To the Editor: Recycling water from sewage into drinking water was recently discussed in the Journal.1 Although this is technically feasible, we need to be very wary. Such recycling is associated with very high ongoing monetary and energy costs, but, most importantly from a health perspective, is a “very high-risk”2 proposal that reverses 150 years of good public health policy of striving to keep sewage out of our drinking water supplies.
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.
- School of Clinical Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT.
- 1. Leder KS, O’Toole JE, Sinclair MI. Water recycling — forwards or backwards for public health [editorial]? Med J Aust 2009; 190: 293-294. <MJA full text>
- 2. National Water Quality Management Strategy. Australian guidelines for water recycling: managing health and environmental risks (Phase 2). Augmentation of drinking water supplies. Canberra: Environment Protection and Heritage Council, Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council, and National Health and Medical Research Council, 2008. http://www.ephc.gov.au/sites/default/files/WQ_AGWR_GL__Augmentation_of_Drinking_Water_Supplies_Final_2008_05.pdf (accessed Apr 2009, link no longer available).
- 3. National Research Council. Issues in potable reuse: the viability of augmenting drinking water supplies with reclaimed water. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1998. http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309064163 (accessed Apr 2009).
- 4. Watkinson AJ, Murby EJ, Costanzo SD. Removal of antibiotics in conventional and advanced wastewater treatment: implications for environmental discharge and wastewater recycling. Water Res 2007; 41: 4164-4176.
- 5. Khan S, Roser D. Risk assessment and health effects studies of indirect potable reuse schemes. Final report. Sydney: Centre for Water and Waste Technology, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, 2007. http://www.lgaq.asn.au/lgaq/publications/Risk% 20Assessment%20and%20Health%20Effects%20 Studies%20-%20WSAA%20Version.pdf (accessed Apr 2009).
- 6. Roser D, Khan S, Davies C, et al. Screening health risk assessment for the use of microfiltration-reverse osmosis treated tertiary effluent for replacement of environmental flows. Final report. Sydney: Centre for Water and Waste Technology, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, 2006.