Recycled water

Recycled water can be produced and supplied for a number of uses including irrigation of parks, sporting fields and crops and supplying dual reticulation systems.

The use of recycled water to augment drinking water supplies via a source (e.g. supply into a dam) is allowable.

However, direct augmentation of a drinking supply (known as direct potable re-use) is not allowed in Queensland. Direct augmentation is supply from the treatment plant into the drinking water system (i.e. the water pipes).

Recycled water that is sourced from the following is regulated under the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008:

sewage or effluent from a service provider's infrastructure
wastewater from industrial, commercial or manufacturing activities, or animal husbandry activities, where it's transferred to another unrelated entity.

This guide covers the regulation of recycled water and outlines the obligations of recycled water service providers in Queensland.

Registration of recycled water schemes

As a recycled water provider, you must register your recycled water scheme with the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers.

Follow the steps in this Recycled water management plan (RWMP) decision tree (PDF, 114KB) to check if you are required to register your recycled water scheme or if you are required to develop a RWMP.

New recycled water schemes are required to complete their registration as follows:

For schemes that require an approved plan – register before commencing supply of recycled water under the scheme.
For schemes that do not require an approved plan – register 3 months after first commencing to supply recycled water under the scheme.

The department will register a recycled water scheme if the application complies with the requirements, including:

submission of a completed Recycled water scheme registration application form (PDF, 153KB)
sufficient supporting information to enable the department to register the scheme.

The department may require the recycled water provider to supply additional information about the application, which may require verification by statutory declaration.

List of registered recycled water schemes

The department keeps a register of recycled water schemes, providing information to other regulatory agencies and the public about where water recycling activities are occurring.

View the list of registered recycled water schemes.

Also consider...

Read the Water quality guidelines for recycled water schemes (PDF, 511KB) for information on the minimum water quality criteria that apply to recycled water.
Read the Manual for recycled water agreements in Queensland (PDF, 1.8MB) for information and guidance on writing a contract to supply and use recycled water.

Water management plan for recycled water providers

The purpose of a recycled water management plan (RWMP) is to protect public health, and to ensure that critical recycled water schemes continue to operate.

A RWMP is a documented, risk-based system for managing the production and supply of recycled water.

You should follow the steps in this Recycled water management plan (RWMP) decision tree (PDF, 114KB) to check if you are required to register your recycled water scheme or if you are required to develop a RWMP.

Who must prepare a RWMP

As a recycled water provider, you are required to have a RWMP approved by the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers, before supplying recycled water to a recycled water scheme for any of the following:

the scheme is a critical recycled water scheme
the recycled water is supplied to augment a supply of drinking water via a source supply (e.g. a dam)
the recycled water is supplied to premises by way of a dual reticulation system
the recycled water is supplied for use in irrigating minimally processed food crops
the recycled water is supplied for a use prescribed under a regulation made under the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008.

All recycled water providers supplying recycled water to higher exposure uses are required to have an approved recycled water management plan (RWMP).

Schemes supplying for lower exposure uses can also be required to have approved RWMP, but only if prescribed by regulation.

There are no exemptions from preparing a RWMP.

Existing RWMPs approved for higher exposure uses will continue to apply. Plans for lower risk schemes will not. If an existing RWMP covers both higher and lower exposure uses, only the parts of the plan that relate to the higher exposures uses will continue to have effect.

What a RWMP includes

Your RWMP must be based on appropriate risk management methodology and should include:

a description of the recycled water scheme
details of the infrastructure used to produce and/or supply the recycled water and how it will be maintained
the proposed water quality criteria for the recycled water
identification of hazards and hazardous events that may affect the quality of the recycled water
an assessment of the risks posed by these hazards and hazardous events, and how they are proposed to be managed
details of operational and verification monitoring programs to show how the scheme will maintain compliance with water quality criteria
an incident and emergency response plan for the scheme.

If you are a recycled water provider supplying to a dual reticulation system, you are required to include an education and risk awareness program for your customers.

A dual reticulation system means a network of pipes enabling drinking water and recycled water to be supplied to premises from separate pipes. This includes the supply of recycled water for any of the following:

flushing toilets
connection to cold water laundry tap for a washing machine at a residential premises
irrigating lawns or gardens of a residential premises
washing down external parts of a residential premises (e.g. a driveway).

