What attributes of recycled water make it fit for residential purposes? The Mawson Lakes experience

This paper considers an Australian community's perspective of the importance of various attributes of recycled water, including, colour, odour and salt, for various uses including, garden watering, toilet flushing and clothes washing. Results found that the importance of achieving aesthetic levels of these attributes increased as the applied use became increasingly personal. For example respondents rated the attributes of ‘no colour’ and ‘no odour’ of extreme importance for clothes washing, but they were not rated as important for toilet flushing or garden watering. Importance was placed on different attributes of recycled water quality and its delivery, depending on the specified use, with ‘low salt’ rated very important for garden watering in particular. This variation in attribute/use combinations suggests that the parameters of recycled water quality and delivery should be determined ‘fit for purpose.’ It is recommended that the parameters be established in consultation with the community involved, to determine the importance each community places on the various attributes of recycled water, for differing uses. Such an approach will ensure the quality of the recycled water will be to the community's satisfaction, providing a solid platform to successful implementation of recycled water use. Thus, the attributes of recycled water that make it fit for residential purposes vary depending on the use to which it is applied.