Qlders support recycled water more now than in mid-2000s droughts

Queenslanders support drinking recycled water more now than at the height of the millennium droughts, a new poll from Seqwater has revealed. DO YOU AGREE? HAVE YOUR SAY

Queenslanders are more open to drinking recycled water today than they were during the height of the millennium drought, the boss of Seqwater has declared.

Internal polling commissioned by Seqwater, seen by The Courier-Mail, reveals almost 70 per cent of Queenslanders were “comfortable” drinking recycled water.

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It comes as Queenslanders stare down the barrel of an expected El Nino weather system, which will bring dry conditions that can lead to droughts, bushfires and extreme heat

Seqwater chair David Hamill, not commenting specifically on the polling, said Queenslanders were more open to recycled water now than they were during the serious times of drought in the mid-2000s.

“Over time the general public is more accepting of recycled waste water however the Queensland Government has made it very clear that recycled water for the use of general consumption would only be available in a severe drought response,” he said.

The Seqwater polling revealed a steady increase between 2017 and 2020 in the number of Queenslanders open to drinking recycled water.

In 2020, 68 per cent of people said they were comfortable, up from 59 per cent in 2017.

Dr Hamill, a former treasurer in the Beattie government, noted recycled water was already being used for industrial purposes, which had the effect of “freeing up the (dam) water they would otherwise use”.

Somerset Dam.

Purified recycled water is made using treated wastewater, which would otherwise be released into waterways. Membrane filtration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet advanced oxidation disinfection is used to make it safe.

The likelihood of a drier than usual summer could have serious impact s on the state’s dam levels, with South East Queensland dam levels at just over 70 per cent on Wednesday, down from 96.8 per cent in February of 2022.

The Bureau of Meteorology has held off from officially announcing the El Nino weather system, but confirmed earlier this month it was “likely” to develop during spring.

The latest climate driver update has El Nino at a 70 per cent chance of developing in the coming months.

Work on the Gold Coast's long term recycled water project.

The increasing support for recycled water could add to friction between Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Water Minister Glenn Butcher as the government prepares to vote on whether to splash up to $8bn building a second desalination plant.

Cabinet is this month tipped to discuss the future water infrastructure required to service southeast Queensland’s booming population, with the major decision being whether to spend up to $8bn building a second desalination plant to complement the existing Tugun facility.

Construction would help the government avoid using recycled water – once a controversial issue in southeast Queensland – for household consumption.

Ms Palaszczuk and Mr Butcher are at odds over the use of recycled water, with Mr Butcher privately a strong supporter of using existing infrastructure to ensure security.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is seen inspecting the Thomson River Weir at Longreach.

The Sunday-Mail first revealed in August 2022 the Palaszczuk government was considering building a second multibillion-dollar desalination plant to service southeast Queensland’s population.

Questioned about any disagreement with Mr Butcher, a spokesman for Ms Palaszczuk insisted there was “unity across government to deliver water security”.

“The simple truth is the LNP clearly does not have a plan for delivering water security,” he said.

“In contrast the government’s plan has been published and is currently being updated so that it provides water security for Queenslanders for beyond the next 30 years.”

Then Premier Peter Beattie with Water Minister Henry Palaszczuk during the millennium drought in 2006.

Ms Palaszczuk was an adviser to and member of the Beattie government and later a minister in the Bligh government – both which responded to the millennium drought.

Mr Butcher this week acknowledged recycled water was “a thing that a lot of countries around the world continue to use”.

“The Palaszczuk government is united in our commitment to deliver the best outcomes for Queenslanders,” he said.

“Southeast Queensland has a safe and secure water supply and our water assets are in public hands.”

A Seqwater spokeswoman said the state’s existing Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme remained an “important drought response measure”.

“Feedback from our community events and educational programs highlights southeast Queenslander’s interest in understanding where our water comes from, including the role of alternative sources of drinking water within the SEQ water grid,” she said.

In 2007 Mr Beattie scrapped a scheduled plebiscite on whether to add recycled water to Queensland’s drinking water grid, declaring an “Armageddon situation” meant it was inevitable.

Water security is also raising alarm among executives at Queensland’s largest listed company, Suncorp Group.

Suncorp Treasurer Simon Lewis declared drought was the “big thing” concerning the group, with its agribusiness customers expected to face financial challenges during the El Nino conditions.

SEQ DAM LEVELS

Wednesday: 70.5 per cent

February 2022: 96.8 per cent

October 2021: 55.3 per cent

Originally published as Qlders support recycled water more now than in mid-2000s droughts