The New South Wales Government has unveiled the state’s first-ever Recycled Water Roadmap, setting out an ambitious yet practical blueprint to maximise the sustainable reuse of water across urban and regional areas.
Aimed at strengthening water security, enhancing drought resilience, and increasing efficiency, the roadmap lays the foundation for expanding water recycling wherever it is safe, beneficial, and cost-effective.
“With a growing population and a changing climate, it’s crystal clear we need to ramp up water recycling across NSW in the coming decades,” said Ashraf El-Sherbini, Executive Director Water Operations and Resilience at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW). “We know it has to be done safely and cost-effectively, and we need to ensure we bring the community with us on the journey – the Recycled Water Roadmap delivers a clear plan for how we can achieve that.”
Currently, recycled water makes up around 8% of Greater Sydney’s supply for non-drinking purposes, with regional areas averaging around 13%. The Roadmap identifies significant potential for further uptake.
Developed through two years of consultation with industry stakeholders, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities, water utilities, and environmental advocates, the Roadmap builds on the NSW Water Strategy. More than 200 people participated in consultations during an extended 12-week community engagement period in 2024, resulting in over 70 formal submissions.
The document outlines 14 key actions to be implemented over the next two years, addressing policy, economic, regulatory, and coordination dimensions to advance recycled water projects. These actions include:
- Prioritising public health;
- Supporting water utilities in planning and engaging customers on recycled water;
- Exploring investment opportunities for both drinking and non-drinking reuse;
- Streamlining regulatory and approval processes;
- Continuous monitoring to identify new opportunities.
“This is the culmination of years of hard work and collaboration between water agencies, water utilities and other key stakeholders to find the best path forward,” said El-Sherbini. “This Roadmap is the next piece of the jigsaw, setting us up for a more sustainable water future.”
The initiative also introduces a Recycled Water Concierge role to serve as a central point of contact for stakeholders, helping to streamline project development and approvals.
