21 November 2007
Two standpipes managed by City West Water at Werribee’s Western Treatment Plant have supplied almost 114 million litres of class A recycled water in their first year of operation, with estimates that supply will increase to 150 million litres next year.
Since November 2006, City West Water has been supplying Class A recycled water from the standpipes to relieve the pressure of drought on commercial businesses, sporting clubs and the community.
Anne Barker City West Water’s Managing Director, said supply over the summer months is expected to be at full capacity.
“With the prospect of another dry summer and continued water restrictions, we expect the standpipes to be extremely busy from December through to April,” Ms Barker said.
“Recycled water has become a vital solution for many businesses and councils in Melbourne’s CBD and western suburbs to keep their lawns, gardens, parks, sports and recreation grounds green.
“Recycled water is now a smart alternative to using drinking water for irrigation and watering gardens. Without it, many sports clubs and businesses would find it difficult to operate.”
Graeme Clark, owner of Statewide Water Cartage who supplies recycled water to businesses as diverse as housing estates and schools to the Victorian Police Driving School in Atwood, has predicted that as awareness of recycled water increases, so will the demand.
“We have four or five trucks a day filling up with recycled water at the standpipe, and we expect demand to increase ten fold this year,” Mr Clark said.
“More and more businesses are becoming aware that recycled water is safe and clean – the quality is very good. But a lot of people don’t know what recycled water is so we regularly talk with businesses to change their attitude.
“Without recycled water, a lot of our clients would be in a lot of trouble. They’d need to source mineral spring water or bore water – which is too expensive.”
There are around 40 water carters approved by City West Water to access recycled water from the standpipes supplying to almost 120 customers.
John Hurle, Senior Horticulturist at the Parliament of Victoria uses recycled water to water 2.5 hectares of garden, as well as on the local tennis court and bowling green.
“We’d be in all sorts of strife without recycled water. The water is very economical, but the delivery costs can be the big slug. However in the context of a historical garden – it’s still economical compared to the cost if we lost the garden,” Mr Hurle said.
The standpipes can supply a total of 25 million litres per month. The Class A recycled water is high quality water recovered from wastewater and treated to strict quality standards.
Recycled water can be safely used for a variety of purposes, including: watering gardens, flushing toilets, irrigating public parks, washing cars, dust suppression and fighting fires.