Rehtcub

What drugs are you on?
Yes, I am very sorry about that, I simply did not read all previous posts. However, I don't think water is that scarse, we just waste far to much, this is why it is short.

If we collected it rather than channeled it into our oceans we would probobly have to all build an ark.

Stormwater harvesting would solve all our water problems.

And examinator, I am 100% pro water recycling. If they think it will be unsafe to drink, then DON'T DRINK IT!

Thanks Rechtub

I agree that our first step towards ensuring a safe water supply is to improve how we collect it in the first place. For example, I question the expense of a desalination plant, when:

1. We could collect rain water more effectively before it runs into the ocean via individual catchments by industry and home.
2. The concentration of salt that would be put back into the ocean will cause environmental hazards for marine life.

However, like any move towards sustainable living there is no single answer; recycled water makes sense because it is easy to collect, local and as Examinator has explained is safe. However at the very least, recycled water can and should be used by industry leaving fresh water supplies for consumption. We need the natural minerals that come with fresh water; as has been noted distilled water is not suitable for consumption.

Grey water systems for flushing toilets, washing cars etc is yet another method of saving on fresh water.

Having lived in the Dandenong Ranges since 2001, I have watched my garden become increasingly dry. Even tree ferns that are indigenous to this area and are many years old have simply died. We are in drought. And we don't know if this drought will become the norm, therefore it makes sense to take action to conserve what does fall from the skies.

The key point in this debate is that if Australia goes down the water recycling path, it must be done carefully. This means doing objective scientific research to determine what the facts actually are in each region and situation that it's applied.

For those interested, there's a segment on Catalyst tonight (at least in the ACT) at 8pm on the ABC.

Fractelle

Sadly there is a rub with collecting grey water. If enough people collect it in a mains system if too many collect their water there won't be enough to flush the pipes and therefore the waste to the plants. This in turn would cause backups(yuk) broken pipes, disease and necessitate flushing thus negating the savings.
Septics are different.

Also sadly we do have a problem with not enough water. The Snowy hydro system is low on water and if it continues it too will run out thus causing peak black outs in Sydney and Melb.

The water in the Murray Darling system salinity levels are climbing to such a level that the water near or at the mouth is approaching sea levels. The consequences of this are likely to be catastrophic for about 5-6 million Australians immediately.
The water in the great artesian basin is now 60 feet lower than it was 10years ago...this water is fossil water.

Perth is using up its supply of fossil water to survive it can't do this indefinitely.
The oceans are becoming more saline (AWG?) and more acidic this is having effects on plankton in the Antarctic which is the base of the oceanic food chain.
The effect of this are obvious. The list goes on and on.

This is real problem we may finish up with little choice on what to drink. AWG or natural the collection of all the observable facts are too large to right themselves quickly. They are the wild card or herd of rogue bull elephants in the room. If weather patterns change over Aust as the CSIRO believes I recon we as Australians if not the world put our survival plans on steroids and speed. Remember "if there is to be panic let it be planned and organized" and I don't mean you panic there and I'll panic here. :-)

>>>The water in the great artesian basin is now 60 feet lower than it was 10years ago...this water is fossil water.<<<

I understand this. Also I agree about difficulties with grey water, but I see possibilities with ALL ways we can save water and just problems to be solved as we go along. Trouble is we haven't really started. We're still arguing, when we should be doing. Besides, Examinator, you don't have to convince me I have a reasonable background in eco-systems/environment although I no longer work in that field.

I just hope that enough people will give thought to these pages and do their own research, especially checking the source of information given that there are so many contradictory and conflicting views. I try to check for vested interests in any claim having learned from the "example" set by the tobacco lobby and their team of trained scientists.

Fractelle,
Sorry I didn't know of your background nor did I mean to demean your intelligence.
I am alway aware that others read these posts thus whileI'm talking to you I'm adding information the general public usually doesn't know.
After all it's waste water up untill now isn't something people have paid attention to...perhaps I should have address the comment to all....sorry. I guess that means I'm off your Xmas pressy list now?
:-(