Tougher water restrictions flagged as we taste test desal water

Sydneysiders have been warned to brace for harsher water restrictions. And with contingency plans to increase the size of the Sydney Desalination Plant, The Sunday Telegraph’s Jack Morphet put his palette to the test.

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Sydneysiders are already using less water but harsher restrictions are on the horizon unless there is significant rainfall.

In the past 10 weeks, level one water restrictions have curbed water demand by about 7 per cent in Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra.

Under level one restrictions, Sydneysiders have been banned from hosing driveways, filling new or renovated swimming pools and spas, and washing cars or buildings with a hose unless it has a trigger nozzle.

Green thumbs can still water their lawns and gardens with a watering can or bucket before 10am or after 4pm, but only if they are using hoses that are fitted with trigger nozzles.

Garden sprinklers are banned.

Water Minister Melinda Pavey says level two water restrictions will likely be enforced early next year. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

But August to October is likely to be drier than average across the state, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, putting further pressure on Sydney’s dwindling dam reserves.

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Water Minister Melinda Pavey has been advised level two water restrictions will likely take effect early next year, when the dam levels are tipped to fall to 40 per cent.

“February is a trigger point — it’s the point where we’re predicting we’ll get to stage two water restrictions,” Ms Pavey said.

At level two, handheld hoses and sub-surface dripper systems can only be used for two hours a day between 5pm and 7pm.

The same time frame applies for washing cars with a handheld hose, provided it has a trigger nozzle.

Tamworth and Orange are on level four water restrictions, which bans using water outside unless cleaning cars with a bucket and sponge.

Desalination Plant CEO Keith Davies with Sunday Telegraph reporter Jack Morphet. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

TASTE TEST

It is not possible to taste the difference between water filtered through plastic membranes or sandstone cliffs.

In a blind taste test between freshly cleaned sea water and a bottle of supposedly alkaline water bottled at a vague source after spending thousands of years underground seeping through rocks, it was impossible to tell them apart.

A litre of desalinated water out of the tap costs about one cent, compared to a litre of Voss Artesian Water that costs $5.20.

Three people have called complaining about the foul taste of desalinated water since the plant was switched back on in mid-March, when in fact their water source hadn’t changed from the same dam water they’ve always drunk.

Perth has two desalination plants that provide 48 per cent of their drinking water.

Sandgropers actually complain when the desalination plants are switched off and treated dam water returns to their taps.

The filters at the Sydney Desalination Plant are so fine, they don’t only remove salt but bacteria and viruses as well.

Originally published as Tougher water restrictions flagged as we taste test desal water