In the face of growing demand for water and declining rainfall, the industrial use of recycled wastewater in Western Australia is likely to increase. The improper treatment and use of recycled water can, however, pose real health and environmental risks, and as a result, the treatment and use of recycled water in WA is subject to an array of regulatory controls, under both the Health Act 1911 (WA) and the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA)("EP Act").
Approval requirements
Section 98 of the Health Act requires that before sewage can be deposited or put down on any place authorisation must be granted by the Department of Health ("DOH"). Under section 107 of the Health Act, construction or use of an apparatus for the treatment of sewage must also be authorised by the DOH where the treatment involves more than one dwelling or produces more than 540 litres of sewage per day. Sewage is defined very broadly by section 3 of the Health Act to include "any waste composed wholly or in part
