Reuse of greywater in Western Australia
EMRC's environmental services team have developed a discussion paper on reuse of greywater in Western Australia.
Greywater is referred to as the household waste water that results from people using fresh/clean (typically scheme) water for their daily household activities, such as showering, washing clothes, brushing teeth, washing dishes and other activities that result in water going down the 'drain'.
Australia, being the driest inhabited continent on the Earth, has always had a limited supply of fresh water. Recently, this issue has received widespread focus and attention for a number of reasons, primarily Australia's population growth and changes in weather patterns as a result of climate change.
The South West of Western Australia has been experiencing a decrease in average annual rainfall for the last four decades, accompanied by an increase in the number of sunny days. Decreasing rainfall and associated declines in water supply, coupled with increasing population and resulting high water demand, means that efforts to increase water use efficiency and water conservation are needed more than ever before.
Greywater reuse and or wastewater recycling are some of the initiatives that may aid in conserving this precious resource.
The purpose of the discussion paper was to investigate the technology available, as well as the associated relevant legislation, guidelines and code of practice. The discussion paper also provides greywater reuse case studies and associated costs at both household and local government levels.
Please follow the document link below to access a copy of EMRC's Reuse of Greywater in Western Australia discussion paper: