Recycled water can contain many contaminants including:

• Pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and protozoa
• Chemicals such as heavy metals and pesticides

A monitoring program for contaminants in recycled water is required to ensure recycled water is safe for the intended end uses Microbial Analysis for Wastewater, Sewage sludge and Biosolids Factsheet.

The monitoring program is based on the likelihood of human contact with the recycled water (risk exposure level). For example urban irrigation with unrestricted access is classified as high exposure risk level and therefore water need to be treated to a high quality level to minimise human risk.

For recycled water monitoring requirements refer to the Guidelines for the Non-Potable Uses of Recycled Water in Western Australia (PDF 1.6MB).

To ensure samples are collected correctly and safely, refer to the Recycled Water Sampling Technique factsheet (PDF 90KB) and Microbial analysis - Recycled water and biosolids sampling factsheet (78KB).