Why do we plan to have recycled water make up 25% of our water supply when Singapore uses only 1%?

In some communities recycled water can be as high as 90%.

Singapore’s recycled water (“Newater”) is six star quality water. Six star water is better than our current drinking water.

Much of Singapore’s six star water is provided directly to computer chip manufacturers as they value highly purifi ed water for their industrial processes. As a result, Singapore has less six star water to add to it’s drinking water supply.

In some communities recycled water is higher than 25% as proposed for Toowoomba. For example 33.8% of Richmond, NSW’s water is sourced from Penrith’s wastewater, which is only 3-4 star water. In Fairfax County USA, up to 90% of the water fl owing into the Upper Occuquan reservoir in times of drought comes from an advanced water treatment plant. In both communities, the water is further treated to ensure the resident’s safety.

The issue is not of quantity but quality. If six star recycled water is combined with raw water from our dams and bores, the end result is better quality water than we have now, regardless of the quantity used.