) have made significant investments in recycled water capacity, with supply now higher than current demand.4 1. It is important to note that if key projects operated at maximum capacity, the national target would be much closer to realisation by 2015. Figure 6 provides an illustration of national recycled water capacity at 2015, were the Eastern Treatment Plant (100GL per year), Western Corridor (85GL per year) and Perths Groundwater Replenishment IPR project (35GL per year) to operate at full capacity. 2. With all projects operating at capacity, and stormwater volumes (20GL per year) included, total recycled water use would exceed 30 per cent, and fall just below the target if Perths Groundwater Replenishment scheme does not proceed.
3 4
http://www.qwc.qld.gov.au/planning/pdf/seqws-full.pdf p.3. These regional projects are driven by a range of factors, including the environmental health of receiving waters. However, where supply significantly exceeds demand, it would suggest that further augmentations would be ineffective in recycled water use in the short term.
Figure 6: Projected supplies of recycled water compared to capacity, 2015 (ML/year)
Source: MJA analysis. Notes: Blue bar is expected recycled water use to 2015, white bar is excess capacity of key projects: Eastern Treatment Plant, Western Corridor Recycled Water Project, Perths Groundwater Replenishment project. Diamond demonstrates the national 30 per cent target. Orange bar is national stormwater capacity at 2015, for illustrative purposes.
3. Data collated for this report indicates that the projects shown in Figure 6 are likely to operate at a fraction of full capacity by 2015. It is unlikely that new projects would be undertaken in major urban centres while this significant excess of supply over demand remains. Stormwater recycling 4. Stormwater harvesting is a relative newcomer to recycled water in Australia, with a significant number of projects appearing over the past decade. Compared with wastewater recycling, stormwater recycling can suffer from a number of barriers and challenges: unlike the steady availability of wastewater, stormwater is rainfall dependent and highly variable over time; as most stormwater recycling projects are undertaken in urban settings, a shortage of available land for low cost treatment through wetlands and storage facilities inhibits projects being developed. Adelaides use of aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) has avoided the use of surface water storages, improving cost effectiveness; and regulatory regimes for accessing stormwater and for stormwater reuse have tended to lag behind those for wastewater recycling. 1. However, in contrast to wastewater recycling, stormwater reuse projects almost invariably contribute to potable substitution, supplementing for urban irrigation and industrial use,
and contributing to water supply security. They also avoid the yuck factor that plagues public perception of consumption of recycled wastewater. 2. Estimation of stormwater recycling volumes is inherently imprecise. Not only does demand vary with climatic conditions (like most wastewater recycling use), but supply also depends upon rainfall. Very few projects have been in operation long enough to develop a reliable predictive method, and most projects report on capacity (i.e., how much the project can deliver in a given year). 3. As such, in lieu of estimated likely yield of projects in 2015, we use project yield at capacity as reported by project proponents in this report, based on projects in operation and those expected to be operating by 2015. This may overestimate actual volumes, given that supply and demand may vary annually. 4. Additionally, while yields may not reach the stated capacity in 2015, there are many small projects driven by local councils that are unreported at state and national levels. Only South Australia and NSW have made any concerted effort to compile a list of projects in their jurisdictions. National stormwater recycling 5. Based on projects funded by the Commonwealth, and other projects reported by jurisdictions, capacity for 20.8GL per year of stormwater recycling will exist by 2015 (Figure 7). Over half of this will be found in South Australia (10GL per year), with significant contributions from New South Wales (5.4GL per year), Victoria (3.2GL per year) and the ACT (1.5GL per year). A small number of mostly Commonwealth funded projects are being implemented in other jurisdictions.
Figure 7: Expected stormwater recycling capacity by 2015, by jurisdiction (ML/year)
6. In terms of contribution to water supply security, South Australia and the ACT are the two jurisdictions that currently plan for stormwater to play a significant role in the long term: the South Australian Government plans to increase stormwater reuse to 70GL per year by 2050; and the ACT Government has medium term plans to reuse 3GL per year of stormwater equivalent to the entire public open space irrigation volume.
1 Introduction
Ten years of below average rainfall across most of Australia until 2010, combined with rapid population growth in major urban centres, highlighted the need for planners to prepare a diversified water supply portfolio, including rainfall-independent water supply options such as recycled wastewater and desalination. Reliance solely on dams, which are heavily dependent on average rainfall and potentially inadequate for faster growing centres, is being replaced with augmentations from diverse sources, many of which provide reliability during times of drought, and other natural crises.5 Government commitments at all levels towards water supply source diversification, as well as the persistence of economic and regulatory barriers seen as inhibiting the unassisted growth of water recycling activities, have seen most jurisdictions commit to wastewater recycling targets over various time horizons. In 2007, the Australian Government itself committed to a national target of recycling 30 per cent of wastewater by 2015, and provided support to achieve that target. MJA undertook a progress report in June 2008 which took a snapshot of water recycling rates across Australian jurisdictions, estimating that by 2015 around 23.8 per cent of wastewater effluent would be recycled (24.6 per cent including stormwater recycling) based on available data and planned investments. However, much has changed at the policy and climatic levels since 2008. The ten year record drought, which exposed the dam-dependency of most urban water planning strategies, broke from 2010, replenishing water supply sources across eastern Australia. Higher rainfall through 2010 and 2011 has reduced the demand for water from alternative sources and increased wastewater flows due to infiltration into the sewerage system. As a result, progress towards the 30 per cent national target by 2015 has effectively slowed. Further, significant replenishment of major urban centre dam supplies may defer immediate decisions on augmentation options, such as South East Queenslands (SEQ) Western Corridor Recycled Water Project (WCRWP), which was scheduled to commence indirect potable reuse at the end of 2008. As significant inflows to SEQs water supply at Wivenhoe Dam returned, the need to supplement water storages with recycled water has been deferred.
For example, the Gold Coast desalination plant provided welcome water supply reliability during South East Queenslands recent flood crisis.
Significant investment in stormwater reuse, partly through Commonwealth funding, has occurred across jurisdictions at varying scales. Although often undertaken at small scales, these investments are likely to continue towards 2015 with the announcement in 2010 by the Australian Government for an additional grant round of $100 million. This third round of grants was launched in June 2011 with projects expected to commence in 2012. Large scale investments in South Australia continue, with the Waterproofing the West initiative commencing in 2011. Aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) for indirect potable consumption and other uses continue to be developed, especially in Western Australia (as well as for stormwater in South Australia). Frameworks have been developed and implemented in New South Wales for third party access of wastewater for recycled water projects, with the Rosehill-Camellia project due online in 2011. An increasing number of funding bodies have both begun and expanded operations across Australia. These operations have funded both on-the-ground projects and research and examined a broadening scope of options for recycling. This has in turn provided impetus for new development and further research. The policy landscape between environmental protection and water supply continues to change, with Environmental Protection Agencies increasingly supportive of wastewater recycling projects in contrast to riverine disposal options.6 Meanwhile, the early starters in recycled water projects are now maturing (such as Rouse Hill, Pimpama-Coomera and various industrial projects), providing rich data sets and insights for next-generation projects.
It is in the context of these continuing changes that the current project is prepared.
1.1Project scope
The current report/study is, in part, an update of the report completed by MJA in 2008,7 which explored then recycling rates and planned recycled water activities to 2015 across Australian jurisdictions and as a whole. The scope of this report was extended to convey a comprehensive picture of current wastewater and stormwater recycling activities, and those to 2015, across jurisdictions. Additionally, key policy issues and changes affecting each jurisdiction are discussed. Major water authorities8 from all Australian jurisdictions report against key water supply and wastewater functions to the National Water Commission National Performance Report, (NWC NPR) the most recent of which is 2009/10, Urban Water Utilities. This data has provided the backbone of the statistical analysis for this report, and has been augmented with:
6 7 8 Although interestingly, some water authorities have received credit from State Governments for highlevel treatment of recycled water and riverine disposal, for subsequent downstream water supply. http://www.environment.gov.au/water/publications/urban/pubs/national-recycling-snapshot.pdf Those supplying more than 50,000 connected properties.
other 2009/10 water authority data where data gaps have been identified;9 and publicly available information on specific projects currently delivering recycled water;
Forecasting analysis to 2015 has built on this data with the following sources: data supplied by water authorities of their own forecast wastewater recycling activities to 2015; and published information on project development to 2015.
All analysis has been verified through discussions with policy officers in jurisdictional departments, and semi-structured interviews with key agents in relevant water authorities. The main gap in data is from small towns where current and forecast project information is not publicly available. A full collection of data of this kind is beyond the scope of this consultancy. Unlike the current report, MJAs 2008 report projected recycling activities according to jurisdictional targets to 2015 and beyond, if actual project data was lacking. For the 2008 report, the use of targets provided a reasonable basis for forecasting the volume of recycled water to be supplied 2015 in the absence of specific project data. However, from the vantage point of 2011, a 2015 target must be associated with specific projects in development for it to be likely to be met. As such, jurisdictional targets are not used to forecast expected recycled water volumes by 2015 in this report.10
1.1Report structure
The remainder of this report is structured as followed: Section 2 provides some water policy context for Australian water recycling, before detailing results at the national level; Sections 3-10 provide the same context and data analysis for each Australian jurisdiction; and Section 11 provides policy insights and suggestions for further work.
9 10
For example, reporting to the NPR is voluntary in Queensland, however many authorities report to the Queensland Water Directorate, which has supplied data to the project with permission. The exception is Sydney, which has specific projects associated with a target for 70GL of recycled water produced by 2015.
1 Water Recycling in Australia

