CALLS for recycled water to be considered as a solution to the city's drought-induced water shortage are growing louder.
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Tamworth ecologist Phil Spark is backing Tamworth Regional Councillor Mark Rodda's push for recycled water, saying it could be a "guaranteed" solution to the shortage.
"The bottom line is that we need to be recycling water a lot more seriously," Mr Spark said.
"I think it needs to be costed and given a really serious consideration.
"That way we are guaranteed of an improvement out of the water situation, where as going down the track of building a new dam, we're not guaranteed of anything."
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Mr Spark said public perception was the biggest challenge facing those looking to capitlise on recycled water.
"It's predicted to rain less, which means there will be less water to catch, so recycled water is a good option moving forward," he said.
"It happens all around the world and it's a generally accepted way of being more efficient with water.
"The council is concerned the residents of Tamworth don't want recycled water, but when you think about it, what's coming out of the river that they're treating now has got all the same impurities in it."
Cr Rodda said there was a good case to be made for the increased use of recycled water.
"We could spend $480 million on a 22 gigalitre dam, but then you need to rely upon the universe to deliver rain for it and there's no guarantee of that," Cr Rodda said.
"Obviously, we've enjoyed some good rain events over the past few months, but I don't want us to get back into that position of sustained drought periods.
"The people of Tamworth continue to suffer through Level 5 water restrictions and that's why I think the answer is recycled water."
Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson said the use of recycled water was a matter for the council.
"What I am most looking forward to is the amount of local jobs this new dam will create during construction," Mr Anderson said.
"I know Tamworth Regional Council is already exploring a lot of options with recycled water and some are being put to good use.
"Any further investigation into recycled water is a matter for the council."
The renewed push for recycled water comes after Cr Rodda first flagged the idea with the council last year and the Namoi Unlimited Joint Organisation released a public survey into the matter in May.
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
