Recycling a dirty word
Council is working on ‘manufactured water’ options
THE public use of recycled water has again been discussed by the Toowoomba Regional Council to help solve longterm supply concerns – but it seems the name itself is a dirty word among the council’s bureaucrats.
The concept has been introduced and developed as part of the council’s potential strategies to combat falling dam levels, changes in the climate and a lack of rain forecast, combined with the rising cost of pumping water every year.
It comes as water and waste general manager Damian Platts revealed at the ordinary meeting on Tuesday that combined dam levels had continued to drop (34.5 per cent) in August, despite the council pumping 1.2 gigalitres up from Wivenhoe Dam.
But when asked by Cr Anne Glasheen about the progress of the council’s plans to use recycled water to water public gardens and for dust suppression during roadworks, Mr Platts suggested a less divisive term.
“I do prefer the vernacular of ‘manufactured water’ than recycled water, (the latter) has certain connotations in Toowoomba that I would prefer not to re-investigate or prosecute,” he said.
“The technology is there for containerised water treatment to be able to make water of a grade so it is suitable for infrastructure services to use for road suppression and our colleagues in Parks and Rec to use for some of our open spaces.”
Mr Platts also clarified the difference between recycled water and “manufactured water”, which he said came from a variety of sources and could be treated at different grades to suit the desired purpose.
“Recycled water is straight from the sewage system that has gone through some advanced treatment,” he said.
“Manufactured water is much more comprehensive – we could be thinking about stormwater, we could be thinking about wastewater from gas projects, and other methods.”
The water report also revealed 196 megalitres of water were lost from the system in August, thanks to a combination of leakage, firefighting and theft.
Mayor Paul Antonio suggested the council could ask for state government funding for technology to investigate leakage and seepage.