Application process

How to apply

As a recycled water provider, you must complete the Recycled water management plan approval application form (PDF, 600KB) when submitting the RWMP.

You should use the Guide for preparing a recycled water management plan (DOC, 1.7MB) template when preparing a RWMP.

If you are a recycled water provider supplying recycled water to augment a drinking water supply, you must first apply for approval of a validation program (as described below).

Validation programs

A validation program documents how the plant or equipment used for the treatment of recycled water is to be tested to show that the system can effectively control relevant hazards and consistently produce recycled water of the required quality.

It contains information about the methodology used to validate individual components as well as the system as a whole.

As a recycled water provider, you should provide evidence of validation using an appropriate validation program when applying for approval of a RWMP. Outcomes from the validation program should be incorporated into the RWMP (this does not apply to those supplying recycled water to augment drinking water supplies).

If you are a provider supplying recycled water to augment drinking water supplies, you must have your proposed validation program approved before applying for approval of a RWMP. When applying for approval of the RWMP, the results of the validation program must be provided and the outcomes reflected in the RWMP.

You should read the Recycled water management plan and validation guidelines (PDF, 884KB) for detailed requirements for preparing a RWMP and applying for approval.

To apply, use the Validation program approval application form (PDF, 592KB) and the Validation program amendment application (PDF, 571KB).

Requests for further information

When assessing the application, the department may seek advice from an advisory council or other organisation, and may request further information if necessary.

If you fail to comply with a request for further information within the specified time frame, your application will be considered to have been withdrawn.

Updating details

You can change your registration details by using the Recycled water scheme registration application form (PDF, 153KB).

Read about recycled water management plan amendments.

Post plan approval

Once a RWMP is approved, as a recycled water provider, you must comply with the approved RWMP and its conditions and relevant reporting requirements.

Public health compliance

All recycled water schemes (including schemes not operated under a RWMP) must comply with the Public Health Act 2005 which contains provisions that complement the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008.

Recycled water can be considered a public health risk under the Public Health Act 2005 if its supply could impact on public health. It is an offence for a recycled water provider to supply recycled water that they know, or reasonably ought to know, is not fit for use.

Critical recycled water schemes

The Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers can declare a recycled water scheme to be critical, to ensure that it continues providing recycled water.

A critical recycled water scheme is declared to ensure:

that it continues to operate and meet the essential water supply needs of the community or industry
that any risks to public health posed by the supply of recycled water are managed appropriately.

As a recycled water provider of a critical scheme or other entities (e.g. the owner of the pipes in a dual reticulation scheme) you may be subject to additional requirements.

For example, you must give extended notice before permanently stopping supply from a critical recycled water scheme. The department can authorise alternative arrangements to ensure the continued operation of the scheme and use additional dispute resolution powers if required.

Schemes that must be declared critical

The department must declare a recycled water scheme critical if the scheme is supplying or proposing to supply recycled water to:

augment a drinking water supply via a source supply (e.g. a dam)
provide at least 500 kilolitres of recycled water a day for dual reticulation
provide at least 5 megalitres of recycled water a day for use in electricity generation.

This does not prevent the department from declaring any other recycled water scheme critical if necessary to meet the essential water supply needs of a community or industry.

Reporting requirements for recycled water providers

As a recycled water provider operating under an approved recycled water management plan (RWMP), you are obliged to regularly report to the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers through:

annual reports
report on non-compliance with water quality criteria
internal and regular audit reports.

Public reporting

As a provider, you must prepare annual reports if you supply:

recycled water to augment a supply of drinking water
recycled water under a dual reticulation scheme
recycled water used to irrigate minimally processed food crops
recycled water via a declared critical recycled water scheme.

You must publish annual reports on your website, as required in the Public reporting guideline for recycled water schemes (PDF, 385KB).

As a recycled water provider, you must keep a copy of the regular audit report, annual report and approved recycled water management plan report available for public inspection during business hours.

Annual reports

You should follow the instructions in the Annual reporting guideline for recycled water schemes (PDF, 425KB) for information about preparing annual reports.

The annual report must be published on your website, unless you have a reasonable explanation.

Non-compliance incident reporting

Once a RWMP has been approved, you (as a recycled water provider, scheme manager or declared entity) must immediately inform the department of:

any non-compliance with the scheme's water quality criteria
or
any event that may have an adverse effect on public health.

