REMS – Reclaimed water management scheme
Background and Overview
REMS is one of the largest water-recycling schemes undertaken by an Australian water authority. It will be developed in two stages at a total cost of $64.5m and will utilise up to 80% of the reclaimed water from six Shoalhaven wastewater treatment plants to irrigate local dairy farms, golf courses and sports fields.
Objectives
To re-use up to 2000 million litres of reclaimed water for beneficial purposes rather than disposing of it into the environment
To boost irrigation water to the region’s farmers allowing for up to six times the pasture growth that would normally be expected during the driest conditions
To provide sufficient water to irrigate local sporting facilities
Current Status
REMS Stage 1A entered its fourth year of operation with Callala, Vincentia, Culburra Beach and St Georges Basin Wastewater Treatment Plants (WwTPs) contributing reclaimed water of a very high quality.
Of the water distributed within REMS during 2004/5, 51% was beneficially used for irrigation and 40% was released to Penguin Head and 9% held in the bulk storage. Near normal rainfall during 2004/5 provided more limited opportunities for beneficial irrigation.
There was no reclaimed water released to Jervis Bay.
Concept design work for REMS Stage 1B has commenced, is being undertaken by the Department of Commerce and should be completed mid 2006. The concept will consider options to link the Bomaderry and Nowra treatment plants into REMS including quality upgrades and connection pipelines.
Soils sampling from irrigated pastures have shown no detrimental impacts on soil chemistry including salinity, when compared to non-irrigated pastures.
There was approximately 45ML of reclaimed water used for dairy yard wash down, replacing previous usage of potable water for this purpose.
The Scheme has complied with its Environment Protection licence.
The quality of reclaimed water supplied into the REMS has consistently complied with EPA licence requirements and national reclaimed water irrigation guidelines.Stage 1b at Nowra/Bomaderry is scheduled to begin in 2008 for completion in 2012.
More information
For more information about the background, workings and features of the scheme you can follow the links at the top right of this page