1. The purified recycled water process

2. What is recycled sewage?
 The 7-barrier process
What are the advantages of recycling sewage?
Is it safe?
 The risks associated with recycling sewage
How are chemicals removed from the water?
Why does South East Queensland need it?

3. Recycled sewage is wastewater that has been
treated to a very high standard through a 7 barrier
process to create purified recycled water.
This drinking quality water is then blended into
another water supply source such as a dam.
All water extracted from the dam is then treated at
a drinking water treatment plant before distribution
to consumers.

4. Barrier 1:Source Control
Barrier 2:Wastewater
Treatment Plant
Barrier 3:Microfiltration
Barrier 4:Reverse Osmosis
Barrier 5:Advanced
Oxidation
Barrier 6:Natural
Environment
Barrier 7:WaterTreatment
Plant

5. Barrier 1: Source control
 Controls the release of harmful chemicals into the sewerage system.
Barrier 2: Wastewater treatment plant
 Reduces nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen and some microorganisms
and chemicals.
Barrier 3: Microfiltration
 Removes small particles and most microorganisms.This water is disinfected and
can be used for flushing toilets and garden irrigation in dual reticulation areas.
Barrier 4: Reverse osmosis
 Removes vast majority of dissolved chemicals and any remaining microorganisms.
This water can be used for industry purposes.
Barrier 5: Advanced oxidation
 Removes any remaining microorganisms and destroys any remaining chemicals.
This is purified recycled water and is required to be safe to drink before it is
transferred to the next barrier.
Barrier 6: Natural environment
 The purified recycled water is blended into the dam.
Barrier 7: Water treatment plant
 Removes taste, odour turbidity and microorganisms.This is treated drinking water.

6. Recycling sewage is a permanent part of a long term
plan to cope with climate change and population
growth by reducing our reliance on rainfall
Improves sustainability and water security
Reduces pressures on environmental sources
Can be economically similar or better than other
sources
Provides opportunities where they are currently lacking

7. Purified recycled water has a long history of safe use for
drinking in countries such as the United States, Belgium,
England and Singapore.
It must meet strict water quality and health standards before it
can be added to drinking water supplies
Using world class technology, the water goes through a
number of high level engineering and filtering processes to
meet these health standards
The water is subject to water quality monitoring and testing at
all stages of the 7-barrier process

8. Contaminants of concern:
 Pathogens
 Trace chemicals Salinity
Sodicity
Sodium
Chloride
Nitrogen and
Phosphorous
Chlorine residuals
Hydraulic loading
Boron
Surfactants
Hormones
Pharmacueticals
Salmonella
Norovirus
Cryptosporidium
Giardia
Campylobacter

9. Barrier 2 is so effective that most pharmaceuticals
(including chemotherapy drugs), hormones and
endocrine-disrupting chemicals have already been
reduced to concentrations below health guideline
values.
The advanced wastewater treatment process that
follows conventional sewage treatment (particularly
reverse osmosis and advanced oxidation) reduces
the remaining chemicals that, if detectable, are
much too low to pose a risk to human health.

10. Climate variability and climate change
South East Queensland’s increased demand for water
It could be sent to power stations, industry and possibly agriculture
It could supplement drinking water supplies as a part of an emergency
drought response when combined dam levels reach 40%
Currently, 95% of our water supply is dependant on dams.The recycled
sewage process provides a sustainable climate resilient source of supply
South East Queensland experiences the fastest growth rate of any urban
region in Australia. Currently 2.8 million people reside in the region and this
figure is expected to increase to more than 5 million by 2056
Triple Bottom Line
To watch a video on purified recycled water, click the play button. Running time 05:29

11. Lander, A 2010, ‘Jones Pleads for RecycledWater’, Sunshine Coast Daily, 10
February, viewed 18 May 2010
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2010/02/05/jones-pleads-for-
recycled-water/
New SouthWales Office ofWater, 10 May 2010, NSW Department of
Environment, Climate Change and Water, Sydney, viewed 19 May 2010
http://www.water.nsw.gov.au
QueenslandWater Commission, 17 May 2010, GeraldTooth, East Brisbane,
viewed 17 May 2010
http://www.qwc.qld.gov.au
RecycledWater in Australia, April 2010, Horticulture Australia LTD, South
Australia, viewed 17 May 2010
http://www.recycledwater.com.au