NSW Recycled Water Concierge service

To encourage more water recycling in NSW, we have established a dedicated Recycled Water Concierge service. The service provides a central point of contact for industry to provide guidance on the planning for recycled water schemes by water utilities, developers or councils.

The Concierge service will:

• Provide information on how to navigate the regulatory framework for recycled water and direct any enquirers to the relevant agency or contact
• Provide tailored information for each enquirer, considering the context of their project/ situation
• Direct enquirers to applicable guidelines, codes and other relevant regulatory instruments
• Highlight emerging evidence-based research, initiatives and case studies of innovative recycled water solutions
• Encourage the uptake of safe, reliable and cost-effective recycled water schemes
• Maintain a repository of information and resources about recycled water policies, guidance and case studies that will be accessible
• Raise awareness of the critical role recycled water plays for a sustainable NSW.

Key roles of government agencies and proponents in recycled water

Responsibility for and oversight of recycled water is shared across several NSW Government departments and regulators.

Key NSW agencies involved include:

• Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
• NSW Health
• Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART)
• Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
• Environment Protection Authority (EPA)

Each agency focuses on specific priorities, such as public health, waterway health, urban planning etc., based on the legislation. An overview of relevant laws is provided in Appendix 1 of the Recycled Water Roadmap.

Licensing and approval requirements for recycled water depend on who is delivering the project and the type of scheme.

• Sydney Water and Hunter Water are state-owned corporations and do not need specific approval to produce recycled water. However, they must follow the Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling and meet any additional NSW Health requirements. Compliance with their operating licence is audited by IPART.
• Other water service providers (including local utilities, councils and private operators) must meet approval and licensing requirements that vary by provider and scheme type.

A summary of the legislative responsibilities for state-owned corporations, local water utilities, metropolitan councils and private water utilities is available in Appendix 2 of the Recycled Water Roadmap.

The key roles of government agencies and proponents in recycled water are outlined in the table below:

The Committee promotes awareness of the Recycled Water Roadmap and the benefits of recycled water projects, while working to improve the transparency and efficiency of government assessment and approval processes. It also helps clarify and communicate the roles and responsibilities of agencies involved in recycled water planning, approvals and regulation, supporting a more coordinated approach across government.

The Committee has representation from key NSW Government agencies, including NSW Health, Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and NSW Environment Protection Authority.