Green light for recycled water

Approval has been given to start the Wamuran Irrigation Scheme meaning farmers can now use Class A recycled water for food crops.

Unitywater got a green light for the Recycled Water Management Plan, paving the way for its use on such as strawberries, raspberries and pineapples.

The Plan confirms how treatment and monitoring assure the production and supply of Class A recycled water in line with Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling.

“Having a high quality, climate independent source of water gives certainty for farmers, buffering their businesses against the extremes of nature and a changing climate,” Unitywater CEO Anna Jackson said.

“Our irrigation customers have been waiting for this moment and tell me they will be better placed to plan for growth, which is good for local employment and investment in the region.

“The 2.6 gigalitres of recycled water has a productive new life, which also diverts 11 tonnes of nitrogen and 1.8 tonnes of phosphorous from Caboolture River each year, to improve the health of this waterway.

“It’s an example of how we can value every drop and harness the full potential of water resources in a more circular way.

“We’re grateful for the Queensland Government’s approval of the scheme, which confirms the safety of recycled water for agriculture.”

Ms Jackson said there was now potential to expand its use across South East Queensland to preserve drinking water supplies for residential and commercial uses.

Construction of the scheme’s infrastructure began in February 2022 with a 22km pipe network, land-based and floating pump stations and water storage tanks at the Moodlu Quarry water balancing facility and a new water recycling plant.

“Wastewater from the Morayfield and Caboolture networks is treated using a multi-barrier approach which begins with the removal of abrasive particles such as sand before moving into a Sequencing Batch Reactor, which treats it in a single tank through a series of timed steps followed by disc-filtration,” Ms Jackson said.

“The cleaned water is then transferred to the new Recycled Water Treatment Plant for three additional treatment stages.

“It undergoes multi-media filtration to remove remaining turbidity and impurities before being exposed to ultraviolet light and chlorine for further disinfection.”

Delivery of the Wamuran Irrigation Scheme project was recognised at the Australian Institute of Project Management’s Queensland Project Management Achievement Awards, winning sustainable project of the year.

For more on Unitywater’s sustainable water management initiatives, visit www.unitywater.com/sustainability.