I guess my lack of objections were based on the fact that, being such a controversial factor, I would assume that no government is going to deliberately initiate schemes that weren't completely reliable. I still think that there is so much scrutiny on the whole process that programmes that were initiated would be safe.

However, what swayed me over was Hasbeens post about the cost factor. If ensuring that all risks were eradicated is indeed going to prove so costly as to make desalination or any other scheme the better option, then of course I'd opt for the most cost-effective plan.

But I do also feel strongly about the water-tank and "rain on the roof" issue as well.

Aw hell, I guess I just feel strongly that the whole issue of water isn't getting the prioritization it deserves - perhaps I'm just grasping at straws?

From up here it seems I read far more and hear far more about the petrol/oil crisis in Australia that of absolute survival: water. While I'm not for one moment saying that alternative energy isn't of extreme importance, it just seems that water is sucha basic issue that there should be a lot more being seen to be done.

Sounds nasty! With deserts growing rounding to the full, ... is the planet.

What are we going to drink... when the small mindless runs out of pathetic excuses! We have the smarts to turn all waste water from cities drains and turn it back into the land and re-green from the inside out.9 A lot of pipe lines, but guess who has the microclimate.

Its in high school form... but I would revise the talk, and pump all wast back to the middle.

We maybe to help, than stick a ban-aid, but its your world, I just live in it.

All the best.

EVO

Romany, Foxy, all
As I understand it there are several ways to recycle sewerage and criticisms against it depend on a multitude of factors depending on the technology used.
Dam or ground water qualities are similarly difficult to be absolute about.

In some cities in France and US the ground water and is has been contaminated by water escaping or released from nuclear power generation. Some surveys I’ve seen have the contaminated water spreading .

Recycling cost recovery is possibly increased by the sale of the dried waste as fertilizer.

One other factor that goes against dams is the wastage I read somewhere that a very large % of the water is subject to evaporation with the increasing temps one wonders if this might not increase substantially.

Add to that the cost and maintenance of the dam in reality dams have a finite life some longer than others. Those that are on rivers are prone to silting up the depth reduces and therefore is more prone more rapid evaporation. For these reasons an efficient dam is one that has a small foot print but large capacity (depth).

Those that are on rivers also have the problem of flow e. g. if the river dries up or ceases to flow then the dam can’t manufacture water it is a storage facility.
Many of the nasty pollutants are trapped in the mud/ silt at the bottom therefore the less water the higher the pollutant level in the water.

In one Victorian lake used to have regular speedboat / rec boat activity. When it went dry scientific tests showed that the water and the silt had high contaminant levels and had to have extra processing.

There are a myriad of other associated issues including air born pollution settling in the water PH levels etc.

Even the rain has toxic pollution that depend on where/how it’s collected etc e.g. the acid rain effecting in Canada due to winds from US industrial and motor vehicles.
Answer, drink more alcohol it might be polluted too but after the first few who cares cheers ;-)

What's the long term effects?.

I don't know what the answer is.

But, as Romany points out - water is an
issue that needs more attention. The cost
may be expensive - but what are our choices?
A two-pipe system - one for drinking water, one
for utilities? This would only work in new
developments - not in built-up areas where it
would be excessively expensive.

Under laboratory conditions and brand new treatment
facilities, there's no reason why sewage into
drinking water shouldn't work. But systems
break down with time, and all it takes is a minute
failure that may not be detected for any length of
time - that could contaminate the water system -
resulting in break-outs of various diseases.

Is it worth the risk?

Everyone is on drugs or has a disease of one sort or another. The long term unquantified risks just don't seem necessary when there's such a thing as desalination and rising water levels.