Recycling & Reuse

Hunter Water is using recycled water as one approach towards the long-term management of the water cycle and the reliable delivery of water and wastewater services to the lower Hunter Region, while also ensuring confidence in public health and environmental protection. We have several recycled water projects currently in place and new opportunities for the future.

Recycled water is a valuable product that can be used to substitute for drinking water supplies in a variety of applications such as irrigation, toilet flushing, industrial process water and washing machines.

We are committed to recycling and therefore have a Recycled Water Policy which outlines what we endeavour to achieve.

We recycle approximately 4673ML (4673 million litres) per year. Recycled water usage is divided into four categories:

  • Residential use - including three land developments at Thornton North, Gilleston Heights and Coorangbong North.
  • Irrigation use - including local golf courses, a local trotting track and the Kurri TAFE using approximately 419ML of recycled water per year.
  • Industrial use - including Eraring Power Station and the Oceanic Coal Washery using approximately 1609ML of recycled water per year.
  • Agricultural use - including local farmers, woodlots and the Karuah Effluent Reuse Enterprise using approximately 371ML of recycled water per year.
Below is a list outlining reuse for 2010-11.
 

Site

 Usage (ML)
Branxton Golf Course  10
Branxton woodlots  44
Branxton farmer  25
The Oaks Golf and Country Club  0
Eraring Energy   1064
Oceanic Coal  545
Waratah Golf Course  85
Karuah Effluent Recycling Enterprise  188
Kurri Golf Course  154
East's Golf and Leisure  168
McColl Engineering (Trotting Track)  50
Morpeth farmers  10
Paxton Woodlot 0
Kurri Kurri TAFE  23
Dungog farmer  38
Indirect Reuse  2048
WWTW Onsite  180

Industrial Total 

1609

Municpal Total 

419

Agricultural Total (direct) 

371

Total (all direct and indirect) 

4673

           

  • Frequently Asked Questions

    • What is treated, recycled water?

      Answer

      Recycled water comes from wastewater and stormwater that has been highly treated to make it suitable for use in a wide array of applications such as:

      • golf courses and farm irrigation
      • industrial process water
      • toilet flushing and clothes washing

      Recycled water provides a sustainable and reliable source of water while reducing demands on potable supply.

    • Why should we recycle water?

      Answer

      Water is not just important for drinking and washing - insufficient water means we cannot grow adequate food supplies or maintain industry.

      Recycling water provides real flexibility and benefits in our drought prone climate by replacing and thereby conserving potable water.

    • What is wastewater?

      Answer

      Wastewater from individual houses, units and businesses enters a network of wastewater pipes that all ultimately travel to a wastewater treatment facility, where it is processed.

      At our 18 wastewater treatment works we treat the wastewater before it is reused or discharged to rivers or oceans in accordance with strict licence conditions issued by the Office Environment and Heritage (OEH).

      Wastewater is treated to a very high standard and clear effluent is discharged to waterways or reused where it is economically and environmentally beneficial.

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