Water from the Melton Recycled Plant has been released into the Werribee River after recent rains put storages at capacity.
Western Water’s customer and community relations general manager, Graham Holt, said storages at the plant were full because of the rains and a decrease in demand for recycled water.
In 2013-14, Western Water and its customers used almost 90 per cent of the recycled water from the plant for farm irrigation and non-drinking purposes at new homes and industrial developments.
Mr Holt said the Environment Protection Authority, catchment management authorities and local environment groups had been notified of Western Water’s decision to temporarily release diluted class-C recycled water into the river.
“The health of the Werribee River is a priority … we have been working for many years with community and Landcare groups to improve this and surrounding waterways,” he said.
“We have worked closely with Southern Rural Water to ensure the recycled water is released in a controlled way to minimise changes to water quality and ensure recycled water is not diverted into the Werribee irrigation district.”
Mr Holt said Western Water was looking for more customers of recycled water “to benefit the community”.
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