I saw the following quote from an AP story and I shuddered a bit:"Residents of a drought-stricken Australian town will vote this week on whether they're prepared to drink water recycled from sewage -- the first such scheme in the country and one of only a handful in the world."
I of course wondered where else in the world this has been tried before. And wouldn't you know it, it's been going on in Virginia! They've been topping off the Occoquan Reservoir with "recycled" water since 1978!
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The drought is really severe there at the moment. The dams are incredibly low, and most major cities are in high-level water restrictions. It's incredibly sad.
You've gotta read "Collapse" by Jared Diamond. He talks in detail about the destruction wrought on the Australian ecosystem through the importation of British farming and pasture techniques and preferences that are not just ill-suited, but completely ruinous to Australia.
It's a fascinating read.
But the Toowoomba recycled water debate is about far more than recycled water.
There are other viable water options but the Mayor is hell-bent on having the people drink recycled sewage water.
Hopefully the vote on 29/7 will put this all to rest!
BTW - Virginia recognises its problems and is now looking at doing recycled water for non-drinking purposes only.
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