1.1Recycled water in Australian water supply planning
Ten years of below average rainfall across most of Australia from 2000 to 2010 resulted in an urgent need to secure drinking water supplies across jurisdictions, encouraging significant investment in recycled water at all levels of government. These conditions changed dramatically from 2010, when rainfall returned across eastern Australia and water storages increased sharply. Flooding in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria associated with a La Nia weather pattern described as the strongest in Australia in almost 40 years11 reduced the immediacy of water supply planning problems for most capital cities. The exceptions are Adelaide, for which dam storages provide a relatively small water supply buffer, and Perth, which did not benefit significantly from La Nia-induced rainfall. Desalination has also changed the urban water picture in Australia in recent years. Three desalination plants are already in operation around Australia, and three more expect to be in operation by 2012, implying that a capital-intensive, climate independent potable water supply source will be available in the five largest capital cities in Australia by 2012 (Table 1). These investments have placed pressure on residential water bills and focussed attention on the costeffectiveness of new water supply augmentations.
Table 1: Desalination plants by location and volume
Location Expected commencemen t date South East Queensland Sydney Melbourne Perth (Kwinana) Perth (Binningup) Adelaide 2009 2010 End 2011 2006 End 2011 2012 45GL per year 90GL per year 150GL per year 45GL per year 50GL per year 100GL per year 7% (of around 620GL per year for SEQ) 15% (of around 600GL per year) 25% (of around 600GL per year) 17% (of around 250GL per year) 20% (of around 250GL per year) 50% (of around 200GL per year) Annual volume (at capacity) Proportion of water supply
11
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/la-nina-blowing-away-wests-last-hopes/story-e6frg8zx1226057072938
Sources: see below.12
Targets Most Australian jurisdictions have had aspirational targets for the proportion of wastewater recycled, either in capital cities or for the entire jurisdiction. The jurisdictional targets identified are summarised in Table 2. Sydneys goal of 70GL per year equates to less than 15 per cent of expected wastewater flows by 2015, and appears to be on target. Melbournes 70GL per year target equates to just over 20 per cent of expected wastewater flows (due to lower wastewater volumes) and has been achieved. SAs 2010 strategic document Water For Good set further ambitious wastewater and stormwater targets out to 2050.
Table 2: Wastewater and stormwater recycling targets by location
Location Australia Sydney Melbourne Target 30 per cent recycled per year by 2015 70GL per year by 2015 20 per cent recycled per year by 2010 Officially achieved , no new target provided Comment Wastewater target
Perth South Australia
30 per cent recycled by 2030 60 per cent recycled by 2060 35 per cent recycled by 2015 (urban) 29 per cent recycled by 2015 (country) 60GL per year stormwater recycling by 2050 (Adelaide) 75GL per year stormwater recycling by 2050 (State) 75GL per year wastewater recycling by 2050 (urban) GL targets from Water For Good, 2010
Sources: see below.13
12
http://www.dlgp.qld.gov.au/projects/water/gold-coast-desalination-project.html , http://www.smh.com.au/environment/water-issues/sydneys-desal-plant-switched-on-20100128-n13h.html http://www.partnerships.vic.gov.au/CA25708500035EB6/WebObj/ProjectSummaryforVictorianDesalinationPr oject/$File/Project%20Summary%20for%20Victorian%20Desalination%20Project.pdf http://www.watercorporation.com.au/D/desalination.cfm http://www.rpsgroup.com.au/project/binningupdesalination-plant http://www.sawater.com.au/NR/rdonlyres/0447A380-639E-4DA4-A041-7EF67237668D/0per yearDPearly2011.pdf Sydney: 2010 Metropolitan Water Plan.
13
Melbourne: New Water For Victoria, 2002. Perth: Water Forever, towards climate resilience, 2009. South Australia: Water For Good, 2010, Waterproofing Adelaide 2005.
Concurrently, a number of jurisdictions retain a formal ban on the use of recycled wastewater for indirect potable reuse. Additionally, a lack of policy frameworks can further prevent indirect potable consumption of stormwater in some jurisdictions, although not all.14
1.2The national picture current and expected water recycling in Australia to 2015
Water authorities from all Australian jurisdictions report against key water supply and wastewater functions to the National Water Commissions National Performance Report, (NWC NPR) the most recent of which is 2009/10, Urban Water Utilities. Most data in this section is based on this reporting arrangement, augmented with further research and discussions with key jurisdictional representatives on data gaps and future recycled water activities. Across Australia, 16.8 per cent of wastewater flows were recycled in 2009/10. While the majority of wastewater recycling stems from metropolitan reuse (Figure 8), a greater proportion of wastewater flows are recycled outside of capital cities (21.7 per cent as opposed to 15.2 per cent in capital cities).
Figure 8: Australian wastewater recycling 2009/10, by capital cities and rest of Australia (ML/year)
Figure 9 summarises wastewater recycling by jurisdiction. Volumetrically, the largest volumes recycled are in the states with the largest populations - Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. However by proportion of wastewater flows, South Australia reuses the most wastewater at 28 per cent, followed by Victoria (24 per cent) and Queensland (24 per cent).
14 In Victoria, Yarra Valley Waters Kalkallo Stormwater Project proposed indirect potable consumption of stormwater from roofs and paved surfaces, however was refused permission by the Health Department, citing a lack of frameworks (http://www.theage.com.au/environment/water-issues/officials-block-radical-stormwaterrecycling-plan-20110307-1bl7i.html). In contrast, a stormwater harvesting project in Orange, NSW, supplies potable storages with recycled stormwater.
Tasmania and the Northern Territory recycled the least by both volume and proportion, facing the lowest demand and abundant potable supplies in their major centres.
Figure 9: Australian wastewater recycling 2009/10, by jurisdiction (ML/year)
Figure 10 shows expected wastewater recycling to 2015, based on expected changes in each jurisdiction. Recycled wastewater is expected to reach 18.7 per cent of wastewater flows in 2015, or 20.3 per cent if Perths Groundwater Replenishment project proceeds. Augmentations are expected mostly in NSW, which is dominated by an 18GL per year environmental flows/potable substitution project in Sydney, and smaller augmentations in Victoria. These mostly increase supply from existing projects, but also include various small new initiatives.
Figure 10: Expected Australian wastewater recycling by jurisdiction, 2015 (ML/year)
Source: MJA analysis based on various sources. Notes: * The National average increase reflects inclusion of IPR (Perths Groundwater Replenishment project). If the project is implemented, WAs recycling proportion increases to 30 per cent. In addition, the National average would be boosted with the addition of SAs stormwater recycling projects totalling 10GL per year.
There are expected declines in water recycling proportions in Queensland, which is expecting a reduction in output from SEQs Western Corridor Recycled Water Project (WCRWP) compared with 2009/10, and a flattening of output in South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and the ACT. This will reduce output in percentage terms as wastewater volumes grow with population. Western Australias recycling to 2015 is dependent upon the potential for Australias first operating wastewater recycling project used for indirect potable reuse (IPR). If fully realised, the Groundwater Replenishment project, has the potential to supply between 25 and 35GL per year to Perths potable supplies, using aquifer storage and recover (ASR). This will increase their recycled water use in WA from 12 per cent to 30 per cent, and the national proportion to 20 per cent, as well as potentially revolutionising recycled water use in Australia. The contribution of stormwater reuse to total water recycling in 2015 is shown in orange bars in Figure 10. The main contributions occur in South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT. These volumes do not contribute to stated percentages.
Figure 11: 2009/10 recycled wastewater volumes and augmentations to 2015 by capital city and rest of jurisdiction (ML/year)
Figure 11 shows current recycled water volumes by capital city and the remainder of each jurisdiction, in addition to expected augmentations to 2015. This chart highlights the volumetric
contribution of Sydney to overall augmentations (from a comparatively low proportional base), and the potential of Perths IPR project to contribute to the total. Further, recycling in the ACT challenges the very definition of recycled wastewater, returning the vast majority of potable supplies (97 per cent) to the Murrumbidgee for downstream use, beyond more conventional recycling activities. Significant changes since the 2008 assessment As noted, recycled wastewater is expected to total 18.7 per cent of wastewater flows in 2015, and total recycled wastewater forms 20.3 per cent should Perths Groundwater Replenishment project proceed. This compares with a 2008 estimate that 23.8 per cent would be recycled.
Table 3: 2015 projections from current report, compared to 2008 report
Location 2015 estimate from 2008 report % 16.7 28.5 31.5 27.3 28.7 9.0 10.0 31.1 23.8 2015 estimate from current report % 14.7 27.2 20.1 11.9 30 27.1 6.6 5.9 12.7 18.7-20.3
NSW VIC QLD WA SA TAS NT ACT AUS
Source: MJA analysis. Note: Range represents inclusion or not of Perths Groundwater Replenishment Project.
Across the country, every jurisdiction appears likely to recycle lower volumes in 2015 than was anticipated in 2008. The key changes include: the single largest contributor to the reduction in volume is SEQs Western Corridor project, which was expected to deliver 85GL per year of IPR into the water grid, but will instead deliver only 14-22GL per year to industrial and municipal uses. Reductions in WCRWP output to 2015 compared with 2009/10 volumes actually reduce SEQs recycled water use over this time period; the ACTs Water Purification Scheme was an IPR project which was being prepared for demonstration in 2008, for potential production of 9.1GL per annum by 2015. This project was discontinued by the project proponent ACTEW; many individual projects planned to 2015 were reported at maximum capacity, but have delivered significantly below this capacity due to demand shortages. Expected growth to 2015 can be expected to fall short of capacity for many projects; while not contributing to wastewater recycling percentages stated above, South Australias stormwater projects were estimated to harvest 18GL per year by 2015. Current estimates
suggest that 10GL per year will now occur (although estimations of stormwater yield are notoriously imprecise). Additionally, agricultural wastewater recycling demand in South Australia is now considered exhausted and future growth to 2015 is unlikely.
1.1National recycled water themes

The current study highlights a number of important national themes.
1.1.1A shift towards potable substitution

The early recycled water projects producing significant volumes of water were predominantly agricultural projects using recycled water with low levels of treatment. Figure 12 shows current wastewater recycling projects by use (in blue), and expected augmentations to 2015. While agricultural projects dominate the historical picture, future augmentations are dominated municipal, industrial and commercial, in addition to environmental projects, including Sydneys environmental flows project. Should it proceed, Perths Groundwater Replenishment project will also add a further 25-35GL per year of indirect potable reuse (IPR) to this picture.
Importantly, from an urban water supply perspective, by 2015 up to half of wastewater recycling will substitute for potable supplies (with the inclusion of Perths IPR project), and thus contribute to urban water supply security. Additionally, the Western Corridor project is being used as a potential 85GL per year drought response option, which is the first dedicated use of a recycled water project for urban water security in Australia.
As such, recent and future recycled water projects are contributing to urban water supply security as never before.
1.1.2Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR) developments

The use of recycled wastewater to augment potable supplies remains controversial in Australia. While direct potable reuse of recycled wastewater is absent from planning in Australia, a number of indirect potable reuse (IPR) projects have been mooted in different jurisdictions. IPR involves high level treatment of wastewater, with subsequent storage (and natural filtration) in groundwater aquifers or receiving waters (rivers, dams). The Western Corridor project in SEQ was scheduled to be the first Australian IPR project in use, supplying 85GL per year into SEQ storages15 once combined storages fell below 40%. While this replenishment did not occur and rainfall has returned to SEQ, it remains the strategy for the future. Perths Groundwater Replenishment project involves treatment of wastewater to drinking water standards (ultra filtration, reverse osmosis and ultra-violet disinfection) followed by injection into the Leederville aquifer and subsequent recovery. If proven to be cost effective and with demonstrated community support, it will form an ongoing part of future potable supplies for Perths water supply system. By 2015, subject to approval, the project would produce between 25 and 35GL per year, with longterm volumes up to 70-100GL per year. If successful, the project will revolutionise recycled water use and potable water supply planning in Australia, and could lead to far greater use of IPR in future. An IPR project involving stormwater reuse is in operation in Orange, NSW. The first IPR project of any kind in Australia, it harvests between 1.3 and 2.1GL per year of stormwater from high flow events in Blackmans Swamp Creek, which is added to surface water storages. Further augmentations are planned to this project.
1.2Stormwater recycling
Stormwater recycling is a relative newcomer to recycled water in Australia, with a significant number of projects appearing over the past decade. Compared with wastewater recycling, stormwater recycling can suffer from a number of barriers and challenges: unlike wastewater recycling, it is rainfall dependent and subject to varying supplies over time; as most stormwater recycling projects are undertaken in urban settings, a shortage of available land for treatment and storage may inhibit project development or increase costs. However, Adelaides use of ASR has avoided the use of surface water storages, improving cost effectiveness; and regulatory regimes for stormwater have tended to lag behind wastewater recycling.
However, in contrast to wastewater recycling, stormwater projects almost universally contribute to potable substitution, supplementing for urban irrigation and industrial use, and contributing to
15 Wivenhoe Dam was to receive the treated wastewater prior to potable consumption.
water supply security. They also avoid the yuck factor that plagues public perception of consumption of recycled wastewater. Estimation of stormwater recycling volumes is inherently imprecise. Not only does demand vary with climatic conditions (like most wastewater recycling use), but supply also depends upon rainfall. Very few projects have been in operation long enough to develop a reliable predictive method, and most projects report on capacity (i.e., how much the project can deliver in a given year). As such, reported capacity volumes are used for estimation in this project, at 2015 for current projects and those expected to be in operation prior to that date. This may overestimate used volumes, given that supply and demand may vary annually. However, this approach is useful for illustrative purposes. Additionally, while volumes used by reported projects may not reach the stated capacity in 2015, there are many small projects around the country driven by local councils that are unreported at state and national levels. Only South Australia and NSW have made any concerted effort to compile a list of projects in their jurisdictions. National stormwater recycling Based on projects funded by the Commonwealth, and other projects reported by jurisdictions, capacity for 20.8GL per year of stormwater recycling will exist by 2015. Over half of this will be found in South Australia (10GL per year), with useful contributions from New South Wales (5.4GL per year), Victoria (3.2GL per year) and the ACT (1.5GL per year). A small number of mostly Commonwealth funded projects are being implemented in other jurisdictions.
In terms of contribution to water supply security, South Australia and the ACT are the two jurisdictions that currently plan for stormwater to play a significant role in the long term:
the South Australian Government plans to increase stormwater reuse to 70GL per year by 2050; and the ACT Government has medium term plans to reuse 3GL per year of stormwater equivalent to the entire public open space irrigation volume.
1 New South Wales

