Is wastewater going to waste? Join Environment Protection Authority Victoria’s Senior Applied Scientist at the Wastewater Expo (October 3-4) to find out.
Naren Narenthiran will present on The Future of Wastewater Compliance on 4 October and take part in the lunchtime panel discussion: What role could wastewater recycling play in addressing a water crisis.
A water technology specialist, Mr Narenthiran said water was a precious resource that needed to be properly managed.
“In the new EPA Act, which will take effect from 1 July, 2020, there will be a General Environmental Duty which puts the onus onto those who conduct activities that pose risks to human and environmental health to understand those risks and work to prevent them,” he said.
“This will be a big step forward for Victoria and EPA as our powers will be proactive as well as reactive.”
Mr Narenthiran said the debate would look at what Australia could learn from the current water shortage in Cape Town, South Africa.
“Already places like Lake Wendouree in Ballarat are being topped up with recycled water and market gardens on the Mornington Peninsula are using recycled water,” he said.
“Some new residential estates also have the purple pipe system where recycled water is used for toilet flushing and gardens so potable water doesn’t go to waste.
“There can be a stigma attached to recycled water but we’ve come a long way since the early 2000s and recycled water is treated to an extremely high standard and I think we’ll see it used more and more.”
The Wastewater Expo is a free event at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on October 3 and 4. Visit http://www.wasteexpoaustralia.com.au/ for more information.