Wastewater Re-use

Effluent is sewerage treated in accordance with EPA Victoria Environment Protection Authority licencing (external link). Uses of effluent are regulated by guidelines set by the EPA to protect the environment and ensure public safety. The guidelines prevent the use of treated effluent on edible leaf plants. Other food crops, particularly those that require processing before consumption, can be grown with treated effluent.

The EPA publication, Guidelines for Wastewater Reuse (1996), provides information on: potential reuse options; roles and responsibilities of suppliers and users; wastewater quality, and wastewater treatment. Under these guidelines, wastewater can be classified for potential use based on water quality criteria into Class A, B and C. Different restrictions on use apply to these classes and additional precautions and monitoring may be required.

Class A: suitable for urban (garden watering and toilets), agriculture (direct contact with crops) and aquaculture (human food chain) uses.

Class B: suitable for municipal (uncontrolled access), agricultural (contact with some crops), aquaculture (non-human food chain), pasture and fodder, and Industrial (non cooling towers) uses.

Class C: suitable for municipal (controlled public access), agriculture (no direct contact with crop), pasture (not for pigs or milking animals), and construction and mining uses.

Melbourne Region
Melbourne Water (external link) supplies treated sewerage effluent from it’s Eastern Treatment Plant in Carrum Downs for re-use in nurseries, market gardens, wineries, golf courses and sporting ovals,

Regional Victoria
There are opportunities for wastewater re-use in a number of regions in Victoria. A number of Non-Metropolitan Urban Water Authorities supply water for local municipal use (eg. golf courses) and some are looking for additional new wastewater re-use agreements. This re-used water is mainly Class C, although some Class B water may be available.

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