Australian Bureau of Statistics
Celebrating the International Year of Statistics 2013

REUSE OF WATER

Reuse water is waste, storm or drainage water that has been used again by industries or households without going back to the environment. Every litre of reuse water that is used, is one litre that does not need to be taken directly from river systems or dams. Reuse or recycled water is considered an important option for securing water supply into the future (AWA 2005).

During 2004-05, Australia used 21 kL per capita of reuse water, down from 26 kL per capita in 2000-01 or a decrease of 20%.

Despite the decrease between 2000-01 and 2004-05, the volume of reuse water per capita has increased greatly from the amounts reported in the 1990s. During the 1990s, the highest volume of reuse water per capita was 7 kL, only a third of the 2004-05 volume. If the increase in the usage of reuse water continues, it will lessen the pressure on scarce freshwater sources.