Snow made from recycled water used at Mt Buller

Mt Buller, a Victorian alpine resort, has marked a milestone today as recycled water from the resort’s Water Reuse system has been used for snowmaking for the first time.

The $3.43 million Water Reuse system was officially launched last winter. Since that time, it has undergone rigorous testing to ensure that the water it is treating satisfies the stringent standards of the Department of Human Services and Environmental Protection Authority.

Having passed all testing requirements, the resort has now been able to capitalise on the colder winter conditions and use this water to produce snow for Mt Buller’s ski field area.

The Water Reuse infrastructure uses a disinfection system of UV irradiation, chlorination and ultrafiltration to purify the wastewater and recycle up to two million litres of Class A water a day. Class A water is commonly used on human food crops, for irrigating public spaces such as parklands and golf courses, and for a number of other purposes. It is treated to a higher degree than most agricultural projects, and actually improves the quality of run-off that enters Mt Buller’s surrounding areas and waterways such as the Howqua River.

The system is also monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to ensure that it produces a safe and consistent quality of water. It is also fitted with a fail-safe device that means if anything within the system malfunctions, it automatically stops all operations to eliminate the possibility of untreated water being pumped into the snowmaking dam.

To further supplement the efforts of the Water Reuse system, the ARMB is also currently undertaking a feasibility study for an additional water storage facility, which would primarily be used to supplement snowmaking, and also provide back-up for the village potable supply and emergency fire fighting.