How safe is recycled water?

Toowoomba’s water – A critical situation Toowoomba’s dams are now below 23%. Without significant rainfall the city will be relying on existing and new bores, plus temporary emergency supplies from late 2008.

Toowoomba currently obtains its water from bores, dams and rainwater tanks. With our increasing population and unreliable rainfall, these sources will not sustain our city. We need to look at other ways of preserving this precious resource.

What is water recycling?

Water recycling in Toowoomba will involve speeding up the natural water cycle by treating our wastewater to the highest possible standard and then returning it to Cooby Dam.

Is recycled water safe?

Yes. The proposed recycling program in Toowoomba will produce water that is as safe as our current drinking water. Why? Because of our Advanced Water Treatment Plant purification processes.

“ As a mother of four, pregnant with my fifth child, I can understand the concerns people have about drinking recycled water. But I have total faith in the research and test results, and I would have no hesitation giving my family recycled water to drink.”
Kirstie Smolenski – mother of four, Toowoomba resident.

It has been used overseas for years There is no “new” water on earth. Nature has been recycling the same limited amount of water for three billion years, moving it from oceans to clouds via evaporation, then back to the earth in the form of rain and around again.

Toowoomba’s recycling technology has been well tested throughout the world including the USA and Singapore. California pioneered recycling techniques in the 1970s and Orange County has been praised for its state-of-the-art purification project.

“ California’s economic and environmental future is enhanced by our ability to maximise precious resources. This system is an environmentally responsible approach for securing alternative sources of water. It increases Orange County’s water independence by creating a drought-proof supply of safe, clean water.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger – California Governor

We will have fail safe procedures The recycled water will pass through seven stages of purification to ensure there are multiple means of removing contaminants.

This water will then be extensively tested using a program developed with the CSIRO and approved by the Queensland Government to ensure it is safe to drink.

“ As plumbers, we have to work with water day in day out, so safety is really important to us. We have no problems with recycled water. From everything we have seen and read, we know it is safe. We’re more worried about not having enough water in Toowoomba for our future development.”
Andy Burke – President of the Master Plumbers Association (Toowoomba Division).

“ People need to trust we have the skills and technology to safely recycle water and have been doing so for many years.”
Dr Helen Stratton – Senior Lecturer School of Biomolecular & Biomedical Sciences, Griffith University.

“ Some of my patients have expressed concern about recycled water. I’ve educated myself on this topic and water is a finite resource that we have to preserve. Recycling is the best option we have at this time. We need a viable solution as some of my elderly patients have joint and muscle problems because they have been bucketing water on their gardens.”
Dr Heather Fogerty – General Practitioner, Toowoomba