Wastewater trial success in Australia

THE preliminary results of a trial, pumping treated wastewater underground into the Gnangara Mound, are encouraging, the State Government says.

The three-year trial, which ended on December 31, involved pumping 2.5 billion litres of recycled water into the aquifer at the Beenyup Wastewater Treatment Plant in Craigie.

Water Minister Bill Marmion said every one of the more than 70,000 water samples that were collected had met environmental and health guidelines.

“Water Corporation and trial regulators, Department of Health, Department of Water and Department of Environment and Conservation – will spend the next four months completing a detailed assessment of the trial,” he said.

“Based on the trial’s positive outcomes, the Water Corporation has been given an interim go-ahead by regulators to continue operating and recharging water at the purpose-built recycling facility.”

Mr Marmion said $100 million had been included in the Budget’s forward estimates to expand the capacity of the scheme to 7 billion litres a year.