Sludge Watch ==> Australia: Water Scientist: recycled sewage water not safe to drink

[Maureen Reilly]

Water from sewage not safe enough

CLARE PEDDIE, ENVIRONMENT REPORTER
January 29, 2007

THE Adelaide scientist who developed Australia's drinking water guidelines 
says he would not drink recycled sewage and would not back its use.

As residents of drought-stricken southeast Queensland were told yesterday 
they would have no choice but to accept recycled water for drinking, 
Professor Don Bursill said there were too many risks attached to the 
practice for it to be introduced here.

The former SA Water chief scientist, who in 2004 oversaw a review of 
national drinking water guidelines and who was last week recognised in the 
Australia Day honours for his contribution to water quality research, says 
the technology that would make recycled sewage suitable for drinking already 
exists, but he is not confident we have the back-up systems to ensure it 
stays safe.

"You can turn anything wet into drinking water if you have enough money," he 
said yesterday. "To really ensure it is safe would cost a tremendous amount. 
This is one bloke who isn't going to drink it."

Professor Bursill, who in retirement is the chairman of the Torrens 
Taskforce charged with solving chronic water quality problems in the urban 
river, says while it is possible to produce safe drinking water from waste 
water, present systems are not adequate to cover the risk of bacterial 
contamination.

"The risk is orders of magnitude higher than when dealing with conventional 
sources," he said.

He says we should buy more River Murray water from the eastern states, and 
keep recycled water for irrigation and industrial use.

Adelaide already recycles just over 20 per cent of its treated effluent. 
Major uses include irrigation on the northern Adelaide Plain and on 
vineyards near Willunga.

Queensland's Premier Peter Beattie yesterday said his hand was forced on 
recycled drinking water because Brisbane's Wivenhoe Dam was now at 20 per 
cent capacity.

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21132904-5006301,00.html