Why replenish aquifers with treated wastewater?
Treated wastewater is a very reliable source of water – volumes vary little with the weather so it is always available! If used as an alternative source, the water is called ‘recycled water’. We are in a drying climate and groundwater levels are dropping. This may affect wetlands, the amount of water we have available in our homes and the viability of agricultural industries and heavy industries that provide us with food and other resources. The Swan Coastal Plain is a suitable environment for aquifer replenishment due to our uniform sandy soils that act as a natural filter to purify water as it passes through. Australia has world class expertise in the field of aquifer replenishment and some of the leading researchers in this field are based in WA. Using dams and tanks to store recycled water and pipes to transfer it is expensive. Using aquifer replenishment, water can be safely stored in an aquifer and transferred to the end user practically and cost effectively.
