- Title:
-
Class A Recycled Water Project: Safety aspects concerning the use of recycled water for firefighting purpose
- Date:
- September 2007
- Organisations
- AFAC
- Authors:
- Colin May
- Location:
- Australia, Australia
Overview
Prolonged drought across Australia led water authorities to implement actions to secure the sustainability of Australia’s water supply. One of these initiatives has been the use of reclaimed/recycled water for a number of purposes, including fire fighting.To address concerns raised by AFAC members about the safety of Class A recycled water for firefighting purposes and the potential risk exposure to the health and safety of firefighting personnel, a research analysis was undertaken to determine a national position on the safety of Class A water.
AFAC examined current research on the issue. Looking at two main pieces of research:
- WSAA Occasional Paper No 11, November 2004, Health Risk Assessment of Fire Fighting from Recycled Water Mains which was published in the Water services Association of Australia Journal which can be viewed on their website.
- Queensland Department of Emergency Services GHD report, December 2006, Use of Recycled Water for Firefighting Purposes, health risk assessment.
Guidelines for the use of Class A Recycled Water
- Recycled water should not be used for personal uses including drinking, food preparation and bathing.
- Firefighters will be provided with, and drink, potable water during firefighting operations involving the use of recycled water.
- Hands should be washed with soap and water prior to handling or eating food or smoking after using Recycled Class A water.
- Decontamination showers will be connected only to potable water supplies.
- Firefighters will shower with potable water supplies upon returning to station following firefighting with recycled water.
- First aid drenching for burns and cleaning other wounds will be undertaken with potable water whenever reasonably possible. The advantages of immediate application of water (recycled if necessary) to burns far outweighs any likely negative impact. If recycled water is used, the burn should be washed later with bottled or potable water and medical authorities advised that recycled water has been used.
- No additional personal protective clothing or equipment is required when using recycled water.
- Fire appliances may transport recycled water for firefighting.
- Recycled water may be stored in tankers or tanks provided appropriate signage is clearly displayed indicating that the water is recycled and is not suitable for drinking.
- Fire appliances shall not be used for transporting recycled water for private use (for example: drinking purposes).
- Agencies should consider the possible impact nutrient rich recycled water may have on water courses (such as algal blooms) and take steps to manage the risk. Agencies should:
- Consider, where possible, options for containing recycled water run-off entering storm water drainage systems during operational activities.
- Automatically regard fire-water run-off as a potential hazard to the environment and that it should be managed appropriately.
- Minimise the water required to suppress the fire to minimise fire water run-off.
- Locate, where practical, planned activities involving the use of class A recycled water (such as training) in a location where the class A recycled water can be contained. For example, grassed areas.
- Notify and seek advice from a relevant Environment Department in cases of substantial or significantly polluted fire water runoff or other issues relating to recycled water quality.
