Amended Water Treatment Plant Guidelines Released

An amended version of the Water Treatment Plant Guidelines Residuals Reuse and Backwash Water Reclamation has just been posted to the General Manager of member councils.

The reason for issuing an amended document is that our previous document, published in September 2012, was not consistent with current advice from the Office of Environment & Heritage’s Environment Protection Authority (EPA) concerning the recycling of water treatment plant solids and it was agreed that an amended document should be issued.

In 2011 the NSW EPA advised that the use of biosolids guidelines was not appropriate for guiding the proposed reuse of water treatment plant solids. This amended document has removed all reference to State and Federal biosolids guidelines and now references the two EPA guidelines covering the use of use of materials as fertiliser, soil amendment and fill

The Water Directorate believes that these guidelines will assist local government councils to determine the desirability and viability of reusing sludge and/or wastewater from water treatment plants.

Additional copies of the document are available to order for members and non members here.