To save precious drinking water, there are a number of alternative water sources that can be used for non-drinking purposes.
The following sources are described in this section: wastewater; greywater; rainwater; stormwater and groundwater. For source-specific information go to these pages.
The selection of a suitable non-drinking water source is site-specific. Depending on the scale, the following factors should be considered:
- Infrastructure needs and land requirements
- what are the intended end uses and the estimated demand?
- are there sufficient quantities of the proposed source available?
- what are the storage and distribution options?
- are there any site-specific constraints, such as location within a public drinking water source area (PDWSA)?
- can potential impacts on the environment be managed; for example, proximity to wetlands or acid sulphate soil contamination?
- can potential risks to public health be managed?
- is the concept technically feasible?
- is the concept financially viable?
- is the concept acceptable to the community?
- who will manage the system in the immediate and long term?
- overall environmental footprint – e.g. energy and water use efficiency.