In response to drought and population increase, the Australian State of Queensland is implementing a holistic program to provide sufficient drinking water supplies in the future. While this paper primarily focuses on the membrane-based Advanced Water Treatment Plants (AWTPs), which will reclaim 230 - 300 ML/d (61 - 79 US MGD) of water from municipal waste water treatment plant (WWTP) effluent for beneficial reuse, the paper also presents the overall program of emergency water projects. This includes a discussion of the public outreach program. The State Government had considered holding a plebiscite election on 17 March 2007 to determine if a portion of the AWTP reclaimed water can be used to augment the drinking water source reservoir. On 28 Jan 2007 Queensland decided to cancel the referendum to save the $A 10 million ($US 7.7 million) cost, since recycling reclaimed water to the reservoir is needed to adequately supply the region. “Inflow to the dam system is currently 20% lower than the worst on record. The reality is at the moment we have no choice, we have to provide people with water,” according to the state’s Premier Peter Beattie (Bilowol, 2007). The national Prime Minister John Howard agreed, saying, “I am very strongly in favor of recycling (reclaimed water).” (McCutcheon, 2007)
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