Operator experience with recycling in Australia

Qualitative results from a survey undertaken by the Oz AQUAREC team of a select group of reuse schemes in Australia are presented and discussed. A database of some 450 reuse schemes in Australia has been compiled from information provided by scheme operators and from the literature. Based on this database, 12 schemes in Australia representative of technologies, applications for reclaimed water, and different jurisdictional and geographic locations were selected for further investigation. A survey in the form of a self-completing questionnaire was sent to operators of this representative group of reuse scheme managers to assess a broad range of operational issues. The database and survey are a component of the information gathered as part of the international AQUAREC project, which is developing integrated concepts in water recycling. The components of the questionnaire include plant location, process and capacity, operation and maintenance, ownership, finance and marketing and social issues. A summary of the qualitative results that were obtained from the questionnaires in Australia is provided with the common themes that emerge together with lessons learnt in the various integrated aspects of scheme operation. As many of the schemes selected are at the forefront of reuse, not only in Australia but also internationally, the information presented gives a broad overview of the current status of the experience with the integrated aspects of reuse in Australia.