The NSW Government has a commitment to produce 70GL per year of recycled water in Sydney by 2015 and 100GL per year by 2032, and to increase recycled water use in regional centres. Wastewater recycling in 2009/10 totalled 9.8 per cent of wastewater flows in NSW. By 2015, an estimated 14.7 per cent of wastewater flows will be used for recycling in NSW.
1.1Discussion
Responsibility for water management and planning in NSW resides with the NSW Office of Water in the Department of Primary Industries (DPI). The Metropolitan Water Branch (with responsibility for the Metropolitan Water Plan covering greater Sydney, and the Lower Hunter Water Plan currently in preparation) resides in the Department of Finance and Services. This may split recycled water policy for metropolitan and regional areas into two separate departments. In 2007, Sydneys water storages were around 35 per cent,16 as the drought affecting most of eastern Australia reduced inflows to Sydney catchments. In the context of steady population growth, the severe and lasting drought, the impacts of climate change and an increasing need for environmental flows for river health, significant capital investments in water infrastructure were made. This included the Kurnell Desalination Plant, which commenced delivery of a climate independent 90GL per year from January 2010 for Sydney. Rainfall returned from July 2007 and as at 16 June 2011, Sydneys average storages exceeded 75 per cent.17 NSW urban water management in 2011 is, not unlike Queensland and Victoria, a less pressing concern than it was a few years ago. NSW currently has the following recycled water targets, set in 2007: Sydney: an increase in the volume of water recycled from 15GL/year to 70GL/year by 2015, and 100GL/year in 2032; and Regional centres: an increase in the volume of recycled water.18
Planned delivery of the 70GL target is outlined in the Metropolitan Water Plan 2010. Compared with projections of wastewater volumes based on population projections, 70GL represents around 15 per cent of Sydney wastewater in 2015.
16 17 18 http://www.sca.nsw.gov.au/dams-and-water/weekly-storage-and-supply-reports/2007/bulk-water-storage-andsupply-report-11-january-2007 http://www.sca.nsw.gov.au/dams-and-water/weekly-storage-and-supply-reports/2012/16-june-2011 NSW State Plan, Secure And Sustainable Water Supply For All Users, 2007 Update.
1.1NSW water recycling 2009/10

A number of innovative recycled wastewater and stormwater projects have recently commenced in NSW, including recycled wastewater for environmental flows in the Hawkesbury-Nepean River, and a nationalfirst stormwater harvesting project for indirect potable reuse (IPR) in Orange.
Figure 14: NSW wastewater recycling volumes and proportions, 2009/10 (ML/year)
Source: MJA analysis of National Water Commission, National Performance Report (NWC NPR) data.
Based on data reported to the National Performance Report (NPR), Sydney wastewater recycling totalled 7.3 per cent of wastewater flows in 2009/10, with the rest of NSW recycling 16.2 per cent of wastewater flows (Figure 14). Across NSW, 9.8 per cent of wastewater flows were recycled. Metropolitan Water Use As reported in the NPR, Sydneys water recycling totalled 39GL per year in 2009/10, dominated by on-site treatment plant reuse, agriculture and industrial/commercial use. Notable projects contributing to this recycling include: NSW's largest industrial recycled water scheme came online in 2006, providing 20ML/day of recycled sewage water use by BlueScope Steel in Port Kembla, a potable substitution of 7.3GL per year; and Rouse Hill Recycled Water Scheme supplies about 2.2 GL per year to 19,000 homes for toilet flushing and outdoor use.
Sydneys wastewater recycling split by use is summarised in Figure 15. On-site reuse (16.5GL per year) is typically used for irrigation of forestry plantations. Dedicated recycling for
agriculture is a further 8GL per year. Municipal, commercial and industrial use totals 10GL per year. Only this last use could be considered as potable substitution water.
Figure 15: Sydney wastewater recycling by use, 2009/10 (ML/year)
Source: MJA analysis of NWC NPR data.
Sydneys Rouse Hill third pipe residential recycled water project services 19,000 homes, and is one of the largest third pipe residential projects in Australia. Despite this, Sydney used a total of only 2.2GL of residential recycled water in 2009/10, reflecting the challenge posed by residential reuse as a significant part of urban water supply planning. Urban water use - Newcastle - Hunter Water Corporation Hunter Water reported recycling of 5.3GL per year in 2009/10, supplied for industrial and commercial use, irrigation of golf courses and municipal public open space, and agricultural use. Industrial use includes Eraring Power Station and Edgeworth Coal Washery (1.6GL per year).19 Hunter Water is progressing a number of third pipe residential recycled water projects, with longterm plans to service 10,200 homes (1.2GL per year of potable substitution).20 Rural and Regional NSW Data provided for the NPR records that wastewater recycling in 2009/10 outside of Sydney totals 16.2 per cent of wastewater flows. Although the single largest contributor is agricultural use, municipal/industrial/commercial use is also a significant contributor to total regional recycling (Figure 16). Significant projects were identified in Albury (4GL per year), Orange (3GL per year), Shoalhaven (2.4GL per year), Dubbo (2.3GL per year), as well as smaller projects in Tamworth, Wyong, Goulburn and Coffs Harbour.
19 20
http://www.hunterwater.com.au/Water-and-Sewer/Recycling--Reuse/Industrial-Recycled-Water-Use/ http://www.hunterwater.com.au/Water-and-Sewer/Recycling--Reuse/Residential-Use/Residential-Use.aspx
Figure 16: NSW non-metropolitan wastewater recycling by use, 2009/10 (ML/year)
This data may overlook the actions of many small inland towns which recycle water as a result of environmental discharge regulations.
1.1NSW progress against the Commonwealth target to 2015

As noted, wastewater recycling in Sydney for 2009/10 totalled 39GL per year. The State Government target for the Sydney Metropolitan Region of 70GL per year by 2015 appears likely to be met, largely through increases in industrial and commercial use, and the aforementioned environmental flows project which commenced delivery of an estimated 18GL per year from October 2010.
Figure 17: Wastewater Recycling Sydney Metropolitan Region21
Source: 2010 Metropolitan Water Plan, p.27.
In contrast to data reported for 2009/10, which is dominated by agricultural reuse, most of the growth in recycling from 2010 is expected to substitute for potable supplies, thereby assisting water supply demand planning. Figure 17 summarises annual growth in Sydney Metropolitan recycling from 2006/07 to 2014/15. Augmentations coming onstream between 2009/10 and 2014/15 include: Replacement Flows Project (St Marys), which will see wastewater treated by microfiltration and reverse osmosis processes and released into the Hawkesbury-Nepean River below Penrith Weir, substituting for up to 18 GL per year of drinking water currently being released from Warragamba Dam into the Hawkesbury-Nepean River. The project will conserve drinking water, whilst maintaining environmental flows from October 2010. This environmental and potable substitution water recycling project is the only one of its kind in Australia; The Rosehill-Camellia Recycled Water Scheme will commence supply of 4.7GL per year to industry from June 2011. The project uses NSWs third party access regime and is built, owned, operated and maintained by private firms. Sydney Water is the initial retailer to seven customers. The total potential market is estimated at 7.3GL per year, however by 2015 Sydney Water plans to supply 4.7GL per year; The 2010 Metropolitan Water Plan reports that at the end of the first quarter of 2010 there were about 150 smaller local-scale projects operating or under construction, including 70 stormwater projects (which are projected to save over 2GL per year by 2015).22 Some examples include Liverpool Golf Course (43ML per year), sports fields at the Hawkesbury Campus of University of Western Sydney (189ML per year) and farm irrigation at Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute at Menangle (550ML per year); Hoxton Park recycled water scheme. Stage 1 is planned to be completed by 2013, with volumes gradually increasing to 0.8GL per year in 2025 (0.03GL per year by 2015).
NSW State Plan, Secure And Sustainable Water Supply For All Users, 2007 Update. 2010 Metropolitan Water Plan, pp.29, 31.
21 22
Figure 18: Sydney wastewater recycling growth to 2015 (ML/ year)
Figure 18 shows augmentations to 2015 by use, demonstrating the focus on potable substitution in future growth. Environmental and municipal, industrial and commercial use can be expected to substitute for potable supplies, unlike agricultural and onsite use. Another innovative recycled water project under consideration by the NSW Government is the development of a recycled water grid for Sydney, using disused gas mains. The project aims for largescale third pipe in the Sydney CBD, allowing for delivery of a third pipe system in areas otherwise unreachable without substantial costs. The project has a longterm goal of 40GL per year, which would be entirely potable substitution. The augmentations described above should see Sydney reach its State Government target of 70GL per year by 2015. This translates to 14.1 per cent of Sydneys expected wastewater flows by 2015 (see Figure 19). No major growth is expected outside of Sydney, giving an average proportion of wastewater flows across NSW of 14.7 per cent by 2015.
Figure 19: Expected NSW recycling and implicit Commonwealth target (ML/year)
Source: MJA analysis of NWC NPR data. Note: percentage reflects total wastewater recycling to 2015 stormwater is not included.
1.1Stormwater reuse in NSW

The NSW Government has made a concerted effort to record and present23 the development of stormwater projects, especially in and around Sydney. Currently, data on 111 individual stormwater projects has been compiled by the State Government, including a number of self funded council projects, providing a more comprehensive picture of the states stormwater activities than most other jurisdictions. As reported, expected NSW stormwater reuse capacity to 2015 totals almost 5.4GL per year, with over half outside of Sydney (2.8GL per year). This capacity is dominated by two projects in Orange: Blackmans Swamp Creek project 1.3GL per year; and Ploughmans Creek project 0.88GL per year.
Sydneys largest stormwater projects are the Commonwealth funded Alexandra Canal and Green Square projects, with a combined capacity of almost 1GL per year.
23
http://www.waterforlife.nsw.gov.au/recycling/stormwater/stormwatermap
1 Victoria
The Victorian Government has no specific commitments relating to water recycling, but has appointed a Ministerial Advisory Council that has prioritised integrated water management and generational change in the use of recycled water. Wastewater recycling in 2009/10 totalled 24.1 per cent of wastewater flows in Victoria. By 2015, an estimated 27.2 per cent of wastewater flows will be used for recycling in Victoria.
1.1Discussion
Water supply planning in Victoria is undertaken for state government by the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE). A Living Victoria Ministerial Advisory Council (MAC) has been appointed to provide high level advice on strategic policy direction in Victoria, in support of the Governments Living Melbourne, Living Victoria policy. In relation to recycled water in Melbourne the MAC has made the following strategic reform priorities in March 2011:
establish Victoria as a world leader in liveable cities and integrated water management; drive generational change in how Melbourne uses rainwater, stormwater and recycled water; drive integrated projects and developments in Melbourne and regional cities to use stormwater, rainwater and recycled water to provide Victorias next major augmentation.
These highlevel priorities suggest that recycled water may form a significant part of future water strategies, within the limits of cost effectiveness. The priorities replace the previous directions for recycled water in Victoria set out in Our Water Our Future24 and associated documents, which included potable substitution targets for Melbourne.
1.1Victorian water recycling 2009/10

