2. Tony Farror Department for Health and Ageing
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AUSTRALIAN GUIDELINES FOR WATER RECYCLING SOUTH AUSTRALIAN APPROACH
Tony Farror
Department for Health and Ageing

3. Wastewater Management Section at DHA tasked with introducing the Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling for all Community Wastewater Management Schemes in SA

4. Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling-Risk Management Approach Summary:
Identifying and managing water recycling risks in a proactive way rather than simply reacting when problems arise.
Identify hazards (What might happen and how)
Estimate the likelihood of an event happening and its consequences ( how likely is it something will happen and how serious will it be if it does?)
Identify preventative control measures and establish monitoring programs
Verification that the system produces recycled water that is “fit for purpose”

6. Community Wastewater Management Systems
Originally “ common effluent” or STED schemes
Collection, treatment and disposal/ recycling of treated wastewater

7. Effluent lagoons or treatment plant
Pump station

11. systems first installed in 1966
Design life was thought to be 30 years but still going strong
Operate throughout the state in all conditions
connections to SA Water sewer network in several cities including suburban Adelaide
Many systems (>60 %) now incorporate a recycled component. Some cannot due to high salinity levels.
Designed using the “CWMS Guidelines”
13/04/2018

12. SA Health Northern/ outback areas 23 schemes
Community Wastewater Management Systems
Presently:
175 council operated schemes
10 private schemes
>60 % reuse
Central / south east areas
162 schemes
SA Health

13. Suburban
STEDS Areas

14. Guideline Implementation Requirement for Department for Health and Ageing.
Each entity to produce a risk management plan and operate the system in accordance with that document.
1 per scheme
Reporting requirements

15. Two methodologies for compliance with criteria
Treatment systems- Water quality
Onsite controls to reduce risks by reducing contact or ingestion

16. Targets To produce at least 1 log of virus reduction by treatment
Lagooning /mechanical treatment
Storage
To provide another 4 log reduction of virus by means of onsite controls.
Setbacks
Dry before use
Spray drift control

17. 5, 3.5, 4

18. Treatment systems 1 log virus reduction

19. Onsite controls = up to 4 log

21. EHOs and the national Guidelines
Be aware of the risks presented by large wastewater systems and measures in place to reduce them
Metro and country! Mawson lakes / GAP
Apply your existing knowledge

22. Using your existing knowledge base - wastewater application
HACCP – critical limit setting
Risk Management plans
Ct values
Chlorination

26. 5, 3.5, 4

28. Points to take home
If you’re not already involved in this area, think about your community wastewater systems and the risks to public health
You already know most of the stuff you require to assess them. It’s just another way of implementing it.

29. Questions?