Sustainability Report 2006/07Overview
Recycled water is an important alternative water supply that, when treated as required, is suitable for a range of purposes, including irrigating grazing land and crops, in horticulture, industrial processing, residential dual pipe schemes, and to keep open spaces green.
Water recycling is a key part of maintaining a sustainable water supply for Melbourne and recycled water is an important and valuable resource.
Water recycling contributes to the conservation of drinking water, improves the reliability of our water supplies, frees up water for the environment and economic growth, and reduces the amount of treated effluent discharged into our bays and oceans.
During 2006/07, we supplied 61,062 million litres of recycled water from our treatment plants, which is 20.9% of the 22.5% of recycled water supplied in metropolitan Melbourne this year. The metropolitan retail water businesses contributed the remaining 1.6% of this total. This exceeds the Victorian Government’s target of recycling 20% of water by 2010 for metropolitan Melbourne. The result is higher than planned due to lower inflows to the treatment plants, higher usage rates and reduced availability of alternative water resources because of drought and low water storage conditions.
In addition, Melbourne Water recycled a further 13,856 million litres, or a further 5.2% of recycled water supplied in metropolitan Melbourne, for conservation of the Ramsar-listed wetlands at the Western Treatment Plant.
The Government has announced new recycling targets requiring 6200 million litres of recycled water substituting for drinking quality water by 2015, increasing to 10,000 million litres by 2030.
The fourth round of Smart Water Fund grants was announced in March 2007, covering research, industry, councils and community education. Of the 36 Smart Water Fund projects approved for funding, 24 promote research, education or practical applications of water recycling.
Total funding of $6 million was made available with Melbourne Water, City West Water, South East Water, Yarra Valley Water, the Department of Sustainability and Environment and the Victorian Water Trust each contributing $1 million.