Ipswich City Council

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Recycled Water Management

Because most classes of recycled water are considered unsafe for human consumption, Ipswich Water is required to apply provisions that either eliminate risk or reduce it to acceptable levels.

In accordance with the recommendations of the Queensland Water Recycling Guidelines, Ipswich Water has adopted a risk management based approach to recycled water management.

The recycled water management system adopted by Council requires the preparation of separate Supply and Use management plans, in accordance with the Queensland Water Recycling Guidelines.

The Recycled Water (Use) Management Plan is prepared by the User of recycled water. It describes all infrastructure and activities associated with the use of recycled water by the customer and demonstrates that foreseeable risks to environmental and community health have been identified and reduced to an acceptable level.

The Recycled Water (Supply) Management Plan is prepared by Ipswich Water. It describes all infrastructure and activities associated with the supply of recycled water and demonstrates our capability to provide recycled water that is fit for the intended use (ie within specification).

Recycled Water Uses

Recycled Water Management Plans (RWMPs)

Recycled Water Treatment

Ipswich Water prides itself on the provision of high quality water services and our recycled water quality is no exception.

While our treatment system is highly capable of treating wastewater to a ‘fit for purpose' standard, it is often more efficient to prevent contaminants from entering the collection system in the first instance - this is known as source water control.

Ipswich Water has a long history of managing source water control through the application of our Trade Waste Policy which regulates the introduction of contaminants to the wastewater system from our commercial trade waste customers (i.e. through the prohibition of some contaminants and setting concentration and mass load limits for others).

This activity has become even more important now that treated wastewater forms the source water for the supply of high quality recycled water from our Springfield Advanced Water Treatment Plant (AWTP) and the Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme.

Find out about our Wastewater Treatment Centres

Recycled Water Quality and Monitoring

Varying Levels of Water Quality

The Queensland Water Recycling Guidelines describe five classes of recycled water - these are largely based on microbiological characteristics and provide an indication of the level of treatment processes used and human health risks associated with its use. Please note that these guidelines only apply to recycled water and cannot be applied to alternative source waters (ie water sourced from rivers, dams, stormwater, etc).

The appropriate quality of recycled water depends on the intended use, site characteristics and available controls.

Table 1 - Description of recycled water classes

Class of Recycled Water	Description
Class A+	No pathogens should be detectable. Safe for many uses other than those involving human consumption, including: dual reticulation to household and industry for toilet flushing, garden irrigation, washing of cars, houses and hard surfaces and most open system industrial processes (suitability determined on case-by-case basis) irrigation of field crops (fruit and vegetables) eaten raw or with minimal processing fountains and water features (no recreational contact) irrigation of active sporting surfaces (ie rugby league, soccer, hockey grounds, etc) all uses suited to lower classes of recycled water described below
Class A	Very low levels of microbiological indicators. Safe for end uses that involve occasional human contact, including: above ground open space irrigation with uncontrolled access irrigating non-food crops in retail nurseries open system industrial process with the potential for occasional human contact but with safeguards in place) all uses suited to lower classes of recycled water described below
Class B	Low levels of microbiological indicators. Safe for end uses where controls against consumption and ingestion have been implemented, including: irrigation of pasture/fodder for dairy animals without withholding period agricultural wash down dust suppression and road works land development irrigation of high-value open space where access can be controlled (ie golf courses) all uses suited to lower classes of recycled water described below
Class C	Moderate levels of microbiological indicators. Suitable for uses where significant control can be applied, including: irrigation of pasture/fodder for dairy animals with five days withholding period irrigation of other animals except pigs with a withholding period of four hours irrigation of above ground food crops with below ground irrigation irrigation of controlled access or sub-surface irrigation open space (ie golf courses) closed system industrial processes with low potential for human contact filling of natural or artificial wetlands (subject to individual assessment) all uses suited to lower classes of recycled water described below
Class D	High levels of microbiological indicators. Fit for few recycling uses, including: irrigation of silviculture, turf, cotton, wholesale nurseries with controlled access and safeguards to protect workers, visitors, neighbours and the environment

Presently, Ipswich Water produces Class B Recycled Water at its Bundamba, Goodna, Carole Park and Rosewood Wastewater Centres, and Class A+ Recycled Water at the Springfield Water Recycling Centre.

Water Quality Classification System

Ipswich City Council applies the recycled water classification system adopted by the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as set out in the Queensland Water Recycling Guidelines.

Table 2 - Recycled Water Classification System (EPA 2005)

Parameter	Units	Class A	Class B	Class C	Class D
E. coli	cfu/100mL	<10	<100	<1000	<10 000
Biological Oxygen Demand	mg/L	<20	<20	<20
Suspended Solids	mg/L	<5	<30	<30
Total Dissolved Solids	mg/L	<1000	<1000	<1000	<1000
Conductivity	μS/cm	<1600	<1600	<1600	<1600
Turbidity	NTU	<2
pH	pH units	6.0 - 8.5	6.0 - 8.5	6.0 - 8.5	6.0 - 8.5

Water Quality Specifications negotiated within individual Recycled Water Agreements may nominate additional parameters, however our Class B Recycled Water product will always meet the standards described within Table 2 as a minimum.

Recycled Water - Quality Monitoring

A high priority for Ipswich Water is to ensure that our recycled water continues to meet the agreed water quality specifications and therefore remains ‘fit for purpose'.

Our Recycled Water (Supply) Management Plans describe continuous monitoring performed at each treatment plant to ensure the treatment processes remain in control (known as operational monitoring), and monthly quality assurance monitoring that allows us to verify the performance of the treatment plants in the long term (known as verification monitoring).

Our verification monitoring results are publicly disclosed and allow our customers to review our performance against the agreed water quality specifications.

In accordance with the Guidelines, tankered recycled water in Ipswich is classified as Class B:

Table 3 - Class B Water Specification (Ipswich Water)

Parameter	Units	Specification	Frequency	Where Sampled
E. coli	cfu/100mL	<100	Weekly	Cl2 Contact Tank
Biological Oxygen Demand	mg/L	<20	Weekly	Cl2 Contact Tank
Suspended Solids	mg/L	<30	Weekly	Cl2 Contact Tank
Total Dissolved Solids	mg/L	<1000	Weekly	Cl2 Contact Tank
Conductivity	μS/cm	<1600	Weekly	Cl2 Contact Tank
Turbidity	NTU	<10	Continuous	Cl2 Contact Tank
pH	pH units	6.0 - 8.5	Continuous	Cl2 Contact Tank
Total Chlorine Residual	mg/L	>0.2	Continuous	Cl2 Contact Tank

Quarterly quality characteristic reports of Class B recycled water available from our Bundamba, Carole Park and Rosewood Wastewater Centres can found in the respective 'Recycled Water Information Sheets' below.

Most verification analyses are performed at our modern NATA accredited laboratory located at Lower Cross Street, Goodna.