Most people don’t realise that there are different quality standards of recycled water produced from the sewage treatment process.
On the Gold Coast we currently produce Class A+ and Class C standards of recycled water. At a minimum, recycled water quality must meet standards set under the Public Health Regulation 2005 Schedules 3C and 3D.
The highest quality recycled water we currently produce is A+ and this is done at the Pimpama Recycled Water Treatment Plant.
Class A+ recycled water is suitable for irrigation of lawns and gardens, flushing toilets, washing cars and other outdoor uses. The approved commercial activities for Class A+ reuse are for water features and fountains, and firefighting (except sprinkler systems).
Due to the high cost of the scheme to the City, including increases to the cost of land development and housing construction in the Pimpama Coomera area, we are staging the closure of the Pimpama Coomera Class A+ recycled water scheme.
Impacted customers will be notified over the coming weeks. For more information on Class A+ recycled water, please visit the City of Gold Coast website.
Class C recycled water can be used in areas where there is a low risk of public exposure. It's used for irrigation of golf courses, nurseries, agriculture, sport fields, parks, etc., with appropriate risk mitigation measures in place (e.g. signage or restricted access by fencing and/or time of irrigation). It's also used for dust suppression.
The number of treatment steps the water goes through depends on the class of recycled water being produced. Class C recycled water has less treatment processes applied than Class A+. The effectiveness of the treatment for Class A+ recycled water is measured by monitoring E.coli, Clostridium perfringens, F-RNA bacteriophages Somatic coliphages, free chlorine, and turbidity.
This treatment process makes the recycled water safe for specific reuse purposes or release into the environment. The water is tested at numerous stages throughout the treatment cycle to make sure it achieves the correct standard. If the contaminant levels are found to be too high at any point in the process, the water is treated again until it meets the required standard.
Click here for more information on recycled water standards.
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