Government can't see the solutions for the pipes - 5 February 2007

The recent media focus on the benefits of recycled water is encouraging and a strong endorsement of longstanding Greens policy, but it is vital that any reuse schemes occur as close to the source as possible, said NSW Greens MP and water spokesperson Ian Cohen.

"Sydney should be reusing the 450 billion litres that currently gets flushed into the ocean each year, but catching it at the end of the pipe and pumping it all the way back to Warragamba is not the solution," said Mr Cohen.

"It is no use replacing an energy guzzling desalination plant with a recycling program that requires long distance pumping.

"A more sensible solution would be to mine the water close to its source. This could be then be used in any number of ways, for example watering of parklands, or for agricultural or industrial use.

"Another solution is to reuse it before it reaches a sewage treatment plant in the first place. This requires greater government incentive for, and education about, grey water systems in homes and businesses.

"Recent figures obtained by The NSW Greens suggest that household and neighbourhood reuse projects could be saving Sydney up to a hundred billion litres of water a year by 2015 at an annual cost of only $20 million.

"The Iemma government has implemented some recycling schemes, and they are to be commended for this, but there is still a culture within the government and Sydney Water that the solution to water issues is to throw large sums of money at centralised infrastructure that requires hundreds of kilometres of pipes. This disrupts communities and results in an excessive amount of energy intensive pumping.

"It is one step forward, two steps back on water issues with this government. The recent announcement of plans for water tanks and use of an underground water source for NSW Parliament is an example. It is a positive step - water tanks on the roof of parliament are something I've been calling for for many years - but it still fails to address the level of water usage within the building itself. Where was the corresponding announcement that Parliament House would have finally have dual flush toilets, waterless urinals, or reuse within the building
itself?

"Sydney needs a comprehensive water reuse strategy, not a desalination plant backed up by a few boutique recycling projects," concluded Mr Cohen.

Further Information: Michael Hidden 0431 320085 or 02 9230 3305
Ian Cohen: 0409 989 466