Each year, we produce billions of litres of recycled water.

Instead of letting wastewater go to waste, we treat it so it's suitable for reuse for all sorts of things from irrigation, to flushing toilets, doing a load of washing, and more. 

Expanding our recycled water network is one of the many ways we’re planning for ther future and reducing the demand on our drinking water supplies.

We’ve already connected some 60,000 of your homes in Cranbourne, Clyde, Lyndhurst, Pakenham, Sandhurst and Officer, and we’re connecting more households, open spaces, sports fields and businesses (like nurseries and golf courses), every day.

Why recycled water?

There are lots of social, environmental and economic reasons to use recycled water:

  • It’s 37% cheaper to use than drinking water, saving money on your water bill
  • Saves drinking water in your laundry, garden and toilets and helps protect our precious water supply
  • It’s safe, high quality and always in supply
  • It's exempt from Permanent Water Use Rules and restrictions, so you can have a healthy, green garden all year round
  • Helps keep our open spaces and sporting fields green, without relying on drinking water
  • It's reducing the demand on our drinking water supplies, leaving billions of litres in our storages so there's enough water for everyone.
Checking your recycled water plumbing

You need to check your recycled water connection every year. 

This is especially important if you’ve had plumbing, landscaping or renovation works done on your place.

Think you might not be connected properly? Get in touch with us as soon as possible.

Find out how to check if your recycled water is connected properly by downloading our handy guide.

Download the guide

How do I know if I have recycled water?

You can identify recycled water by its purple pipes, taps and meter. In new housing estates, these are installed at the time of a home’s construction. 

Never change or paint your recycled water fittings as the colour helps to avoid confusion with your drinking water supply.

If you need to replace any of your recycled water taps and fittings, a reputable plumbing supply store is the place to go.

How is recycled water made?

Water from your kitchen, laundry, shower and toilet leaves your house through wastewater pipes. We then treat it to the highest Class A standard at our water recycling plants to make sure it meets the Australian Recycled Water Guidelines.

Recycled water is perfectly safe to use around your home. Although we don’t recommend drinking it, don’t worry if you accidentally drink it. We treat it to a very high standard and it’s unlikely to make you sick. If you feel unwell after drinking it, do seek medical advice.

Recycled water and your bill

We read your drinking water and recycled water meters to measure how much of each type of water you’ve used. 

We use this to calculate your bill. 

You’ll be able to see how much of each type of water you’ve used when you receive your quarterly bill.

How can use recycled water within your home?

There are many ways to use recycled water and reduce our reliance on drinking water.

 

Recycled water is great for

  • Washing clothes 

  • Cleaning outside areas, including outdoor furniture

  • Flushing toilets

  • Washing cars (on the lawn only) 

  • Watering lawns

  • Watering plants and vegetables in the garden

  • Fighting fires

  • Filling your pet’s water bowl (it’s safe for all animals except pigs)

You can't use recycled water for

  • Drinking, cooking with or using in the kitchen

  • Filling children’s water toys

  • Filling swimming pools or spas

  • Operating evaporative cooling systems

  • Showering or bathing

  • Connecting handheld sprays to your toilet

Commercial uses

Recycled water is ideal for irrigating some of those places we all enjoy as Melburnians, like sports grounds, parks and public spaces.

Outside of the urban area we also provide recycled water to a range of businesses such as market gardens, wineries, golf courses, turf farms, fodder production, wholesale nurseries and for sand mining.