Details the results of a study looking at the availability of nitrogen and phosphorus in pasture plots following irrigation with recycled water. They studied the differences in N and P after recycled water was applied and after chemical fertilisers were applied. Irrigating solely with recycled water increased the leaching of nitrate from the root zone but if the authors suggest that if irrigations were alternated with fresh water this should problem should be reduced. Reviews progress at the Eli Creek Wastewater Reuse Scheme. This innovative Hervey Bay City Council scheme has been running for 2 years and soil and groundwater monitoring have shown no detrimental impacts because of good quality wastewater and the good management techniques of the landholders.
Many more farmers have access to irrigation water as a result.
The Hervey Bay City Council will soon become the first city council in Australia and the first coastal city in the world to achieve nil-discharge on the sewage front. This article describes the Eli Creek Irrigation Scheme that supplies irrigation water to several sugarcane farms in the area. Describes a Queensland cane farmer's sustainable farming operation, which is also cost-effective and productive. Mentions his use of gun-type travelling irrigators, a conductivity meter to monitor bore water quality, and his recycling of tailwater and local industrial effluent. Research shows that investing in effluent reuse will prove profitable for sugarcane farmers and local authorities - results of a Sugarcost case study.