Systemic barriers to wastewater reuse in Australia: some jurisdictional examples

Abstract

This article describes the regulatory framework and assessment process of urban wastewater reuse in two distinct regions of Australia, the Tamar Valley in northern Tasmania and the Hunter region of New South Wales. Relative similarities are evident between human population, water availability and recent necessity for reuse feasibility assessments. In the Hunter, assessments informed a state government led catchment-scale water security strategy. In Launceston, the need for assessments stems from a condition of the environmental permits for individual facilities. Salient institutional, social, economic and political barriers mire the assessment process for, and success of, wastewater reuse. Distinct legal, policy and procedural differences exist between the two cases. Future reuse guidelines should identify the different drivers for wastewater reuse and avoid studies that meet administratively predetermined selection.

Keywords:

• water
• recycling
• impediments
• economics
• law

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Chris Mabin for helping with the flowchart design and presentation.

Funding

This research is supported by a University of Tasmania Postgraduate Research Scholarship and a 2012 Water Research Australia Scholarship. The provision of documents by Ben Lomond Water Corporation and Hunter Water Corporation are greatly appreciated. This manuscript has been adapted from an Australia and New Zealand Society for Ecological Economics conference paper.

Additional information

Funding

This research is supported by a University of Tasmania Postgraduate Research Scholarship and a 2012 Water Research Australia Scholarship. The provision of documents by Ben Lomond Water Corporation and Hunter Water Corporation are greatly appreciated. This manuscript has been adapted from an Australia and New Zealand Society for Ecological Economics conference paper.