[Pharmwaste] Threat of sex-change sewage - Australia

[Tenace, Laurie]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19975923-23289,00.html


Threat of sex-change sewage
Tony Koch and Greg Roberts 
August 01, 2006
PEOPLE should not be forced to risk "feminisation" by drinking recycled
sewage, says Queensland Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg.
Outlining the case against treated effluent being added to southeast
Queensland's water supply, Mr Springborg said he was concerned that hormones
left in the water could cause "changes to the basic metabolism of species". 

"There are unanswered questions about it," Mr Springborg said. "This is
particularly with female hormones, both artificial and also natural ...
Research into hormones and the effect that is having on the feminisation of
fish and other animals that actually drink water - and also potentially
humans - it is a highly emotion-charged debate. 

"In a place like Queensland, we have a whole lot of options, including dams,
rainwater tanks, recycled water for industrial purposes, desalination. 

"You don't have to drink recycled sewage." 

After Toowoomba residents used a weekend referendum to vote against using
recycled water to solve the city's water crisis, Queensland Premier Peter
Beattie ordered that a referendum be held across the state's southeast when
council elections are held in 2008. 

But Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said yesterday the Government already
planned to build a pipeline capable of delivering recycled sewage to the
region's main water supply, the Wivenhoe Dam, from 2008. 

Mr Newman said a short feeder pipeline would connect the pipeline to Wivenhoe
Dam and, with change in weather patterns expected, the Government would end
up pumping recycled sewage into the dam. 

He said the promised referendum was a "sham" to deflect a public backlash
over the sensitive recycled water issue until after the state election. 

"The Premier needs to be upfront with the people and if he does that, we will
support him," Mr Newman said. "If he wants a referendum, he should have it
now. We're not prepared to cop him getting it off the agenda for another 20
months." 

Mr Springborg wants heavy industry, including the Government's power
corporations, to take recycled sewage instead of tapping into Wivenhoe Dam,
and believes the Government should accelerate its pipeline plans. 

Mr Beattie demanded yesterday that Mr Newman connect three of Brisbane's
major industrial water users - Incitec takes more than 6.5million litres a
day, the Caltex refinery 5.2million litres a day, and Brisbane airport
4.2million litres a day - directly to its nearby sewage treatment plants. 

Mr Beattie is expected to meet Toowoomba Mayor Di Thorley today to discuss
the city's critical water shortages. Ms Thorley, who had foreshadowed rate
rises of $1000 a year if recycled water were not accepted, last night said
the only other options available were "unsustainable, uneconomical or with
bad environmental outcomes". 


Laurie J. Tenace
Environmental Specialist
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 4555
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400
PH: (850) 245-8759
FAX: (850) 245-8811
Laurie.Tenace at dep.state.fl.us  
 
view our mercury web pages at: 
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/mercury/default.htm 

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