Recycled Water

With increasing climate variability, South Gippsland Water will continue to look to re-cycled water as a means of reducing drinking water demand. Recycled water is wastewater that has been treated at one of South Gippsland Water’s wastewater treatment plants. South Gippsland Water treats wastewater to a ‘Class C’ level, which allows nearby farms, businesses and sporting grounds make use of the water before it is returned to the environment.

South Gippsland Water recognises that with appropriate management, by-products of wastewater treatment (e.g. treated effluent) can be a resource rather than a waste, and we are endeavoring to reuse where possible. The Corporation currently has a number of reuse schemes which include the following:

– Tarraville Wastewater Treatment Plant – a nearby farmer uses approximately 100ML of recycled water per year for irrigation of pasture. The pasture is used for grazing beef cattle.

– Inverloch Wastewater Treatment Plant – a nearby farmer uses around 20-30ML per year to irrigate crops for cattle fodder.

– Toora Wastewater Treatment Plant – the Toora Football Club uses 2-3ML per year of recycled water during summer to irrigate the football ground, which saves them using the town water supply during the driest part of the year.

– Leongatha and Korumburra Wastewater Treatment Plants – Class B recycled water is available from a standpipe at each treatment plant for approved customers to use instead of town drinking water. Uses have included weed spraying and road works/dust suppression.

– Waratah Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant – a nearby farmer uses available reclaimed water to irrigate crops for cattle fodder.

– Meeniyan Wastewater Treatment Lagoons and Wetlands – A 100,000L recycled water tank and irrigation system has been installed at the Meeniyan Recreation Reserve to ensure recycled water from the nearby Meeniyan Wastewater Treatment Plant can be applied to the oval and playing surface.