Recycled sewage safe to drink: expert | health

4th November 2008

Recycled water specialist, Jenifer Simpson.

A SUNSHINE Coast water expert says the state government is wasting money by pumping six-star treated wastewater into dams for re-treatment before it is piped into the supply.

Internationally acclaimed author Jenifer Simpson said the end result for consumers would be five star water.

Ms Simpson said the approach also sent the message that purified recycled water could not be trusted when clearly it could.

It has been used successfully around the world for many decades, she said.

Modern and sophisticated technologies allow it to be reclaimed at a level higher than water we are now drinking from our taps.

Ms Simpson said the Sunshine Coast Environment Council advocated an integrated water hierarchy, which included reuse of water, demand management, rainwater harvesting and appropriate water restrictions.

Ms Simpson said an education campaign to better inform the public would stop politicised hard liners against the use of water recycling.

"The acceptance of recycled water by the community is fragile because it is not based on sound understanding,'' she said.

"Public perception of water reuse is presently based on heresay and ignorance, inflamed by politically motivated opponents of recycling.''

She said LNP shadow minister Fiona Simpson should be careful of her language around the debate.

The Member for Maroochydore, who is not related, criticised spending on the government's water recycling project, saying it had blown out by $800 million to $2.5 billion.

A press release issued by Ms Simpson said in part, "If SEQ residents don't choke on drinking treated sewage, they may choke on the price tag after the Bligh Labor Government blew the budget of its world-first recycling project by $800 million."

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