Across Victoria, 24.1 per cent of sewage effluent was recycled in 2009/10 according to the NPR, reflecting 22.8 per cent recycling in Melbourne and 27.6 per cent in the rest of Victoria (Figure 20).
24 Government of Victoria, 2004, Our Water Our Future, http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/wcmn202.nsf/LinkView/BBE70FB30CBF17D4CA256FFE0008644316E9B18 15F549080CA256FFF000B04E4 at 31 March 2008.
Figure 20: Victorian wastewater recycling volumes and proportions, 2009/10 (ML/year)
Source: MJA analysis of NWC NPR data, and Victorian funding data (DSE).
Melbourne For practical purposes, the metropolitan Melbourne water businesses (wholesalers Melbourne Water, and retailers City West Water, South East Water and Yarra Valley Water) define water recycling as any activity that involves the collection, treatment and supply of sewage to produce a fit for purpose supply that is used for non-potable end uses.25 Most recycled water in Melbourne is supplied from the Western Treatment Plant (WTP) or Eastern Treatment Plant (ETP), supplying the three metropolitan retailers, as well as Topaq and Southern Rural Water, in addition to Melbourne Water reuse. The retailers are also increasingly supplying customers directly from smaller treatment plants managed by themselves.
25
The Victorian Government has placed a ban on indirect potable consumption of recycled water (both for wastewater and stormwater).
Figure 21: Melbourne wastewater recycling by use, 2009/10 (ML/year)
Source: MJA analysis of NWC NPR data. Note: Export data has been allocated to agricultural use.
The largest use of recycled water in Melbourne is in the agricultural sector (Figure 21), followed by onsite use (further irrigation). A number of third pipe residential projects exist, but are dwarfed by other uses. A small amount of tankered water is used for street tree irrigation and dust suppression. Only a small proportion of current wastewater recycling substitutes for potable consumption. Melbourne recycling rates have increased from four per cent in 1998/99 to over 20 per cent in 2009-10 (see Table 4). Interestingly, despite population growth in Melbourne since the 1990s, total sewage flow in 2009/10 is lower than in 1998/99, and has declined from a peak in 2004/05. Sewage flows tend to be lower in dry years, due to a lack of infiltration. Additionally, water conservation measures in residences and commercial operations reduce sewage volumes over time. Recycled water volumes have been steady since 2006/07, and low sewage flows have assisted meeting a wastewater recycling proportion of over 20 per cent.
Table 4: Melbourne recycled water volumes supplied as a percentage of total sewage flows
Year 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 Total Sewage Flow (ML) 296,118 295,701 340,330 326,448 327,571 313,889 344,609 Total Recycled Water (ML) 12,585 12,656 15,485 17,922 35,869 35,752 38,355 Recycled Water proportion (%) 4.2 4.3 4.5 5.5 10.9 11.4 11.1
2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09
325,585 291,764 287,565 285,181
46,233 65,647 66,742 65,587
14.2 22.5 23.2 23.0
Source: Metropolitan Melbournes Water Businesses, 2010, 20% Water Recycling Target by 2010, Final Report for Melbourne.
Recent heavy rains in 2011 can be expected to reduce demand for recycled water, and increase wastewater volumes due to infiltration. Not included in the above data is recycling from Western Water, a water authority on the western fringes of Melbourne where significant water recycling already occurs, and where much of Melbournes future population growth is expected. Unlike the rest of Melbourne, Western Water has combined wastewater and potable water functions, and has recycled in the order of 80 per cent of its wastewater in recent years, largely for irrigation purposes (public open space and agribusiness), and for some commercial and industrial use. In 2009/10, the water authority recycled over 6GL of a total 8GL of wastewater produced.26 Western Water has plans to recycle 100 per cent of its wastewater by 2012/13 (see Figure 22).
Figure 22: Planned and actual recycled water, Western Water, 2004/05 to 2014/15
Source: Western Water, Environmental Sustainability Report, 2008/09.
Regional Victoria In regional Victoria, recycling rates exceeded 27% by 2009/10, based on NPR reporting and Victorian Government funding data. Several water authorities recycle most of their effluent
26 NWC 2011, NPR.
(Figure 23), due partly to the historical restrictions placed on them by the Environment Protection Authority regarding discharge to inland waterways, or through progressive commercial arrangements. As with much wastewater discharge in inland Australia, Victorian treated wastewater discharged to inland waterways often has an unrecorded downstream productive use, or supports environmental flows. This is not recorded in recycled water statistics.
Figure 23: Wastewater recycled 2009-10 Regional Victorian Water Authorities (ML/year)
At a policy level, the Victorian government (through its Environment Protection Authority) has moved away from this historical restriction by noting in the State Environment Protection Policy (Waters of Victoria) that recycled water may be able to be treated to a high standard and used for environmental flows (as is the case in NSW). However, the EPA has not yet issued guidance about the permitting, treatment and risk management measures it would require for this to take place.27
1.2Victorian progress against the Commonwealth target to 2015

Melbourne to 2015 Growth in recycled water use to 2015 is expected to be steady in Melbourne, with a range of residential, commercial and industrial recycling projects increasing supply and coming onstream in the coming years. No largescale projects are expected within this timeframe, although the
27 Note: as at 28 June 2011 a discussion with the Victorian EPA is pending, and may add value to this point.
Eastern Treatment Plant upgrade will commence producing 100GL per year of Class A treated wastewater from 2012. At this stage, no significant users of this water have been identified, and it appears unlikely that volumes beyond 1-2GL per year will be reused by 2015. The most likely user is the agricultural sector.
Figure 24: Melbourne wastewater recycling to 2015 (ML/year)
There are a number of residential third pipe and industrial use projects planned to commence or expand current production across Melbourne, including the Altona Recycled Water Project which will supply industrial and commercial customers with over 2GL per year from 2011/12. Stage 2 is expected to supply an additional 4GL per year from 2015/16. Aurora third pipe residential project is expected to expand by over 1GL per year by 2015.
Box 1: Eastern Treatment Plant upgrade
In May 2010, the Victorian Government announced that construction was underway for a $380m upgrade to Melbournes Eastern Treatment Plant, to improve treated effluent quality and reduce aesthetic and environmental impacts at the ocean outfall at Boags Rocks. Faced with community concerns over ocean outfall impacts and tighter EPA requirements for discharge, Melbourne Water opted for a tertiary treatment upgrade of the ETP over a lesser upgrade and extended outfall at Boags Rocks. This option provides 100GL of high quality treated wastewater for potential recycling, should the demand be secured for the water. At this stage, no significant users for the additional treated wastewater have been secured beyond substitution of existing recycled water users from the plant. A feasibility study of agricultural users in the Bunyip Food Bowl is currently underway, which may secure up to 25GL over the long term. A formal prediction of expected additional volumes of recycled water sourced from the ETP between 2009-10 and 2015 has not been made by the Victorian Government or participating parties. Given this, MJA anticipates that by 2015 an expected volume of additional recycled
water sourced from the ETP would range from 1-2GL per year. Regional Victoria to 2015 Major water recycling initiatives in regional Victoria include: Barwon Waters Black Rock Recycled Water Plant is undergoing detailed design, and is scheduled to be in production by 2013. The plant will supply 2.4GL per year of Class A recycled water to residential users, and 3.6GL per year of Class C water for irrigation and dust suppression purposes. Coliban Waters Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant has commenced operation and is contributing to Coliban Waters recycling rates of over 50 per cent of wastewater in 2009/10. Scheme capacity is 4GL of recycled water for rural, industrial and urban uses including public gardens, sporting facilities, hospital and industrial supply, rural irrigation and some third pipe developments in future;28 East Gippsland Water reuses 100% of its wastewater on its own properties, as well as supplying to other parties including golf courses, tree plantations, pasture, alpine woodland and a racecourse. It is also used to provide environmentally beneficial flows to wetlands, including a RAMSAR wetland; as well as using recycled water for irrigation, Wannon Waters Hamilton treatment plant has the capacity to produce 150ML per year of reclaimed water for industry, using 15 per cent of the total sewerage from plant. The recycled water is used by a mineral separation plant.
As with Melbourne, there is a shift in regional Victoria towards greater use of recycled water for potable substitution, although some agricultural growth is expected to 2015 (Figure 25).
Figure 25: Wastewater recycled to 2015 non-Melbourne Victorian water authorities (ML/year)
Source: MJA analysis of NWC NPR data, publicly available data and projections by nonMelbourne water authorities. 28 http://www.environment.gov.au/water/policy-programs/water-smart/projects/vic12.html
Identified increases to Victorian wastewater recycling should bring Melbournes water recycling to 26.1 per cent by 2015, and the rest of Victoria to 30.0, for a state average of 27.2 per cent.
Figure 26: Expected Victorian recycling and implicit Commonwealth target (ML/year)
Source: MJA analysis. Note: Stated percentage reflects wastewater recycling volumes to 2015 only stormwater data is not included in this estimate.
1.1Stormwater reuse in Victoria

Victorian Government records, in addition to a number of projects receiving Commonwealth grant funding, show that 57 stormwater reuse projects will be in operation in Victoria by 2015, of which 40 are in metropolitan Melbourne. The total capacity of these Victorian stormwater projects by 2015 will be 3.2GL per year.
2 Queensland
The Queensland Government does not have any formal commitments for recycled water but it is included in water supply planning. IPR plays a drought response role in South East Queensland water supply planning. Wastewater recycling in 2009/10 totalled 23.7 per cent of wastewater flows in Queensland. By 2015, an estimated 20.1 per cent of wastewater flows will be used for recycling in Queensland, down from 2009/10.
1.1Discussion
The State Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) is responsible for the development of regional water supply strategies, in partnership with local governments, water service providers, industries and community groups. The Queensland Water Commission (QWC) was established in 2006 as an independent statutory authority to manage water supply planning in South East Queensland. The Queensland Water Recycling Guidelines were developed in 2005, before the use of recycled water was regulated in the state. The subsequent Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008 requires recycled water providers to meet mandatory requirements, and a range of regulatory guidelines have been developed to foster compliance with the Act.29 Queensland does not have a policy ban on the use of recycled wastewater for IPR, although IPR is not in active use in Queensland at this stage. Significant drivers of recycled water in Queensland have been: population growth combined with below average rainfall (until recently), especially in South East Queensland (SEQ); and wastewater discharge regulations for ocean outfall across the state. Concerns for the environmental health of waterways, especially Moreton Bay and the Great Barrier Reef, have resulted in significant upgrades to wastewater treatment, producing a potentially valuable recycled water product.
The long period of below average rainfall ended conclusively with significant flooding of coastal Queensland in 2010 and 2011, including Brisbanes worst flooding since 1974. As discussed below, this rainfall, combined with the commencement of operation of the Tugan Desalination Plant on the Gold Coast, has had significant implications for the planning and operation of recycled water projects in SEQ, specifically the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project.
29 http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/water/regulation/recycling/guidelines.html
1.1QLD water recycling 2009/10

