SYDNEY, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Western Australia state is rolling out a major innovation hub to help develop wastewater recycling technologies as part of the latest efforts to deal with the impact of climate change on the valuable resource.
"Given wastewater is 99.97 percent water, as it mostly comes from showers, baths and sinks, the potential to develop more recycling options for this resource is just beginning to be explored as we work towards a more sustainable future," the state's Water Minister Dave Kelly said in a statement late on Tuesday.
"Western Australia is already an innovator in this space. We are the first state in Australia to use treated wastewater to recharge groundwater aquifers for future drinking water needs."
The new hub, located at the major Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant, will bring together industry, universities and research partners to focus on new smart technologies for wastewater treatment and recycling, according to the minister's office.
With the impact of climate change on the availability and amount of water, almost half of the resource in state capital Perth alone is supplied through the groundwater replenishment and seawater desalination, according to the office. Each year, more than 160 billion liters of wastewater is collected from homes and businesses and directed to treatment facilities across the state.
"Making the most of our treated wastewater through recycling is vitally important as we continue to feel the impact of climate change," said Kelly.
