Townsville City Council water re-use scheme to see recycled sewage used to keep city green

Recycled sewage water will be used to keep the grass lush in parts of the city, saving mega-litres of Townsville’s precious drinking water when the council turns the tap on its re-use scheme in July.

Mayor Jenny Hill, Cr Russ Cook and Cr Les Walker inspect the latest pipeline works in the Recycled Water Re-use Scheme. Picture: Alix Sweeney

Recycled sewage water will be used to keep the grass lush in major areas of the city, saving thousands of litres of Townsville’s precious drinking water when the council turns the tap on its re-use scheme in July.

Part of the city’s three-pronged droughtproofing project, the council’s $15 million recycled water re-use scheme will save about 15 megalitres, or six Olympic swimming pools, of water being taken from the Ross River Dam a day. Instead of using drinkable water to keep grass green, a new hi-tech facility adjoining the Cleveland Bay sewage treatment plant will turn the flow from the city’s drains into top grade non-potable water.

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Mayor Jenny Hill said this was a “great step” in Townsville kicking its ‘Brownsville’ moniker, as the low cost of recycled water meant major parts of the city including James Cook University, Murray Sporting Complex and Townsville University Hospital could stay lush all-year round.

“We want parts of our city, our sporting facilities to remain green so that our children can play on them,” she said.

But the use of recycled water, for now, will be constrained to the southern suburbs, as the council progressively lays the pipes in conjunction with a new sewage main being laid to deal with population growth in suburbs like Wulguru and surrounds.

Cr Hill said the recycled water scheme would also keep water rates sustainable for residents, claiming less water being treated at Douglas Water Treatment Plant will lead to less spending on capital works in the long-term.

The pipes will be laid by March and recycled water will flow by July.

The Haughton Pipeline duplication project, to run 70km out to the Burdekin River at Clare once stage 2 is complete, and the $10 million Water Smart Package, of which celebrity gardener Jamie Durie is involved, are also part of the council’s water security initiative.

Originally published as Townsville City Council water re-use scheme to see recycled sewage used to keep city green