Recycled water is a cheap, sustainable source of water that is rich in nutrients. It can be used for agriculture or to irrigate farmland. It can also be used to keep parks and sporting grounds green all year round.

It is produced at our water reclamation plants from the sewage that arrives from our customers. This sewage is 99% water.

Throughout our region we treat wastewater at our water reclamation plants and find beneficial ways to re-use the water. After it is treated and turned into recycled water, it can be sustainably re-used for other purposes.

Our recycled water network is represented by purple pipes. It helps many of parks and gardens remain green year-round as well as boosting environmental flows to Bendigo Creek. Recycled water is also put good use as irrigation on farms and supports local industry.

Recycled water can be released to waterways to support river health and habitat to benefit the environment.

Woman in green park.
Farm sprinkler watering crops
Farmer walking through orchard.

Types of recycled water

  • Class A

    Class A recycled water is the state’s highest quality of recycled water. It can be used for things that may involve direct human contact such as closed system toilet flushing, garden watering and firefighting.

    It can also be used to irrigate food crops that can be eaten raw, or sold to customers uncooked or processed, as well as for all the uses listed for Class B and C.

  • Class B

    Class B recycled water may be used to irrigate sports fields, golf courses and dairy cattle grazing land.

    It can also be used for industrial wash down, as well as for the uses listed for Class C recycled water, but has restrictions around human contact.

  • Class C

    Class C recycled water may be used to irrigate cooked or processed human food crops. It can also be used for livestock grazing and fodder, as well for some human food crops that are eaten raw, such as apples, pears, table grapes and cherries.

    It can be used to irrigate some public open spaces such as sporting grounds, golf courses or and other areas, provided there are suitable controls on public access.

Bendigo

Recycled water is already in use across Bendigo, with approximately 2,400 ML received by customers each year.

The Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant produces three classes of recycled water - Class A, B and C.

This can be used to irrigate farms, cropping enterprises, businesses or sports grounds and agricultural irrigation under Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victorian Guidelines for Water Recycling.

At the Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant, we produce recycled water using a biologicial treatment process.

When Class B and C recycled water arrives at the Bendigo Recycled Water Factory is treated to a Class A standard and delivered through a separate purple pipe system with its own meters and connection points.

Recycled water is in use on our city’s gardens and sporting fields. Some households receive recycled water, through a separate purple pipe system with its own meters and connection points.

We also release recycled water to Bendigo Creek which boosts environmental flows and contributes to the health and biodiversity of this local waterway.

If your property has recycled water you'll have a separate water meter, taps and plumbing that are all purple for easy identification.

Find more information here about the recycled water connection test, and connecting to recycled water.

Castlemaine

The Castlemaine Water Reclamation Plant produces about 1,400 megalitres of recycled water each year.

The plant produces Class C recycled water. Our recycled water is subject to stringent monitoring and testing that aligns with our current Environment Protection Authority operating licence.

About 50 megalitres of recycled water is currently reused in Castlemaine, including at the Castlemaine Golf Club during the warmer months. About 1,350 megalitres of recycled water is released to Campbells Creek each year.

The platypus population in Campbells Creek benefit from the recycled water discharge from our plant. These discharges sustain their habitat and we recognise the value of platypus to the community.

Research conducted in 2021 showed the only platypuses detected during sampling were located directly downstream of the plant.

We are licensed to discharge up to 5.5ML per day. We release water as required by plant operations.

Recycled water is a reliable and sustainable water supply. We are always looking for new opportunities to see our recycled water used in the community.

Heathcote

Almost 3000 people live in Heathcote and we currently receive and treat wastewater from almost 900 residential, business and industrial customers.

The Heathcote WRP is a critical piece of community infrastructure that uses a lagoon-based biological treatment process to produce Class C recycled water.

That water can be used to irrigate cooked or processed human food crops. It is also suitable for keeping some public open spaces such as sporting grounds, golf courses or and other areas green, provided there are suitable controls on public access.

Recycled water from the Heathcote WRP has been used to successfully irrigate the Heathcote Golf Club for more than 20 years.

As population growth continues, wastewater inflows at the Heathcote Water Reclamation Plant are increasing too. This will mean an increased availability of recycled water.

This anticipated excess – which could be up to 50 megalitres in some years – is now being considered for broader community use.

An Expressions of Interest process was held in July 2023 for business and landowners interested in using recycled water.

  • Benefits of recycled water

    Recycled water is a more reliable and sustainable source of water.

    Releasing recycled water to waterways helps support habitats for fauna and flora. The platypus population in Campbells Creek benefit from recycled water released from our Castlemaine plant.

    Once treated, recycled water is also suitable for agricultural use and rich in nutrients. It is an independent source of water that doesn't rely on the climate and is in line with EPA reuse guidelines.