After the initial verbal notification, you must provide an initial notification within 24 hours of the becoming aware of the non-compliance.

Within 5 business days after resolution of the non-compliance, as the entity responsible for taking any corrective action, you must submit an investigation report.

Refer to the Incident reporting guideline for recycled water schemes (PDF, 332KB).

You should complete and submit the Notice of non-compliance with water quality criteria - Recycled water form (PDF, 671KB).

Audit reports

Within 30 business days after each internal and regular audit is completed, you must provide the regulator with a report about the audit(s).

Read the Recycled water management plan audit reporting guideline (PDF, 369KB) for information about preparing regular audit reports.

Amending recycled water management plans

As a recycled water provider, you may be required to amend your approved recycled water management plan (RWMP) if:

the recycled water quality criteria relevant to the scheme changes
the scheme has not complied with a condition of the approved RWMP
the scheme uses new process technology
changes are required following a review or audit of RWMP
there are organisational changes
there are changes that will affect the approved RWMP.

How to apply for amendments

You must apply for approval of any proposed amendments to a RWMP.

For minor amendments (e.g. to change the organisation name or scheme manager details) complete the Request to amend recycled water management plan form (PDF, 616KB).
For substantive changes complete the Recycled water management plan amendment application form (PDF, 600KB).

Required amendments

The Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers may require an amendment to an approved RWMP to protect public health or ensure the continuity of operation of the scheme. In this case, a show cause notice will be issued about the required amendment.

As a recycled water provider, you will have an opportunity to make a response submission to the show cause notice. Then the department will consider your submission(s) about the proposed amendments and give you either:

a notice to amend the RWMP
or
a notice that the RWMP does not need to be amended, if the department decides the proposed amendment should not be made.

As a recycled water provider, you must comply with the notice.

Alternatively, you may decide to voluntarily amend a RWMP before the notice is given. In this case, you must apply to us for approval of the proposed amended RWMP.

Suspending and cancelling recycled water management plans

The Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers can suspend or cancel an approved recycled water management plan (RWMP) if you, as a recycled water provider, have not complied with the plan, a condition of the plan, or a compliance notice.

We will issue a show cause notice about the proposed action. If we decide to suspend or cancel the approved RWMP, we will issue an information notice for the decision (the notice) advising the recycled water provider of the suspension or cancellation of the RWMP. This action will take effect on the day the notice is given:

If your approved RWMP has been suspended, you may apply for an approval to resume supply of recycled water.
If your approved RWMP has been cancelled, you must submit a new RWMP for approval before recommencing supply.

If you wish to temporarily cease the production or supply of recycled water and temporarily suspend your approved RWMP, we may suspend a RWMP when a notice of temporary or unscheduled stoppage (PDF, 1.0MB) is received.

We may cancel a RWMP if the recycled water provider has permanently stopped supplying recycled water under the scheme.

Complete the:

application to resume supply (PDF, 589KB) to apply for approval to resume supply of recycled water
internal review of decision application (PDF, 634KB) to request review and appeal.

Permanently stopping supply of recycled water

If your recycled water scheme is going to shut down and permanently stop supplying recycled water, you (as the the scheme manager, recycled water provider or other declared entity) must notify the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers.

As the recycled water service provider or scheme manager, you must complete the Notice of intent to permanently stop supply form (PDF, 594KB) and provide this to the department (unless there is a reasonable explanation):

for critical recycled water schemes – at least 60 days before the supply of recycled water is proposed to stop
for other schemes – at least 30 days before the supply of recycled water is proposed to stop.

The department may authorise alternative arrangements for a critical recycled water scheme to ensure the continued operation of the scheme and use additional dispute resolution powers if required.

The department may request additional information about the stoppage or require any information to be verified by statutory declaration.

If supply continues after the date stated in the notice of intent to cease supply, the notice ceases to have effect.

Once supply under the scheme actually stops, you (as the the recycled water provider or scheme manager) must give the department Notice of having permanently stopped supply notice (PDF, 567KB) within 5 days after supply stops.

Forms and guidelines for recycled water providers

As a recycled water provider, you should use the following forms, notices and guidelines for recycled water applications, approvals, reporting and reviews.