Eurobodalla Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy

FACT SHEET 4
Effluent Reuse
What is Effluent Reuse?
Eurobodalla Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy
Effluent reuse involves the utilisation of suitably treated wastewater for beneficial uses. It
represents a significant move away from the traditional notion of effluent being considered only
as a waste product, which is conventionally disposed of through ocean or waterway discharge.
Water from sewage treatment plants can be treated to a standard suitable for a range of
applications including industrial reuse, agricultural reuse, non potable domestic reuse, urban
open space reuse and indirect potable reuse (the level to which water must be treated for
different end uses is described in Appendix D).
Site-specific analysis is required to assess the balances of water, nutrients, organics and
soluble salts to identify the most cost-effective and sustainable options for on-land disposal of
wastewater. Ongoing monitoring is important to ensure sustainability.
Examples
The REMS (reclaimed effluent management scheme)
project in the Shoalhaven is an extensive irrigation scheme
utilising wastewater from the region. The irrigation scheme
comprises 14 dairy farms, a golf course and sporting fields.
Water is delivered at a constant rate into balancing ponds
on user’s land (see picture right) (www.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au).
Benefits
Reclaimed water, used in place of fresh water, reduces the pressure on treated water for nonpotable
uses (e.g. open area irrigation) and provides a drought proof irrigation water supply.
Effluent reuse assists in the preservation of fresh water supplies as well as reduces the need
to use commercial fertilisers on crops and pastures. Treated effluent contains water, plant
nutrients and organic matter, which together can improve soil fertility and encourage plant
growth.
Effluent reuse can provide regeneration of deteriorated habitats (wetlands).
Reduces the impact of wastewater discharges on waterways, and enhances resource recycling
with water returned at an earlier stage of the water cycle for recycling.
Promotes awareness of water conservation issues through practice.
Assists in meeting legislative and regulatory compliance, and license conditions (e.g. loadbased
licensing).
The use of reclaimed water can have economic benefits, depending on connection fees and
charge per volume, and can reduce the costs of fertilisers. (Suitable studies are necessary to
prevent costly soil structure problems caused by too many nutrients).
19