Indicator: Water recycling and re-use

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What the results tell us for Tumut

See also: | Water use |

Some 25 Megalitres of effluent per annum from Batlow sewer treatment plant is used for irrigation on sports grounds, the golf club and hockey fields, etc rather than being discharged into Kunama Creek.

The Adelong Goldmine approached Council with a plan to utilise all of the effluent from Adelong sewer treatment plant. Formal agreements have been signed and much of the required infrastructure for the effluent transfer has been constructed. However, an easing in World gold prices has interrupted the process. The future re-activation of the mine would necessitate the completion of the infrastructure works and result in significantly improved water quality in the Adelong Creek.

A small volume of effluent from Talbingo sewer treatment works is used for irrigation on some street trees and reserves at Talbingo. The volume used depends on seasonal conditions.

The NSW Department of Public Works and Services has conducted an effluent re use feasibility study in Adelong, Batlow and Tumut. The generally high rainfall patterns and topography in the Shire complicate the issue of effluent re use in that significant wet / winter storages are essential and there has been some lack of financial commitment from the private sector to participate in such a scheme.

Council remains open to proposals involving effluent re use.

About the data

Data provided by Tumut Shire Council

Description: What does 'water recycling and re-use' measure?

Which data are collected?

• total volume of water recycled or re-used annually by each sector (domestic, commercial, industrial, rural) in relation to the total annual water use of each sector

Why do we report this indicator?

Recycled water can be used for a variety of purposes, including: sewage re-cycling (following treatment) for purposes such as irrigation of parks and golf-courses. Greywater, the water used in showers, baths, laundries and kitchens can be used to water domestic gardens.

Re-using and recycling water is a response to the cost and potential scarcity of water supplies, caused by increasing total water consumption. Increasing the volume of water recycled and re-used reduces the amount of new water required from streams for water supply purposes. Alternatively, if populations continue to increase, re-use and recycling postpones the need for new water resource developments such as dams.

Water re-use and recycling is also a means of reducing the amount of nutrients and other pollutants that could otherwise enter streams and estuaries.