Right:Water Minister John Thwaites talks about plans to save four billion litres of water each year in the south east.
By Callan Date
BERWICK and Cranbourne will be home to two of the first residential estates in Victoria to have mandatory recycled water.
The scheme, which also involves housing estates in the Officer area, is planned to save four billion litres of water each year over the next 25 years.
Water Minister John Thwaites was in Officer to make the announcement and outline plans for a range of other water saving issues the Government is considering.
New government powers and changes to the planning system will result in more than 40,000 houses in the south-east being compulsorily connected to a “dual pipe” system.
Recycled water will be used from the dual pipe system to water gardens, flush toilets and wash cars in the new estates – measures expected to result in about one-third less drinking water being used.
“Recycled water also allows households to maintain green gardens throughout drought because it does not fall under water restrictions,” Mr Thwaites said.
“Greater use of recycled water is a key part of the Bracks Government’s plan to secure Melbourne’s water supplies.”
The recycled water will be sourced from the Eastern Irrigation Scheme (EIS), a major water recycling project in Melbourne’s south-eastern corridor.
“This initiative helps manage growth in line with the Melbourne 2030 strategy by substituting drinking water supplies with recycled water,” Mr Thwaites said.
The new developments will be similar to the recycled water scheme operating at the Hunt Club Estate in Cranbourne.
Purple taps, pipes, hoses and meters will clearly identify recycled water and residents will be encouraged to attend information sessions about how to safely use recycled water.