In 2009/10, wastewater recycling in Queensland totalled an estimated 23.7 per cent of total wastewater flows (22.8 per cent in SEQ and 26.3 per cent for the rest of the state see Figure 27).
Figure 27: Queensland wastewater recycling volumes and proportions, 2009/10 (ML/year)
Source: MJA analysis of NWC NPR data, augmented with council data.
South East Queensland (SEQ) Until the recent above average rainfall, SEQ had experienced around ten years of below average rainfall concurrent with the fastest population growth of any major region in the country. The largest storage for SEQ, Wivenhoe Dam, reached storage levels as low as 17 per cent before rainfall returned. As a result, significant capital investments were made to secure SEQ water supplies going forward. The largest of these were: the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project (WCRWP), with capacity to supply 84.7GL/year of indirect potable consumption, stored in Wivenhoe Dam. Full operation was expected by the end of 2008, amounting to approximately 12 per cent of SEQs water supply by 2012; the Tugan Desalination Plant, which was to supply 45GL per year or approximately 7 per cent of SEQ demand by 2012.30
The recent rainfall has significantly altered the use of both of these projects, as storages have been restored and supply security achieved for the short to medium term. The Queensland Government opted not to commence IPR use of the WCRWP, and it has since been used to supply power stations and other industrial users. In the year to March 2011, it
30 Queensland Water Commission (2008), South East Queensland Water Strategy Draft, 2008.
produced 9.2GL of recycled water a significant volume by national standards, but far short of the 85GL expected by this time. Longer term expectations (to 2015) are that the WCRWP will produce between 14 and 22GL per year.31 In December 2010, two of the six recycled water plants were demobilised, and IPR now forms part of SEQ supply security planning, effectively as a drought response. With the infrastructure in place, IPR will be triggered once the combined SEQ storage falls below 40 per cent. In the meantime, 32GL per year of recycled water is available for agricultural use in the Lockyer Valley, should a demand arise. The Tugan Desalination Plant commenced operation in 2009, and was integral as a supply option during the SEQ floods. However, given high combined storage levels, the plant runs below full capacity. When combined storages fall below 60 per cent, the plant will run at full capacity. The SEQ Water Strategy 201032 states that: Based on current technology desalination facilities will underpin future water security for SEQ. The implications of this policy outcome are significant, both from a water supply planning perspective, and for progress against the 30 per cent national target for wastewater recycling by 2015. A reduction in expected water recycling from the project in the order of 70GL per year clearly reduces Queensland and national water recycling volumes. However, from an urban water supply perspective, the reduction in water recycling is a result of significant increases in storage levels, and therefore supply security going forward. The SEQ Water Strategy 2010 notes that the next supply augmentation is not expected to occur until the mid 2020s. Further, use of the WCRWP as a formal part of water supply planning a drought response is the first use of a wastewater recycling project for urban water supplies in a major Australian urban centre.
31 32
Pers. Comm. Dan Spiller, SEQ Grid Manager, 1 June 2011. http://www.qwc.qld.gov.au/planning/pdf/seqws-full.pdf page 2 (accessed 16 June 2011).
Figure 28: SEQ wastewater recycling by use, 2009/10 (ML/year)
Source: MJA analysis of NWC NPR data, augmented with council data. Note: Export data has been allocated to agricultural use.
As noted, wastewater recycling in SEQ is dominated by the Western Corridor, which while classified in NPR data as Export goes to power generation and other industrial and municipal use (Figure 28). There is some on-site reuse, and very small volumes used in residential third pipe schemes. In addition to the WCRWP, smaller scale recycled water projects are in operation or planned for future use in a number of locations in SEQ, including Pimpama Coomera on the Gold Coast (residential, commercial and public open space), a small Ecovillage in Currumbin, and future growth planned in the Springfield development in Ipswich. Industrial recycled water use includes the BP Amoco Refinery at Bulwer Island in Brisbane (3.65GL per year), and the Caltex refinery at Lytton (1.6GL per year) from the nearby Wynnum Wastewater Treatment Plant.33 Water recycling outside of SEQ Areas of the tropical north have not been experiencing the same water shortages as Brisbane, and recycled water projects have been driven more by wastewater discharge quality than urban water shortages, especially in areas discharging to waterways proximate to the Great Barrier Reef. A number of smaller projects are being developed in several cities outside of SEQ, notably in Mackay, Townsville and future projects in Cairns.
33
http://www.qwc.qld.gov.au/planning/pdf/seqws-full.pdf p.66.
Figure 29: Regional QLD wastewater recycling by use, 2009/10 (ML/year)
Largest uses of recycled water in Regional Queensland are in agriculture and municipal, industrial and commercial uses (Figure 29). The Mackay Water Recycling Project (MWRP) is designed for a capacity of 8.5GL per year of Class A recycled water for sugar cane farming, replacing over-allocated groundwater reserves at risk of seawater intrusion. The project produced over 4GL 2009/10, but discussions with operators revealed that due to exceptionally high rainfall in 2010/11, very little recycled water was demanded by irrigators in this year.
1.1QLD progress against the Commonwealth target to 2015

Reduction in SEQ recycling In the year to March 2011, recycled water supplied from the Western Corridor totalled 9.2GL. Equivalent recycling data reported for 2009/10 in the NWC NPR was 33GL per year. Consultation with the SEQ Grid Manager revealed expected annual demand for recycled water from the project of between 14 and 22GL per year going forward to 2015 (an average of 18GL per year). As such, compared with 2009/10 figures of 33GL per year, to 2015 there will be a reduction in annual recycling of around 15GL per year from the Western Corridor project. This reduction is offset by 5GL per year growth in other municipal, industrial and commercial recycled water projects in SEQ, and a small amount of growth in recycling for residential, onsite and agricultural uses (Figure 30). The return of rainfall has restored storages and supply security across SEQ, and when combined with production from the desalination plant, significant IPR volumes over this time period are extremely unlikely.
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Progress against the national target of 30% of Australias wastewater being recycled by 2015 3
Figure 30: SEQ wastewater recycling to 2015 (ML/year)
One potential additional driver for recycled water is the Healthy Waterways agenda, which has driven upgrades to wastewater treatment plants in SEQ, and may encourage fit for purpose use of this treated wastewater. Beyond this, marginal growth in residential third pipe projects can be expected to continue with lot growth, specifically in Pimpama Coomera and Springfield. Regional Queensland to 2015 A number of projects are in development in Queensland, to provide consistency with the Environmental Protection Policy (Water Policy) being implemented by the Queensland Government, water quality improvement plans being established by regional NRM boards, and the Australian Governments Reef Rescue Package. Projects are in operation or under development in Cairns, Townsville and Bowen. As such, growth in wastewater recycling outside of SEQ will be found mostly in agricultural and municipal use (Figure 31).
Figure 31: Wastewater recycled to 2015 rest of Queensland (ML/year)
In terms of overall Queensland recycling to 2015, the reduction in Western Corridor recycled water use is offset by other increases in SEQ and the rest of Queensland, but overall recycling to 2015 will decline to 20.1 per cent in 2015 (Figure 32), down from 23.7 per cent in 2009/10. Stormwater recycling volumes are very small (discussed below) and do not add significantly to these volumes.
Figure 32: Expected Queensland recycling and implicit Commonwealth target (ML/year)
1.2Stormwater reuse in Queensland

Very few stormwater reuse projects have been identified in Queensland. Three have been funded by the Commonwealth in Brisbane, with capacity for 210ML per year. One of these, Fitzgibbon Potable Roofwater Project could ultimately produce IPR of roof water subject to approvals and testing.
2 South Australia
The SA Government predicts that current and planned projects will increase wastewater recycling to around 45 per cent over the long term. The Government predicts that by 2013 the state will produce 20GL per year of recycled stormwater, and the same volume of recycled wastewater. By 2050 the state plans to recycle 75GL per year of both stormwater and wastewater. Wastewater recycling in 2009/10 totalled 28.1 per cent of wastewater flows in SA. By 2015, an estimated 27.1 per cent of wastewater flows will be used for recycling in SA, as no growth in recycled water volumes are expected by this time.
1.1Discussion
South Australia relies less on surface water storage inflows than any other mainland capital city in Australia. South Australias two main water resources are the River Murray and the Mt Lofty Ranges catchment, which deliver approximately 40 per cent and 60 per cent, respectively, to Adelaide and surrounds. However, the supply sourced from the River Murray can increase to up to 90 per cent in drought years. Population growth as well as climate change and drought have put growing pressure on South Australias water supply in recent years. Decreasing streamflows during the recent drought emphasise the necessity of a diversification into more rainfall-independent water resources. South Australia has invested heavily in recycled wastewater and stormwater projects, as well as investing in desalination. Adelaides 100GL per year desalination plant, expected to be online in 2012, will provide around half of Adelaides drinking water supplies from that point. Together with existing recycled wastewater projects using almost 30 per cent of wastewater flows, and the largest stormwater recycling projects in Australia, Adelaide will soon have the most climate-independent water supply of any major Australian capital city. The South Australian Government released its comprehensive plan for water security to 2050, Water For Good, in June 2010. This built on and incorporated initiatives developed in Waterproofing Adelaide, released in 2005. Water For Good predicts that current projects are expected to increase wastewater recycling proportions to almost 45 per cent, with timing dependent upon growth in demand. Water For Good predicts that per year: By 2013 we will be harvesting more than 20 gigalitres of stormwater for nondrinking purposes and a further 20 gigalitres of non-drinking wastewater. By 2050 Greater Adelaide will have the capacity to turn 60 gigalitres of stormwater into fit-for-purpose non-drinking quality water, with a statewide target of 75 gigalitres. We will also be able to recycle 75 gigalitres of wastewater in
urban areas. These goals will be reached in partnership with both Commonwealth and local governments. 34 In addition to these targets, Water For Good notes that the roles and responsibilities for stormwater harvesting and management need further clarification. While SA Water, South Australias water retailer, manages most recycled wastewater projects, stormwater projects in Adelaide are often driven by local councils or collaboration between councils. Given planned growth in both stormwater and wastewater recycling, there may be some competition for aquifer storage for these projects going forward. This may also require clarification in terms of governance structures. Discussion with the Department of Water has revealed that a stormwater strategy is planned for release in the coming months, followed by a comprehensive Integrated Urban Water blueprint covering all potential water sources (due by 2013).
1.2SA water recycling 2009/10

Adelaides wastewater recycling totalled 28.7 per cent of wastewater flows in 2009/10, with the rest of South Australia totalling 13.7 per cent (Figure 33). SA Water reports higher recycled water percentages for the rest of SA (Figure 36), but not as reported in the NPR data.
Figure 33: South Australian wastewater recycling volumes and proportions, 2009/10 (ML/year)
Metropolitan wastewater recycling Adelaide is a national leader in wastewater recycling, with around 30 per cent of wastewater being recycled in recent years (Figure 34).
34 http://www.waterforgood.sa.gov.au/stormwater-wastewater/
Figure 34: Metropolitan Adelaide recycled wastewater percentage, 1996/97 2009/10
Source: SA Government, 2010, Water For Good, June, and NWC, 2011, NPR, 2009/10.
Agricultural use dominates Adelaides wastewater recycling, with notable municipal and on-site reuse and some residential use (Figure 35).
Figure 35: Adelaide Wastewater recycling 2009/10, by type (ML/year)
Source: NWC, NPR 2011.
The current wastewater recycling proportion of around 30 per cent is dominated by two large agricultural projects: Virginia horticulture consumes about 15-18GL pa from Bolivar WWTP and supplies water for commercial irrigation purposes. This water is treated by SA Water to Class A standard; and the other irrigation scheme, operated by Willunga Basin Water (WBW), takes approximately 4 GL pa of Class B treated wastewater from the Christies Beach WWTP. This water is used to irrigate vineyards in the Willunga Basin area.35
Growth in demand for recycled wastewater is perhaps the key impediment for further wastewater recycling in Adelaide. Discussion with SA Water has revealed that current demand from these schemes is at capacity, reflecting total current summer demand. Any increase in demand would require unforseen expansion, or winter irrigation requiring storages (potentially aquifer storage). Additionally, Adelaides Mawson Lakes major third pipe residential recycled water project has reached capacity. The project supplies 4,500 homes and public space irrigation (500ML per year) of recycled wastewater and 250ML per year of recycled stormwater). The Southern Urban Reuse Scheme has recently come online, and is planned to service up to 8,000 homes with third pipe residential recycled water. SA Water does not expect growth in recycled water use in Adelaide or rural SA beyond existing levels to 2015. Non-metropolitan wastewater recycling Country water recycling has grown from around 15 per cent in 2004/05 to just under 25 per cent in 2007/09, according to Water For Good (see Figure 36).
Figure 36: Non-metropolitan wastewater recycling, South Australia, 1996/07 2009/10
35
Data provided by SA Water.
Source: SA Government, 2010. Water For Good, June 2010, and SA Water Annual Report, 2009/10.
Data reported to the NPR showed a significantly lower volume recycled in 2009/10, at 14 per cent. This may reflect a lack of reporting on SA Waters Country operations.
1.1SA progress against the Commonwealth target to 2015

