Developments in domestic greywater recycling in Western Australia

Abstract

Water is a key yet limited resource in Western Australia. Management of this valuable resource is not only an environmental issue, it has important economic and social implications. The smart use of water in Western Australia is an important issue to address with the State's population expected to increase to 2.9 million by 2030 with Perth's current population at 2.1 million. Paralleling this are predicted decreases in annual rainfall of up to 20% by 2030 and 60% by 2070 for the South-West of Western Australia, threatening the state's ability to provide a sustainable water source for its population. The Western Australian Department of Health, after various trials, pressure from the general public and recommendations from several studies, prepared draft guidelines for domestic greywater recycling, with the guidelines release expected mid-2003. The sustainable development of the State can benefit significantly through the promotion of water conservation strategies involving wastewater reuse. A wide range of environmental benefits can be obtained, in particular water conservation; however, benefits also extend to the economic and social spheres. Related industries, such as the plumbing industry, are likely to benefit from the use of plumber's skills in installation but also the design process and on-going maintenance and development of small-scale systems. The wider community benefits from increased environmental awareness and improvement in urban amenities. This paper examines recent developments in domestic greywater recycling in Western Australia, including system innovations and recommendations for further progress