South Australia has the highest per capita level of recycled water use in Australia.

A dual-pipe system delivering a mixture of Class A recycled water from the Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant and reclaimed water from Salisbury wetlands to more than 1000 homes at Mawson Lakes was commissioned early in 2005. Involving the SA Government, the City of Salisbury and Delfin, this project delivers recycled water for toilet flushing and watering of parks and gardens.

SA Water has undertaken a $250 million Environment Improvement Program in the past few years to reduce the impact of effluent on the marine environment.

Reports, progress and links:

The Adelaide Coastal Waters Study has been completed with the final report released. The study has identified management actions to reduce inputs of nutrients, turbidity and colour in stormwater and wastewater to metropolitan coastal waters. The study found that present nutrient enrichment levels are sufficient to cause seagrass loss. This is compounded by increased inflows of turbid and coloured stormwater and catchment runoff.

The report summarises the main findings and outcomes from the 4-year study and includes 14 recommendations, including for steps to reduce the volumes of wastewater, stormwater and industrial inputs into Adelaide’s coastal environment, and for reductions in nitrogen loads and particulate matter.

A number of actions have already commenced, with the EPA working with Penrice Soda committed to progressively reduce nitrogen outputs by about 70%. A major $150 million upgrade of the Christies Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant will improve water quality, and with the Water Proofing the South project wil reduce the amount of volume discharged to Gulf St Vincent.

Consistent with Strategy 63 for a regular review of the Water Proofing Adelaide to take account of changes in the environment, technology and knowledge, the review will have regard to the Adelaide Coastal Waters Study findings and consider the potential for further opportunities for reducing discharges to Adelaide’s coastal environment.

View more information on the Adelaide Coastal Waters Study .

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Phase 1 of the National Guidelines for Water Recycling, including guidelines for greywater reuse, was completed in 2006.

Phase 2 modules for stormwater recycling, managed aquifer recharge and augmentation of drinking water supplies (direct and indirect potable reuse) is well under way. Consultation on draft augmentation of drinking water supplies was completed in September 2007 and a final report is being finalised. Consultation for stormwater recycling and managed aquifer recharge will also occur. South Australia is represented on the steering committee and working groups developing the guidelines.

Also refer to Strategy 43.

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SA Water has submitted two major re-use projects to the National Water Commission for funding - the Angle Vale extension of the Virginia Pipeline Scheme, and the Glenelg to Adelaide Park Lands recycled water scheme.

The Prime Minister has recently announced funding for the $4m Virginia pipeline extension project on a 50:50 basis (refer Strategy 12 and 27). The South Australian goverment has committed $30 million to the Glenelg to Adelaide Park Lands project.

The City of Onkaparinga, SA Water, and Willunga Basin Water Company submitted a project entitled Water Proofing the South to the National Water Commission in September 2006 for funding. The project seeks to expand reuse from Christies Beach via the Willunga Basin Water Company network (refer Strategy 27).

A large-scale stormwater reuse project called Water Proofing Northern Adelaide has received subsidy funding from the National Water Commission. The project proponents are Salisbury, Playford and Tea Tree Gully Councils, CSIRO and the SA Government. Detailed design has commenced.

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This strategy is being implemented in conjunction with Strategy 48.

Water re-use is considered in new land divisions, such as the innovative Lochiel Park Green Village which will result in a 78 percent reduction in water use compared to a conventional development.

The Institutionalising Water Sensitive Urban Design project is an initiative to ensure water-friendly design will be incorporated into all of Greater Adelaide’s suburbs, houses and commercial and industrial precincts and buildings. A key initiative of the project is to build the capacity of organisations and individuals to implement water sensitive urban design. Project completion (including the technical guides and policy module) is scheduled for late 2008.

The Joint Steering Committee on Water Sensitive Cities led by the Australian Government with SA representation is developing national Water Sensitive Urban Design guidelines.

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The Waste Control Codes have been reviewed and public consultation was undertaken and incorporated into the outcomes. Regulations were revised as part of this process.

The Department of Health allows (without need for approval) manual bucketing of greywater and temporary connection of hoses to washing machine outlets. Information on the safe use of greywater is provided on the Department of Health website. The Department of Health and SA Water are also piloting a streamlined approval process for greywater systems.

Information on grey water recycling systems is available from the Department of Health website.