Achieving sustainable recycled water initiatives through public participation

Sustainability or “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” [1] remains a relatively new concept for the water industry. The challenge is to develop sustainable recycled water projects that meet the needs of a water business as the responsible service authority, while at the same time meeting the individual needs of a particular community. The community consultation model that has been adopted by Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water to assist in the implementation of our urban Water Quality Improvement Program is widely considered to be a water industry benchmark. The integration of this tried and tested consultation model with our recently adopted Recycled Water Strategy is now providing us with a framework for informing and educating local communities and other key stakeholders about recycled water. The model also encourages local stakeholders to play a major role in identifying and evaluating opportunities for potential sustainable recycled water projects to meet the needs of their particular community. The successful elements of the model that have been further developed include community newsletters, information packages and public workshops. Initial newsletters and an information workshop seek local community input into identifying potential projects. Subsequent information packages and workshop(s) provide further information for interested individuals and/or organisations in the development of project proposals. Local community input into prioritising the criteria used to assess project proposals are also sought, usually through these workshop(s). Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water has challenged the perceived ‘we know what's best for you’ culture by providing key stakeholders with the opportunity to have informed input during the decision making process. This is allowing us to develop sustainable recycled water projects that take into consideration the needs of individual communities and key stakeholders. It is also assisting us to build strong relationships with our customers through educated and informed communities.