Making recycled water

In 2012, ETP was upgraded to include an advanced tertiary treatment process.

It is now one of the few plants in the world that can treat all incoming wastewater to a standard suitable for reusing, rather than only a small percentage. See how we do it in the video below:

Eight bottles of water lined up, showing brown-yellow water becoming progressively clearer as it moves through the treatment process.

These test bottles show samples of water as it moves through ETP’s tertiary treatment process, involving filters, ozone, ultraviolet (UV) light and chlorine.

Check out the change in water colour!

Using recycled water

Class A recycled water produced at ETP can be:

  • re-used on site
  • provided to nearby homes and businesses as recycled water
  • released into the ocean at Boag Rocks, under strict conditions set by EPA Victoria to protect the environment.

Recycled water schemes

Supplying recycled water to customers puts it to good use, and reduces the amount released at Boag Rocks.

Recycled water from ETP is distributed via South East Water (one of Melbourne’s retail water companies), who then supplies it to homes and businesses through their pipe networks. It is also distributed to Trility, who supplies local businesses.

There are a number of recycled water schemes providing access to users, and new schemes are in development. Areas currently using recycled water include the:

  • Eastern Irrigation Scheme, Cranbourne – supplies more than 80 customers with water for horticulture, irrigation and industrial processes
  • Cranbourne housing estates
  • Logis Industrial Park
  • Dingley scheme (under construction).

We will let you know of any updates of any new schemes. To find out if you can access recycled water, contact your local water retailer.

Hand holding a hose showing water being used in the garden