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Irrigation
Water recycling is becoming a
critical element for managing our water resources.
By safely irrigating recycled water, sustainable development can be achieved
while conserving our high quality water supplies. Being able to access
alternative safe water sources is particularly critical in times of drought.
By providing an additional source
of water, recycling can help to decrease the diversion of water from sensitive
river and wetland ecosystems. Another major benefit of effluent reuse by
irrigation is the decrease in wastewater discharges to natural waterways. When
pollutant discharges to waterways are removed or reduced, the pollutant loadings
to these waters are decreased.
Substances that can be
pollutants when discharged to waterways can be beneficially reused for
irrigation. For example, plant nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus can
stimulate harmful algal blooms in waterways but are a valuable fertiliser for
crops.
In some cases, returning well
treated water to rivers might provide a better outcome than reuse by irrigation,
for example, to supplement river flows. This Guideline will however help
increase the options available for water management, particularly those sources
of wastewater that are not suitable or adequately treated for safe discharge to
our rivers, estuaries and oceans.
Many water needs can be satisfied
with recycled water as long as it is adequately treated to ensure water quality
is appropriate for the proposed use. Greater treatment and management is
required for uses where there is a greater chance of human exposure to the
recycled water.
Effluent can pose environmental,
public health or agricultural resource risks if not managed appropriately and
the information in this Guideline will support the establishment of safe
effluent irrigation reuse schemes.
Water recycling has proven to be
effective and successful in creating a new and reliable water supply, while not
compromising public health. Effluent reuse by irrigation is now an accepted
practice that will play a greater role in our overall water supply in the
future.
The NSW Government Department of
Environment and Conservation is committed to encouraging and optimising the safe
reuse of water.
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