Australia Yearbook - 2001

Chapter 14—Environment 587
Effluent (waste water) reuse is one method of
reducing the amount of waste water entering the
environment. Table 14.14 shows the amount of
effluent reuse in Australia. Effluent reuse is
dominated by three sectors: Livestock, pasture,
grains and other agriculture; Cultural,
recreational and personal services (other); and
Mining. Reuse in agriculture contributed around
32% of total effluent reuse, mainly on irrigated
pastures. Around 24% of treated effluent was
reused on parks, sports grounds and gardens.
The mining sector increased reuse from 24% of
total in 1993–94 to 31% in 1996–97, due either to
better reporting of water reuse or to
improvement in water efficiency measures. Values
of effluent reuse in table 14.14 are estimates only,
with numbers possibly higher than reported.
Although total effluent reuse increased by 43%
between 1993–94 and 1996–97, effluent reuse still
only represents less than 1% of water use in
Australia, the majority of water usage occurring
from mains and self extracted water supplies.
Air pollution
Air pollution has been the environmental
problem of greatest concern to Australians for
nearly a decade. The ABS surveys into people’s
attitudes and practices regarding the
environment found that in 1998 air pollution was
more likely to be of concern to people living in
metropolitan areas (34% of people concerned)
than to people in other areas (20%) (table 14.15).
People in metropolitan areas are more likely to be
affected by pollution from industry and motor
vehicles than people from other areas. There has
been a decrease in concern about air pollution
between 1992 and 1998, possibly due to
improvements in air quality resulting from new
emission control laws; or part of an overall
downward trend in concern for environmental
issues (graph 14.1).
The potential harm caused by different
substances released into the air varies. Some
substances are very harmful (toxic) and can cause
problems even in small quantities. Standards have
been developed in an effort to eliminate or
reduce health problems caused by particular
substances. These standards generally specify the
upper concentration (in parts per million (ppm))
and the longest time period for which exposure
to certain substances is safe. The Air Quality
Standards for Australia are available in the
document Ambient Air Quality: Final Impact
Statement for the Ambient Air Quality National
Environment Protection Measure, available from
the Internet site of the National Environment
Council (http://www.nepc.gov.au).
14.14 EFFLUENT REUSE, Australia—1993–94 to 1996–97(a)
1993–94
1994–95
1995–96
1996–97
Sector
ML
ML
ML
ML
Agriculture 29 066 36 100 38 021 38 118
Forestry and fishing(b) 3 186 3 150 3 187 3 068
Mining 22 674 22 888 26 289 41 811
Manufacturing 4 864 5 382 5 239 4 769
Electricity and gas 4 242 5 108 6 766 6 912
Water supply(c) 2 158 1 891 1 929 4 339
Other 27 714 26 772 27 811 35 407
Total(d) 93 904 101 291 109 242 134 424
(a) Totals are based on estimates and assumptions described in the Water Account (see source below) and exact figures should be
treated with caution. (b) Includes services to agriculture, hunting and trapping. (c) Includes sewerage and drainage services. (d)
Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur within totals.
Source: Water Account for Australia, 1993–94 to 1996–97 (4610.0).
14.15 ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE ATMOSPHERE, By Area—1999
Metropolitan areas
Non-metropolitan areas
Australia
Area of concern
%
%
%
Air pollution 33.9 20.0 29.1
Ozone layer 13.4 10.1 12.3
Greenhouse effect 9.6 7.2 8.7
Source: Environmental Issues: People’s Views and Practices (4602.0).