Would recycled water make Melbourne drought proof?

MELBOURNE’S fruit and veggies would be grown using recycled water in an ambitious plan to “drought proof” the city’s urban food bowl.

Darren Pivato

MELBOURNE’S fruit and veggies would be grown using recycled water in an ambitious plan to “drought proof” the city’s urban food bowl.

The push comes as farmers on the city’s fringe warn that a lack of water will soon lead rocketing price hikes and a shortage of foods.

A study released today by Foodprint Melbourne is pushing for food growers based in the city’s southeast and west to be given greater access to water from treatment plants.

It has found to grow the food eaten by people in Melbourne takes 475 litres of water a person each day and if just 10 per cent of recycled water were used for agriculture it would be enough water to grow half of the vegetables eaten by Melbourne annually.

Around 50 per cent of the vegetables produced in Victoria are grow on Melbourne’s fringe in Werribee South, the Casey-Cardinia region and the Mornington Peninsula near two main water treatment plants.

Darren Pivato, who grows leaks, carrot, herbs, beetroot and broccolini among other vegetables at Somerville, said the “pretty dry” year had forced him to hold back on production.

“If there’s going to continue to be growers in this area we need a secure supply of water that can be recycled water,” he said.

Drought conditions in 2005 led to a 40 per cent price hike in veggies and shortages on the supermarket shelves.

Dr Rachel Carey, from Foodprint Melbourne, said with more than 80 per cent of recycled water being returned to the sea, there was a need for investment to deliver it instead to farmers.

“This is a bigger issue about ensuring that farmers can continue to access enough water to supply fresh food to a growing city population in a drying climate,” Dr Caret said.

“The long-term impacts of not investing in the infrastructure are likely to include rising food prices.”