As noted, SA Water estimates that current wastewater recycling is at capacity for the short term, and expects no growth from current levels to 2015, for metropolitan and non-metropolitan regions. Indeed, as wastewater volumes increase over this time, there may be a slight proportional decrease to 2015. However, South Australias historically high wastewater recycling rates will see it close to the 30 per cent target on wastewater volumes alone, and well beyond it with the inclusion of stormwater recycling volumes (which we include in Figure 37 for illustrative purposes).
Figure 37: Recycled water progress to 2015, South Australia (ML/year)
Source: MJA analysis.
1.2Stormwater reuse in SA
South Australia remains a national leader in stormwater reuse, with a growing number of innovative stormwater reuse projects across Adelaide. The vast majority of projects involve ASR, benefitting from Adelaides extensive aquifer system. Most provide water for council public open space irrigation or industrial use, with one project involving SA Water supplying to third pipe residential use.
Stormwater reuse capacity of around 10GL per year is expected by 2015 across South Australia, based on reported projects. Participation in stormwater reuse projects involves a number of State Government Departments, SA Water and, significantly, a number of local councils. Clarity on stormwater governance arrangements is a priority of the forthcoming state stormwater strategy. There are eight major stormwater projects with state government involvement: Adelaide Botanic Gardens: this is an ASR scheme developed in partnership with the Department for Environment and Heritage. A wetland, aquifer storage and recovery scheme with a community education component. It is anticipated that the scheme will completely offset the gardens potable water use. The project cost is $5.8 million and is expected to yield in the order of 100 ML per year. Water Proofing the West: in partnership with the City of Charles Sturt and others, the project includes wetland and ASR schemes at Cheltenham, Riverside Golf Club and a rejuvenation of Old Port Road. The project includes some flood mitigation works on Old Port Road. The project cost is $58.6 million and the expected yield is in the order of 2,500ML per annum. Adelaide Airport Stormwater Scheme: in partnership with SA Water, the project harvests from Brownhill/Keswick Creek to a treatment system using comparative methods of biofiltration and media filtration, before injecting into an aquifer storage and recovery scheme. The initial yield is expected to be around 400ML per year but the scheme has a potential to be upgraded to supply 1,000ML per annum. The project cost is $9.8 million. Unity Park Biofiltration Project: in partnership with the City of Salisbury, this is an expansion of a stormwater harvesting and re-use scheme at Unity Park, Pooraka, and includes a large-scale trial of a small footprint treatment technology (bio-filtration) and aquifer storage and recovery. The expected yield is 1,300ML per annum and the project cost is $14 million. Water for the Future - City of Playford: in partnership with theCity of Playford, the project includes wetlands, aquifer storage and recovery and mechanical filtration. The expected new yield from this project is 640ML per year but the project substantially expands the Councils ability to distribute already collected fit for purpose water. The cost of the project is $19.2 million. Water Proofing the South Stage 2: in partnership with the City of Onkaparinga, this project includes wetlands and ASR across five sites in the Council area and distribution to demand nodes via an integrated pipe network. The expected yield is 2,200ML per year. The project cost is $30 million. Barker Inlet Stormwater Reuse Scheme: in partnership with SA Water, the project involves injecting water harvested through the existing Barker Inlet Wetlands into an aquifer, then extracting and pumping the water via a pipeline distribution network to identified precincts of demand in the area. The expected yield is 350ML per year. The project cost is $8.1 million. Oaklands Park Stormwater Harvesting Scheme: in partnership with the City of Marion, the project will provide a wetland and ASR scheme at Oaklands Park which will provide
irrigation water to council reserves and open space throughout the City of Marion. The expected yield is over 170ML per year initially, at a total cost of around $8.4 million. In addition to the above participation in Barker Inlet and Adelaide Airport, SA Water is involved in a project at Lochiel Park. This project takes stormwater from a Council stormwater drain, treats it in a wetland, stores the water in a fractured rock aquifer and delivers it to customers for toilet flushing, garden watering and, in future after significant monitoring, potentially clothes washing. This is one of the few third pipe residential stormwater recycling projects in Australia. Further to these, there are 18 stormwater recycling projects funded through the Commonwealth Governments Cities and Towns funding, providing an estimated 1.5GL per year, and six stand alone projects producing an estimated 823ML per year.
1 Western Australia
The Western Australian Government has a target of 30 per cent recycled water by 2030. Wastewater recycling in 2009/10 totalled 12 per cent of wastewater flows in WA. By 2015, an estimated 11.9 per cent of wastewater flows will be used for recycling in WA, or 30 per cent should the Groundwater Replenishment project go ahead.
1.1Discussion
Western Australian water supply is unique among Australian jurisdictions in that a large portion of urban supplies come from groundwater resources. Over 70 per cent of the states population reside in Perth, which consumes around 250GL per year. Perths water supply is currently dominated by groundwater supplies (around 60 per cent), with surface water supplies of around 23 per cent. The Kwinana Desalination Plant commenced operation in November 2007 and is now supplying around 17 per cent of Perths supplies.36 Perths second desalination plant is scheduled to commence production of 20GL per year by the end of 2011. From this point, desalination will supply over 45 per cent of Perths drinking water supplies. Diversification into rainfall independent water resources is considered essential as water supply from dams is decreasing. Inflows into dams have reduced to less than a third of the long-term average over the past years due to drought and climate change. Unlike eastern Australia, Perth has not benefitted from a return to average rainfall in recent years, and rainfall in 2010 and 2011 remain well below the longterm average. Figure 38 plots expected drinking water demand for Perth against current supplies, projected out to 2060. Current planning incorporates a 20 per cent decline in rainfall to 2030 against the 1990 baseline, reducing average yields from rainfall dependent sources (dams and groundwater) of around 100GL per year while the population continues to grow.
36
http://www.watercorporation.com.au/D/desalination.cfm
Figure 38 Perth drinking water supply demand gap to 2060 (GL/year)
Source: Water Corporation, 2009, Water Forever, Towards Climate Resilience, October.
1.2WA water recycling 2009/10

Water recycling as part of diversification away from rainfalldependent sources has increased in recent years to 12 per cent of total wastewater across the state (2009/10), and 6 per cent in Perth. There were 72 water recycling schemes in place in 2009/10.
Figure 39: Western Australian wastewater recycling volumes and proportions, 2009/10 (ML/year)
Source: MJA analysis of NWC NPR data, data supplied by Water Corporation.
The State Water Plan was released in 2007 and set a target for wastewater recycling of 20 per cent by 2012. 37 This appears unlikely to be met, with population growth leading to increasing wastewater volume annually. The State Water Recycling Strategy was released in 2008, providing a State Government strategy for meeting a target of 30 per cent of recycled water by 2030.
1.3WA progress against the Commonwealth target to 2015

With a state recycling rate of 12 per cent compared with Perth recycling rate of 6 per cent, rural councils recycle more water than major and capital cities (around 50 per cent). Future recycling schemes to meet the 2030 target of 30 per cent will comprise: groundwater replenishment (potentially indirect potable wastewater recycling using aquifer storage and recovery); industrial reuse (e.g. Kwinana Water Recycling Plant); and irrigation (e.g., golf courses, parks and ovals) and horticulture (e.g., tree plantations and crops).
Groundwater replenishment (GWR), an aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) project will be the dominant recycling scheme should it reach full operation and will be crucial to reaching the 30 per cent target.
37 Department of the Premier and Cabinet, State Water Plan 2007.
Groundwater replenishment: IPR in the Gnangara Mound The Water Corporation in cooperation with the Department of Water is currently undertaking a three year trial ASR project in the Gnangara Mound, a series of interconnected groundwater aquifers beneath Perth which currently supplies the bulk of Perths public water, as well as a significant horticultural industry extending to the north of Perth. The trial is part of a longterm strategy by the Water Corporation to develop a costeffective and community supported ASR project, with potential to become Australias first indirect potable wastewater recycling project. In contrast to SEQs use of IPR as an emergency drought response measure, the groundwater replenishment project would, if proven to be cost effective and with demonstrated community support, form an ongoing part of future potable supplies for Perths Integrated Water Supply Scheme (IWSS). Under the program, wastewater from the Beenyup Wastewater Treatment plant is treated to drinking water standards (ultra filtration, reverse osmosis and ultra-violet disinfection) and then injected into the Leederville aquifer (depth of 200-300m) at a location remote from existing drinking water bores where it is further cleansed by natural groundwater processes. Detailed monitoring of the water produced by the plant and in the groundwater is undertaken in partnership with regulators, independent parties and researchers. The aim of the project is to provide the basis for building community confidence, gaining regulatory approval and demonstrating technical feasibility to deliver groundwater replenishment using recycled water Following approval from the Department of Health in November 2010, recharge totalling 1.5GL per year commenced immediately. Recycled water volumes produced in the trial will total at least 1.5GL per year for environmental purposes, by 2015. However, the true potential of the project is, in the advent of community support and demonstrated cost effectiveness, production could increase to between 25 and 35GL per year by 2015 (10 per cent of annual demand). Longterm groundwater replenishment could contribute between 70 and 100GL per year, or 25 per cent of annual supply. Other recycled water projects The Kwinana Water Recycling Plant (KWRP) produces 6GL per year of recycled water through micro filtration reverse osmosis, making it one of the largest in Australia. The recycled water is of high and consistent quality and used by the major industries in this area. Reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation of parks, gardens, golf courses and ovals is widespread in WA, such as the Broome Golf Course and Oval, parks and trotting track in Northam, and the Wyalkatchem Bowls Club. Horticulture, such as tree plantations, vineyards and food crops, provides a high potential for increased usage of recycled water in the future. However, smaller treatment plants in close proximity to horticultural areas would be needed to make this viable. Household use of recycled wastewater beyond potential IPR is unlikely to play a major role or increase substantially in the near and medium future due to capital and operating costs. The focus for residential water reuse is on storm and rainwater, with many Perth residents installing
groundwater bores in the superficial aquifer for outdoor garden use. This is essentially a form of stormwater reuse, but is not generally measured as such.
Figure 40: recycled water progress to 2015, Western Australia (ML/year)
Source: MJA analysis.
Figure 40 summarises the Western Australian water recycling scenarios to 2015. Clearly, the potential of IPR through the Groundwater Replenishment project will dominate recycled water use in WA should it go ahead, bringing state recycling to 30 per cent. In the absence of this project, state recycling will total around 12 per cent of wastewater flows to 2015.
1.1Stormwater reuse in WA
No stormwater reuse projects were identified in Perth. MJA is aware of a number of possible projects, however these do not yet have any formal commitment. Perths current use of groundwater, which is sourced from stormwater intrusion, has tended to limit active stormwater reuse projects.
2 Tasmania
The Tasmanian Government does not have specific commitments for recycled wastewater, which does not feature heavily in water supply planning in Tasmania. Wastewater recycling in 2009/10 totalled 6.2 per cent of wastewater flows in Tasmania. By 2015, an estimated 6.6 per cent of wastewater flows will be used for recycling in Tasmania.
1.1Discussion
Wastewater recycling and stormwater recycling schemes in Tasmania are small in number and volume, reflecting a relative lack of consumptive demand in Tasmania when compared with mainland capital cities. While some drought has been experienced in Tasmania, the urban water shortages affecting mainland capitals have not been evident to the same extent in Tasmania. Wastewater recycling schemes in Tasmania typically involve the irrigation of golf courses, agricultural land (pasture, seed crop) or municipal recreational areas, requiring Class B quality standard as specified in the Tasmanian Environmental guidelines for the use of recycled water in Tasmania.38 Tasmania is in the process of reforming the institutional arrangements for the removal of wastewater from urban areas.39 As a result, progress on recycling and its reporting is in transition. From 1 July 2009, three regional water corporations were incorporated and took on the role previously played by the councils in providing water and wastewater services: Southern Water, Cradle Coast Water and Ben Lomond Water. These service providers are owned by the constituent councils and inherited their operations and assets. In addition, a common service provider, owned by the three regional providers, was established. Regulation became formalised with industrywide approach. The Office of the Tasmanian Economic Regulator (OTTER) is responsible for economic regulation including explicitly setting prices, approving plans and compliance monitoring. The Director of Public Health is responsible for public health issues from supply of water and wastewater services. These relate predominantly to water supply. The Environment Protection Authority is particularly concerned with regulation of Level 2 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Finally, the Department of Primary Industries, Parks,
38 39 Office of the Tasmanian Economic Regulator (2011) Tasmanian Water and Sewerage State of the Industry Report 2009-10, March, p. 52. This section derives from the recent report Office of the Tasmanian Economic Regulator (2011) Tasmanian Water and Sewerage State of the Industry Report 2009-10, March.
Water and the Environment (Urban Water Policy Unit) administers the new licensing regime and provides strategic input for planning in the industry.
1.2Tasmanian water recycling 2009/10

