A CSIRO study that found “simple treatments” would make stormwater drinkable was hidden from the public.
The Advertiser can reveal that as the State Government was defending its $1.8 billion expenditure on the desalination plant and attacking the Liberal Party’s 2010 election promise to treat wasted stormwater for drinking, it had the CSIRO results.
The State Government argues stormwater can’t be used for drinking but documents obtained under Freedom of Information show the treatment would be similar to that of River Murray water.
“We would need, in addition to reed bed filtration and aquifer detention, iron removal and additional disinfection (with ultraviolet light and chlorination) to achieve the standard required for drinking water supplies … simple treatments,” CSIRO scientist Peter Dillon states in a letter to former water minister Karlene Maywald about a report part-funded by the Premier’s Science and Research Foundation.
Other documents show the Government repeatedly selectively quoted from the report which states: “However, we cannot say that we have produced water capable of use as mains water … “
Family First MLC Robert Brokenshire questioned whether the findings were hidden because the State Government was committed to desalination and the Opposition to stormwater recovery.
“People are getting tired of one of the major parties bagging an idea just because the other party has come up with it,” he said.
Dr Dillon refused to discuss the Government’s selective quoting of his study because he had agreed to a “communication strategy” for a new study on treating stormwater to drinking quality.
“I don’t resile from anything I have said but as project director of this new project we have a communications plan and I have a responsibility to the funders which include state, Commonwealth and local government and others to verify any communications,” he said.
“The past project clearly has implications for the current project.”
Water Minister Paul Caica said in a statement: “The State Government … maintains that the suitability of stormwater for drinking has not been ‘fully’ demonstrated and further scientific information is needed.”
