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Water recycling — forwards or backwards for public health?

Karin S Leder, Joanne E O’Toole and Martha I Sinclair
Med J Aust 2009; 191 (4): . || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb02770.x
Published online: 17 August 2009

In reply: We agree that augmentation of drinking water sources with recycled sewage goes against the traditional policy of separating the two, and that many factors including cost and energy use need consideration in securing future water supplies. Our editorial1 was not written to promote potable recycling, which ultimately is a political and societal decision, but rather to point out that the carefully considered Australian guidelines for water recycling2 have been developed to ensure that, if this form of recycling is contemplated, it is done in a manner that safeguards public health.


  • 1 Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC.
  • 2 Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC.



  • 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 May 2009, link no longer available).
  • 3. Natural Water Quality Management Strategy. Australian drinking water guidelines 6. Canberra: National Health and Medical Research Council, and National Resource Management Ministerial Council, 2004. http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/eh19syn.htm (accessed May 2009).

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