There are 84 Level 240 waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) in Tasmania with the overwhelming majority (78) operated by the three regional service corporations. Recycling activity is dominated by that provided by Southern Water and its volumes are dominated by the Brighton & Bridgwater scheme and the Clarence Recycled Water scheme. This latter scheme is being expanded by Southern Water with linkages to Rokeby and Cambridge WWTPs. None of these new entities provided audited data to the NWC for its National Performance Report 2010/11. However, the new entities report to OTTER. These data are being developed to meet the NPR standards but as noted above, comprehensive data across all WWTPs are not yet available.
Figure 41: Tasmanian wastewater recycling volume and proportion, 2009/10 (ML/year)
Source: MJA analysis of OTTER, 2011.
As noted, recycled water data for Tasmania is limited. Data represented herein is derived from the OTTER review with Hobart data reflecting returns for Southern Water and those for Cradle Coast and Ben Lomond for the rest of Tasmania. In 2009/10, recycling accounted for only 6.2 per cent of waste water production in Tasmania, with higher rates in Hobart than for the rest of Tasmania.41
40 41
A Level 2 plant has a design capacity of 100kL dry weather flow per day. OTTER (2011), p. 40.
1.3Tasmanian progress against the Commonwealth target to 2015

While the feasibility of a number of projects is being explored, OTTER reports that beyond existing projects, only one project is actively being developed by Southern Water. The South East Tasmania recycled water scheme removes nutrients from the Derwent and supplies water to irrigators. Total volumes supplied are of the order of 2.7GL per annum. The project is expected to be completed in June 2011. The scheme will connect with the existing recycled water scheme supplying Coal River district.
Figure 42: Expected Tasmanian wastewater recycling and implicit national target, 2015 (ML/year)
Source: MJA analysis of OTTER, 2011. Note: Percentages reflect recycled wastewater only.
Beyond this, no growth in recycled water is identified in Tasmania. As such, expected Tasmanian wastewater recycling is expected to fall below 30 per cent by 2015 (Figure 42).
1.4Stormwater reuse in Tasmania

Two Commonwealth funded stormwater reuse projects were identified in Tasmania. The Moonah Stormwater Harvesting and Industrial Reuse Scheme will supply up to a capacity of 470ML per year in Hobart for Glenorchy Council. The Kingborough Sports Precinct Stormwater Harvesting and Reuse Project is being revised at the time of writing, and as such volumes have not been included in the analysis.
2 Northern Territory
The NT Government does not have specific commitments for increased recycled water use, but manages recycled water applications in line with National Guidelines. Wastewater recycling in 2009/10 totalled 6 per cent of wastewater flows in the NT. By 2015, an estimated 5.9 per cent of wastewater flows will be used for recycling in the NT, as no specific growth is identified.
1.1Discussion
The Power and Water Corporation is responsible for the provision of reticulated water and waste water services for five major and 15 minor centres in the Northern Territory.42 In terms of numbers served and volumes of water, these are dominated by supplies to Darwin and Alice Springs. It is of note that average water domestic consumption in the Northern Territory is around double the Australian average. More than half of this consumption is on Territorian gardens. Interestingly, revenue from charges covers around 20 per cent of the costs of providing electricity, water and sewerage services. The remainder is funded through the NT government. The Department of Health and Families administers applications for the capture and use of recycled water. The National Guidelines43 have been adapted by the Department to its approvals process. The NT guidelines44 provide a framework for managing risks associated with provision and use of recycled water.
1.2NT water recycling 2009/10

Details on waste water and recycling services provided by PAWC are available from its Annual Report and the NWC NPR. Figure 43 summarises the volume and proportion of wastewater recycled in Darwin and the rest of the Northern Territory for 2009/10. A total of 2.5 per cent of wastewater flows in Darwin were recycled in 2009/10, and over 27 per cent in the rest of the Northern Territory.
42 43
Power and Water Corporation (2010) Annual Report 2009/10, p. 8. Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council, Environment Protection and Heritage Council, Australian Health Ministers Conference (2006) Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Managing Health and Environmental Risks (Phase 1), November. Department of Health and Families (2009) Environmental Health: Guidelines for Management of Recycled Water Systems, September.
44
Figure 43: Northern Territory wastewater recycling volume and proportion 2009/10 (ML/year)
Source: MJA analysis of Power and Water Corporation, 2010, Annual Report 2009/10.
A major addition to capacity has been the Water Reuse in the Alice project. This treats 600ML of waste water for use at to the Arid Zone Research Institute for horticultural projects. The reuse project has the capacity to treat 1,800ML pa.
1.3NT progress against the Commonwealth target to 2015

PAWC has set its capital works program through to 2013/14. The Corporation did not note any major recycling works in its 2011/12 Statement of Corporate Intent. However, it will consider recycling options in reducing the impact of Darwins discharge of effluent over the next 15-20 years. As such, there remains a significant gap between expected NT wastewater recycling and the national 30 per cent target (Figure 44). On a proportional basis, this gap is mostly in Darwin.
Figure 44: Expected Northern Territory wastewater recycling and implicit national target, 2015 (ML/year)
Source: MJA analysis of Power and Water Corporation, 2010, Annual Report 2009/10.
1.4Stormwater reuse in the Northern Territory

No stormwater reuse projects were identified in the Northern Territory.
2 Australian Capital Territory

The ACT Government is currently reviewing a target of increasing wastewater recycling from 5 per cent to 20 per cent (of 2004 wastewater volumes) by 2013. Wastewater recycling in 2009/10 totalled 13.3 per cent of wastewater flows in the ACT. By 2015, an estimated 12.7 per cent of wastewater flows will be used for recycling in the ACT, as no growth is planned and a number of smaller current recycling projects may be discontinued.
1.1Discussion
The ACT water supply relies almost entirely on surface water. Four major reservoirs deliver water to Canberra and its 360,000 inhabitants. In normal conditions about 90 per cent is sourced from the three Cotter River reservoirs, with Googong Reservoir supplying the remainder. ACT water and wastewater is managed by a single utility; ACTEW. Policy for water resource strategy is undertaken by the ACT Government, through the Department of Environment, Climate Change, Energy and Water (DECCEW). Presently, almost all wastewater treated by ACTEW returns to the Murrumbidgee river following treatment, with water sourced from reservoirs considered a temporary diversion from the Murrumbidgee (ACT reservoirs sit on the Cotter and Queanbean Rivers both flow into the Murrumbidgee). Thus, active use of recycled water can act to reduce return flows to the Murrumbidgee, if it does not offset demand that would otherwise draw on reservoirs. The position of stormwater in this return flows scenario is unclear reductions in stormwater flows to rivers could result in the same net impact as wastewater recycling. Water storages had been at or below 50 per cent for several years until 2010, not unlike many other cities across Australia. This drove increasing interest in the development of climate independent water supply options such as increased recycling for IPR or potable substitution. However, the increased rainfall returning to the eastern seaboard also dramatically replenished ACTs storages from 2010 and they now sit near full (see Figure 45). ACTEW has also invested $500m in supply side improvements, notably an augmentation of Cotter Dam and the Murrumbidgee to Googong Transfer. They expect these augmentations to defer next stage supply investments by 25-30 years, depending on population growth and climate change impacts. This has resulted in the deferral of any significant water supply augmentation in the short term, and a renewed focus on cost-effectiveness of next stage water supply augmentation decisions.
Figure 45: Total ACT storage levels since 2006
Source: http://www.actew.com.au/water/damlevels.aspx
The ACT Governments water resources strategy, Think water, act water, was released in 2004, and is currently under review. In this report, the Government targets a 12 per cent and 25 per cent reduction in water consumption by 2013 and 2023, respectively. Demand management might be sufficient to reach the 12 per cent target. However, additional means are necessary to decrease water consumption by 25 per cent. This is planned to be achieved through several measures, amongst others: sustainable water recycling; stormwater harvesting; rainwater tanks; and greywater reuse.
The ACT Government has a target of increasing wastewater recycling from 5 per cent to 20 per cent (of 2004 wastewater volumes) by 2013. This target is currently being reviewed.
1.1ACT water recycling 2009/10

At present, ActewAGL operates three wastewater projects, which provide recycled water for irrigation purposes: the Southwell Park Watermining Project (10 hectares of sporting fields) 6ML per year; the North Canberra Water Reuse Scheme (NCWRS) supplies seven sites totalling 70 hectares across North Canberra 17ML per year); and
the Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre (LMWQCC) effluent reuse scheme supplies treated water to nearby vineyards (100 hectares) and a golf course (30 hectares) 4.175GL per year.
Additionally, ACTEW manages a golf course reuse project (101ML per year) and dust suppression/tree irrigation tankers (2ML per year). The ACT is in a different water supply and water recycling situation to other urban centres. By requirement, it must return flows to the Murrumbidgee. These are not included in the base ACT analysis. However, provision of these flows implies significant recycling of itself. By way of comparison, these flows are included under ACT (returns).
Figure 46: ACT wastewater recycling 2009/10 with/without return flows (ML/year)
Source: MJA analysis of NWC (2011), National Performance Report.
1.1ACT progress towards the Commonwealth target to 2015

