Reclaimed Water

Effluent that has been treated to a standard where it can be re-used is known as reclaimed water.

Reclaimed water is wastewater that has been given additional treatment so that it complies with the National Water Quality Management Strategy - Guidelines for Reclaimed Water. The additional treatment typically involves sand filtration and two stage disinfection. The quality of all reclaimed water is monitored on an on-going basis. Effectively it looks, smells and has similar qualities to drinking water.

The importance of reclaimed water became clear during the recent drought when farmers on the Northern Beaches, who had access to this valuable and reliable resource, were able to keep their crops alive. 

The existing reclaimed water reticulation system supplies numerous consumers including; sporting fields, the airport, nurseries, businesses, golf courses, bowling clubs, the university and farmers.

Construction of the new reclaimed water reticulation system, part of the Coffs Harbour Sewerage Strategy, has begun with the construction of a five million litre reservoir at Morgans Road Farm near Woolgoolga, and pipelines linking Coffs Harbour, Moonee and Woolgoolga Water Reclamation Plants (WRP's). This project was completed in 2002 at a cost of $1.6 million ($1 million for the reservoir and $600,000 for the pipeline).

The construction of the Deep Sea Release pipeline off Boambee Beach for the discharge of excess reclaimed water began in 2003 and was completed in early 2005.