Clarence Recycled Water Scheme

Clarence (Australia’s) recycled water scheme was established in 1995 to reduce effluent discharged into the Derwent Estuary from the Rosary Treatment Plant.

The scheme has the capacity to supply 2,700 ml a year of recycled water to potentially over 5,000 hectares, and over 100 growers in one of the driest regions in this state of Australia.

Construction began in 2004 and involved the installation of an effluent pump station, 6.7 kilometres of rising main, a two megalitre storage tank and over 18 kilometres of reticulation main into the Coal River Valley area.

When fully operational, the Scheme will have significant benefits as follows:

• removal of nutrients from outfalls;
• the beneficial and sustainable reuse of water and nutrients in a combination of agricultural, horticultural and amenity applications to create additional local employment and wealth; and
• reducing the consumption of irrigation water sourced from traditional (river) sources.

ICLEI has an international freshwater Water Campaign that aims to build the capacity of local governments to reduce water consumption and improve local water quality.  For more information on ICLEI’s Water Campaign in Australia, please visit www.iclei.org/index.php?id-water_home.

Clarence is one of 109 local governments in Australia that are currently Members of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability.  For more information on ICLEI and its activities in the Oceania Region, please visit www.iclei.org/oceania.

Source:  “Clarence Recycled Water – An Overview”, at the Clarence City Council website at www.ccc.tas.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=607.