Discussion with ACTEW revealed that both Southwell Park and the NCWRS projects are currently being reviewed due to high cost of supply and the requirement for capital renewal. This could mean that wastewater recycling in the ACT could decrease slightly in future. The design of an ambitious IPR wastewater recycling project announced in 2007 has been finalised. This ACTEW proposal could increase the ACTs water supply by 2.9GL per year (and ultimately 9.1GL per year) by adding purified recycled water from the LMWQCC to the enlarged Cotter Dam.45 If implemented, it would bring ACT wastewater recycling to over 30 per cent.
45
http://www.actew.com.au/publications/WaterPurificationSchemeForTheACT.pdf
However, implementation of the project has been deferred subject to the successful implementation of three other water security projects.46 ACTEW plans to continue to monitor water storage levels, rainfall and inflows to determine whether water purification is required to help secure the future water supply. A key issue impeding progress of the project is the disposal of the brine waste product from the desalination wastewater treatment process, in line with environmental standards and community expectations. Significant volumes of salt are produced in treatment, and cannot be easily disposed of in inland areas where ocean outfall is not a costeffective option. The Future Sewerage Options Review Summary (2010-2060) noted that while active use of 100 per cent of wastewater was cost prohibitive in Canberra, increased recycled use for public open space should be further investigated.47 As noted above, without active plans for increased wastewater recycling, and the review of two smaller current wastewater recycling projects, there may be a small reduction in wastewater recycling to 2015 in the ACT. If return flows are included as wastewater recycling, recycled water volumes will increase with wastewater volumes (Figure 47)
Figure 47: Expected ACT wastewater recycling and implicit national target, 2015 (ML/year)
Source: MJA analysis of NWC (2011) National Performance Report. Percentages reflect recycled wastewater only.
1.2ACT Stormwater reuse

Canberra Integrated Urban Waterways is a Water Smart Project funded through the Commonwealth (up to $10.2m) and the ACT Government ($6.8m) to capture, treat and reuse stormwater runoff within the ACT urban catchment.
46 47 The major projects currently underway include the Enlarged Cotter Dam, the Murrumbidgee to Googong Water Transfer and the Tantangara Transfer. http://www.actew.com.au/publications/Future-Sewerage-Options-Review-Summary.pdf
Original targets set by the project were for up to 3GL per year harvested and reused for public open space irrigation and private irrigation use by 2015. 3GL per year broadly translates to the entire public open space irrigation needs of the ACT, and seven per cent of total annual potable supplies. Discussion with the ACT Government revealed that an estimated 1.53GL per year is expected to be online from the project in 2012, after which a detailed cost benefit assessment will be undertaken to determine the feasibility of project expansion. As such, a reasonable expectation is for this volume (1.53GL) to be produced by 2015.48
48
Pers. Comm. Jennie Gilles, ACT Government, 23 June 2011.
2 Opportunities to enhance recycled water use in Australia

The feasibility and cost effectiveness of any recycled water project can only be assessed in detail with a thorough analysis of its costs and benefits, based on the specific circumstances of each project. Broad statements on the potential for expansion of different types of recycled water are not appropriate, as the details of particular projects will tend to dictate their ultimate cost effectiveness. However, highlevel analysis can provide some useful insights on recycled water project potential. Identifying opportunities for enhancing or increasing recycled wastewater use in Australia requires the discovery of circumstances exhibiting the following features: sufficient or abundant supply of wastewater from which to generate recycled water supply; demand for recycled water from one or more users sufficient to justify development of a recycled water project, or the extension of one already in operation; and identification of circumstances such that the wastewater can be treated to an extent that is fit for purpose, stored as required before and/or delivered to customers at a financial cost which can be justified to the user in a commercial arrangement.
In no jurisdiction or major centre therein is there insufficient volume of wastewater from which to generate a recycled water supply. As such, the first condition is unlikely to be an inhibiting factor.
1.1Excess recycled water capacity

There is evidence in a number of jurisdictions of a significant surplus in supply over demand, or insufficient latent demand to justify further growth, especially where largescale projects have been developed. Take the following examples: SEQs Western Corridor Recycled Water Project has the capacity to produce 85GL per year of potable quality recycled water from a number of sites across Brisbane and Ipswich, with a delivery network already in place. While the project is currently being used as a drought management tool with potential IPR, estimated volumes recycled to 2015 are in the order of 14-22GL per year. Thus, there is a latent supply of around 70GL per year which could be used for industrial, commercial and municipal use, of which up to 32GL per year has been offered to agricultural users in the Lockyer Valley should a demand arise that can be provided at the marginal cost of delivery49; Melbournes Eastern Treatment Plant upgrade will result in 100GL per year of Class A treated wastewater available for use from July 2012. At this stage, no significant users have been identified, with current exploration of potential agricultural demand in the Bunyip
http://www.qwc.qld.gov.au/planning/pdf/seqws-full.pdf p.3.
49
Food Belt on Melbournes south eastern fringe. As with other agricultural schemes, capacity to pay is a key issue and longterm demand of more than 15GL per year would appear unlikely; and a number of smaller centres such as Coffs Harbour (NSW) and Mackay (QLD) have made significant investments in recycled water capacity, with supply now higher than current demand.50 If key projects were used at capacity at 2015, national progress would be far more advanced. Figure 48 provides an illustration of national recycled water capacity at 2015, were the Eastern Treatment Plant (100GL per year), Western Corridor (85GL per year) and Perths Groundwater Replenishment IPR project (35GL per year) to operate at full capacity.
As shown in Figure 48, with all these projects operating at capacity, and stormwater volumes (20 GL per year) included, total recycled water use would exceed 30 per cent, and falls just below the target without Perths IPR.
Figure 48: National recycled water with project capacity, 2015 (ML/year)
Source: MJA analysis. Notes: Blue bar is expected recycled water use to 2015, white bar is excess capacity of key projects: Eastern Treatment Plant, Western Corridor Recycled Water Project, Perths Groundwater Replenishment project. Diamond demonstrates the national 30 per cent target. Orange bar is national stormwater capacity at 2015, for illustrative purposes.
50
These regional projects are driven by a range of factors, including the environmental health of receiving waters. However, where supply significantly exceeds demand, it would suggest that further augmentations would be ineffective in recycled water use in the short term.
While the projects shown in Figure 48 are unlikely to operate at even a fraction of full capacity by 2015, the chart illustrates the significant investment that has been made in recycling infrastructure. Further commitments should be cognisant of the significant excess of supply over demand at the current time. As such, potential opportunities for increasing recycled water use across Australia lie in two key areas: 1. identifying existing or potential demand for significant volumes of recycled water in major centres; and 2. for smaller centres, identifying likely locations where supply of and demand for recycled water exists, such that conditions lend themselves to favourable economics (e.g., demand proximate to supply source, cost of supply is relatively cost-effective compared with alternatives). These two elements are discussed further below.
1.1Demand for recycled water Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR)

The greatest potential for the optimal use of recycled water in Australia is for the full range of recycled water uses to be assessed on their merits, against the full range of alternative options (dams, desalination, demand management, etc). Currently in Australia, non-consumptive uses are assessed on their merits by decision makers within water supply planning and project feasibility assessment. This cannot be said for indirect potable consumption options. Formal bans on the indirect consumption of recycled wastewater remain in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.51 Formal bans are not in place in other jurisdictions, and while IPR projects form active parts of water supply planning in Queensland (Western Corridor) and Perth (Groundwater Replenishment), no jurisdiction is yet to introduce recycled wastewater into public drinking supplies. Objection is essentially on public health grounds, based on the potential risks to human health from consumption. However, it is argued that these risks can be effectively managed, and IPR projects are in operation in a number of countries around the world: In a comprehensive review, Khan and Roser (2007) concluded that indirect potable water reuse is a safe supply source, noting that the level of stringency applied to planned indirect potable water recycling schemes is well beyond that which is common international practice and already occurs in water supplies in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.52 Further, it is arguable that the active exclusion of IPR projects from water supply planning increases the cost of water supply to urban centres, by removing potentially more cost effective options than would otherwise be implemented.
51 52 National Water Commission, 2010, Position Statement: Urban Water Recycling, November. National Water Commission, 2011, Urban Water in Australia: Future Directions. p. 22. Study referenced is Khan S and Roser D 2007, Risk assessment and health effects studies of indirect potable reuse schemes, prepared for the Local Government Association of Queensland, Centre for Water and Wastewater Technology, University of New South Wales.
International and Australian research is emerging to suggest that direct potable reuse may be the least-cost supply option in future.53 Certainly, there are a number of potential benefits of IPR that support its cost effectiveness as a general principle: wastewater is less saline than sea water, and the costs of treatment for wastewater tend to be lower than for desalinated wastewater as a general principle; by adding to existing potable storages, IPR projects can avoid the cost of additional surface water storage; by delivering through existing potable delivery systems, IPR projects avoid costly duplication of water systems, unlike third pipe non-potable projects; by augmenting potable supplies, IPR project costs are compared against the costs of alternative potable supply options, unlike recycled water projects that do not either augment or substitute for potable supplies (such as projects for agricultural reuse); and by adding to potable storages, they can produce significant volumes, benefitting from economies of scale (Western Corridor is capable of supplying 85GL per year, and Perths Groundwater Replenishment project will produce up to 70GL per year over the long term, should it be approved).
While the cost effectiveness of specific IPR projects must be determined on a case by case basis, it is clear that there is significant potential for increased recycled water use in Australia to emerge from the consideration of all water supply options on their own relative merits.
1.1Identification of recycled water projects

MJA has not identified significant unmet demand for recycled water in any particular circumstances throughout this review, especially in urban centres where greater data consistency exists, along with greater resources for water supply planning. Indeed, recent returns to higher rainfall in eastern Australia have reduced the pressure on water supply planners in major centres in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, as has the delivery of desalination plants in major capitals by 2012. However, a number of significant, cost effective recycled wastewater and stormwater projects have been developed for industrial users and in regional centres. It is likely that further opportunities exist, particularly within towns and cities that have high cost water supply alternatives or difficulties in disposing of wastewater. At a high level, an analysis which could assist this process would be a Hotspot Analysis, which develops a framework of elements which lend themselves to cost-effective recycled water projects, and then applies that framework Australia-wide. This would reveal a list of locations that might benefit from further analysis to establish the cost-effectiveness of recycled water projects in their water supply systems.
53
National Water Commission, p.29. United States Environmental Protection Authority, Agency Guidelines for Water Reuse, Washington DC, 2010.
This type of analysis would require awareness of the more limited resources and capacities of water supply planners in non-metropolitan centres.

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P r o g r Report prepared for the Department of e Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population s and Communities (DSEWPaC) s a g a i n s MARSDEN ASSOCIATES t JACOB t h e n a ti o n a l t a r g e t o f 3 0

MARSDEN ASSOCIATES JACOB

Commonwealth of Australia 2012

Executive Summary.............................................................................1 1 Introduction................................................................................10

Water Recycling in Australia........................................................13

New South Wales.........................................................................23

8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4

10 Australian Capital Territory..........................................................65

11 Opportunities to enhance recycled water use in Australia.............70

Identification of recycled water projects

MARSDEN ASSOCIATES JACOB

Source: MJA analysis based on various sources.

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Figure 2: Australian wastewater recycling 2009/10, by jurisdiction (ML/year)

Source: MJA analysis based on various sources.

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Figure 3: Expected Australian wastewater recycling by jurisdiction, 2015 (ML/year)

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Source: MJA analysis based on various sources.

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Source: MJA analysis based on various sources.

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Figure 6: Projected supplies of recycled water compared to capacity, 2015 (ML/year)

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Source: MJA analysis based on various sources.

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1 Water Recycling in Australia

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Sources: see below.12

Perth South Australia

Sources: see below.13

MARSDEN ASSOCIATES JACOB

Source: MJA analysis based on various sources.

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Source: MJA analysis based on various sources.

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Source: MJA analysis based on various sources.

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NSW VIC QLD WA SA TAS NT ACT AUS

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1.1National recycled water themes

1.1.1A shift towards potable substitution

Source: MJA analysis based on various sources.

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1.1.2Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR) developments

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Source: MJA analysis based on various sources.

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1 New South Wales

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1.1NSW water recycling 2009/10

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Source: MJA analysis of NWC NPR data.

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Figure 16: NSW non-metropolitan wastewater recycling by use, 2009/10 (ML/year)

Source: MJA analysis of NWC NPR data.

1.1NSW progress against the Commonwealth target to 2015