Australians Reject Recycled Sewage Water Plan

Officials have been unable to convince residents that a "toilet to tumbler" recycled water scheme would provide drinking water that is safe and reliable.

1 minute read

August 2, 2006, 2:00 PM PDT

By davarnado

"Residents of a drought-stricken Australian town have rejected a plan to drink water recycled from sewage, striking a blow to conservationists who want the scheme to be rolled out across the country.

Toowoomba in the state of Queensland has faced water restrictions for a decade and is one of hundreds of small towns suffering from a shortage of rainfall.

Local Mayor Dianne Thorley had urged the 100,000 strong community to back a plan to pump purified effluent back into dams for drinking, and warned the town's water supply could dry up within two years without drought-breaking rains.

But in a referendum on Saturday, Toowoomba convincingly rejected the proposal, by approximately 62 per cent to 38."

FULL STORY: Thirsty Australian Town Rejects Plan to Drink Recycled Sewage

Monday, July 31, 2006 in Cosmos Online

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