Australian Guidelines

Following are the Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling. Please note that each state and territory usually has their own specific guidelines which should also be referred to (see menu to the left).

Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling   

The Environment Protection and Heritage Council, the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council have developed guidelines for the safe use of recycled water.  The guidelines include:

• Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Managing Health and Environmental Risks (Phase 1). Sewage Effluent and Greywater
• Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Managing Health and Environmental Risks (Phase 2):  Augmentation of Drinking Water Supplies
• Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Managing Health and Environmental Risks (Phase 2):  Stormwater Harvesting and Reuse
• Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Managing Health and Environmental Risks (Phase 2):  Managed Aquifer Recharge

Managing Health and Environmental Risks (Phase 1).

Phase 1 of the guidelines focuses on:

• large-scale treated sewage and grey-water to be used for:
• residential garden watering, car washing, toilet flushing and clothes washing;
• irrigation for urban recreational and open space, and agriculture and horticulture;
• fire protection and fire fighting systems;
• industrial uses, including cooling water; and
• grey-water treated on-site (including in high rise apartments and office blocks) for use for garden  watering, car washing, toilet flushing and clothes washing.

Managing Health and Environmental Risks (Phase 2).

Phase 2 of the guidelines focuses on:

• Stormwater reuse
• Managed aquifer recharge
• Recycled water for drinking

National Chemical Reference Guide  

Produced by the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage. This online guide is the  first resource of its kind for Australia. It brings together information from around the world, on a range of  environmental standards and guidelines. The comprehensive, searchable database contains over 600 chemicals,  encompassing various environmental standards for air, water, soil, sediment and biota (including plants)

National Water Quality Management Strategy Guideline Documents 

(Australian Government - Department of  Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry) Includes:

• Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (NHMRC/ARMCANZ) (1996 amended 2001
• Australian Guidelines for Water Quality Monitoring & Reporting (2000)
• Guidelines for Groundwater Protection in Australia (1995)

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (revised 2000)   

• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: A Framework for Applying the Guidelines
• Chapter 3: Aquatic Ecosystems
• Chapter 4: Primary Industries
• Chapter 5: Guidelines for Recreational Water Quality and Aesthetic
• Chapter 6: Drinking Water
• Chapter 7: Monitoring and Assessment
• Appendix 1: Acronyms and Glossary of Terms
• References

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality: Volume 3 - Primary Industries -  Rationale and Background Information

• Contents [PDF - 261 kb]
• Section 9.1 - Introduction [PDF - 147 kb]
• Section 9.2 - Water quality for irrigation and general use [PDF - 765 kb]
• Section 9.3 - Livestock drinking water guidelines [PDF - 333 kb]
• Section 9.4 - Aquaculture and human consumers of aquatic foods [PDF - 561 kb]
• References [PDF - 302 kb]
• Appendices