The utility confirmed it had approval from the Health Department to begin “injecting” treated wastewater into Perth’s northern aquifers from a 14 billion litres a year recycling project.
The approval last Friday came almost a year after it was expected.
Under the recycling scheme, treated sewage from the Beenyup wastewater treatment plant will be processed before being pumped into the Gnangara aquifer system.
The water is left in the ground to undergo natural treatment before being used to boost the Water Corp’s yearly groundwater take, which accounts for about half of Perth’s drinking supplies.
With dwindling run-off into Perth’s dams, which are at only 34 per cent capacity, the Water Corp wants aquifer recharging to provide up to one-fifth of the city’s drinking water by 2060.
Water Corp spokeswoman Clare Lugar said the approval would allow the utility to finish the commissioning of the project’s first stage. All that would remain was an operating licence from the environment regulator.
“The approval was granted on the basis that water produced by the plant meets Australian guidelines for drinking water quality,” Ms Lugar said.
“This approval allows us to finish the commissioning of the recharge bores. A licence to operate the plant is pending from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and is expected in the coming weeks.”
Source: Recycled sewage to flow from Perth taps | Perth Now
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