Forums Posts

by Shoalhaven City Council Joined 01-01-0001 12:00 AM Posts 30

Ladies/gents, I am just wondering how other utilities deal with reclaimed water infrastructure from a capital and DSP perspective. Our position is that the reclaimed water once it leave the STP is an alternate water source. So should the capital and funding be managed thru the Water capital fund and the water DSP's. I would be interested to see what your thoughts are. Matt Kidd Shoalhaven Water

by brett.corven@esc.nsw.gov.au Joined 13-11-2015 09:54 AM Posts 24

Hi Matt, The method of treated effluent disposal dictates the level of treatment, and reuse is just one effluent disposal method of many. As reclaimed effluent quality comes under the STP EPL, effluent reuse comes under the Sewer Fund at ESC. Also, as effluent reuse often creates additional users rather than replacing potable water use (eg: the Shoalhaven REMS scheme), the link to the water fund is questionable. If you were going down that path you would probably need to differentiate between potable water demand reducing projects and effluent disposal projects. Otherwise, I would argue that the use of water fund capital for a sewerage project is not legal. Regards, Brett Corven

by Upper Hunter Shire Council Joined 01-01-0001 12:00 AM Posts 10

Matt are you referring to 'third pipe' infrastructure or recycled water for irrigation? We consider it part of the sewerage network (for now), as our recycled water is used for irrigation purposes only and to help meet EPA licence requirements for the plant - i.e. the aim is to avoid any discharge to the environment and future STP upgrades will target 100% reuse in most scenarios. Higher quality recycled water that's gone through a 'polishing' process and is being sold as an alternative to potable water supply would seem logical to align with the water fund in my view. For fun, we utilise the same recycled water network to deliver both recycled water and alternate ground water supply (from old town water well) for irrigation purposes. The network is sewer fund, the well is water fund. Why make things easy? Regards, Phil Hood

by tracey.hamer@midcoast.nsw.gov.au Joined 22-08-2019 01:40 PM Posts 7

Hi Matt, We also use the sewer fund and and DSP for recycled water, even where it is a high quality recycled water for watering open spaces with unrestricted public access. Could be classed as an alternate water supply but for DSP purposes, it's seen as part of effluent disposal. Regards, Tracey

by Shoalhaven City Council Joined 01-01-0001 12:00 AM Posts 30

Thanks Phil, Tracey and Brett we will need to be a bit more creative I think.

by Brendan Guiney Joined 02-08-2019 03:32 PM Posts 21

Actually this dilemma becomes more common the further an LWU gets along the path of Integrated Water Cycle Management (IWCM), which asks us to break down the barriers between water, sewerage and stormwater services. A legitimate approach for assets that benefit both water and sewer businesses is to run a common fund which splits costs 50/50 across the water and sewerage businesses for accounting and financial modelling. Other functions such as SCADA/communications or community education can also be funded 50/50 in this way.