Indirect Potable Reuse, a viable option as part of Sustainable Water Management

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                  Australian Water Association (AWA)
2 August 2005

Indirect Potable Reuse, a viable option as part of Sustainable Water Management

As the drought continues over much of Australia and debate about climate variability
increases, Darryl Day, Australian Water Association President has cautioned that
investment is needed in our regional and rural communities to provide sustainable
water supplies and deliver safe drinking water.

“It means the water industry has to be more adaptive, and solutions for our cities will
be different in the future. Our capital cities have in place, or are developing through
community consultation, robust water plans involving a focus on both the demand
and supply."

Darryl Day welcomed the announcement of the Toowoomba Water Futures project,
a $68 million initiative showcasing a best practice approach in engaging sustainable
solutions for the future of our cities. At the same time, the Goulburn Mulwaree
Council is seeking support for a $32 million scheme to develop a sustainable water
supply for the future in Goulburn which has been hard hit by the drought.

Funding contributions for both projects, which incorporate indirect potable reuse, are
being sought from the National Water Commission's $1.6 billion Water Smart
Australia program.

"The Toowoomba and Goulburn initiatives are great examples of an integrated,
sustainable approach for our smaller cities, and they reflect the significant
investment required to secure the future of our rural and regional communities.”

"A whole of community commitment is necessary to protect our catchments,
conserve our water resources, use water efficiently and develop more secure
supplies through a diversity of sources, including providing different water qualities
for different uses."

"In addition to our reliance on surface reservoirs and groundwater aquifers, other
water sources such as, recycled water, stormwater and rainwater tanks are being
increasingly considered and in many cases, adopted."

"When all other options are exhausted and in order to balance our water budget into
the future, indirect potable reuse is a viable option for recycled water but it does
require extensive community consultation in order to gain broad-based support."

Darryl concludes "Technology is no longer the barrier for indirect potable reuse; it is
now community acceptance. Safe drinking water will remain the number 1 priority for
our water suppliers.”