Melbourne Water will open a 100,000 m³/d wastewater reuse plant in 2012 to add to the supply from its upcoming 150,000 m³/d desalination plant.
Melbourne Water will open a 100,000 m³/d wastewater reuse plant in 2012 to add to the supply from its upcoming 150,000 m³/d desalination plant. Cheryl Batagol, the Austalian water company’s chairman, said on 23 October that both the Government and Melbourne Water agree that they could not afford to be complacent in the face of climate change.
“That’s why the government’s plan also provides for one of the biggest water recycling facilities in the world at our Eastern Treatment Plant. Technology trials for this upgrade have been running since the start of 2008,” said Batagol. “Once the upgrade is complete, the Eastern Treatment Plant will provide up to 100 billion litres of Class A recycled water for non-drinking purposes.”
In 2006-07, Melbourne’s water authorities recycled over 65,000 m³ of water. Since restrictions were introduced in 2002, Melbourne has saved around 370,000 m³ of water – roughly the equivalent of a year’s supply. Melbourne’s storages are currently at 34.2% compared with 40.1% this time last year.