Alternative to desalination in Sydney launched

Tuesday, 27 September 2005 10:00

The plan treats the water twice and dilutes it twice.

Total Environment Centre (TEC) Director Jeff Angel said "Desalination is an expensive and unsustainable option that will punish customers through massive price increases and result in massive greenhouse gas emissions. Combining indirect reuse and permanent water restrictions offers an environmentally friendly alternative with less cost to the public".

The plan would involve recycling 35 Gigalitres (GL) from the high standard tertiary Western Sydney STPs and redirecting the water back into Warragamba Dam or Prospect Reservoir for dilution. Water would then be subject to further treatment at the Prospect Water Filtration Plant and further diluted in the water delivery system. Contrary to options discussed by the Government recycled water would not come from ocean STPs and would therefore be much cheaper.

"Recycled water would be treated twice and diluted twice before reaching the consumer. Under this plan approximately 0.67 GL of water would be recycled each week. If directed into Prospect Reservoir this would represent only 5.2% of its capacity. If directed into Warragamba the dilution factor would obviously be even higher", Mr Angel said

Permanent water restrictions would be set at a level needed to conserve an additional 40 GL per year. This would be less stringent than restrictions currently in place which are saving around 63 GL per year.

"Sydney residents have accepted the need for water restrictions and shown strong support for permanent water conservation measures. It's time we followed the example set by other Australian cities and took this important and necessary step toward sustainable water management", Mr Angel said.

Research released by the NSW Independent and Regulatory Tribunal last year showed 70% support for some form of permanent water restrictions.

The total contribution of recycling and restrictions would be 75GL each year. This would easily negate two of the Government's three desalination options which would produce 45 GL and 72.8 GL respectively each year.

The third option for 182 GL per year is an unrealistic and highly expensive ambit claim that would equate to 29% of current (pre-restrictions) demand. Capacity in excess of demand would represent a major stranded investment that and require a major increase in water bills to fund.

TEC called on the State Government to give detailed consideration to the plan and assess its costs and benefits.

"An independent investigation is necessary", Mr Angel said