There's a storm brewing Down Under over sewage. Australia is experiencing its worst drought in a century and reservoir levels are falling to record lows. In the eastern state of Queensland, the water commission predicts that the state could run out of drinking water in the next two years. In response, Queensland has decided to use recycled sewage to refill reservoirs that supply public drinking water.

The debate over sipping sewage is getting nasty. Supporters insist there's little choice if residents want to maintain their supply of drinking water. The Premier of Queensland warned, "these are ugly decision, but you either drink water or you die." Opponents of the plan insist it could hurt their image and that the many poorly-understood contaminants found in sewage could cause health problems.

Despite the alarm over the plan, most experts agree it is quite safe, as the sewage is treated to a very high level using advanced techniques such as reverse osmosis and ultraviolet radiation. A 2001 study by the University of Southern Florida found that the microbiological quality of effluent from a treatment plant was higher than that in the local reservoir. Several countries including Singapore and the United States currently use recycled sewage as drinking water. In Singapore, recycled wastewater makes up 1% of total daily water consumption. In the U.S., treated effluent from a plant in Centreville, Virginia is released into a reservoir that provides drinking water to Fairfax.

Compared to the raw sewage that contaminates our rivers and lakes (many of which provide our drinking water) this treated effluent is harmless and puts a waste product to good use. If the Aussies want to protect public health, they should focus on making sure all sewage receives adequate treatment. In the meantime, drink up!

Now on the Spills O' the Week:

Hang ten: About 3,150 gallons of untreated wastewater spilled from a broken sewage pipe in Pauoa, Hawaii when the corroded hangers attaching it to a bridge failed. Officials posted signs along the affected creek at dawn the next day to warn residents of the spill.

-The Honolulu Advertiser, February 2, 2007

You take the high road: Contractors working on a guardrail project along Shoreline Highway in Marin County, California punctured a sewage line, spilling 1,000 gallons of waste into a nearby marsh. The cleanup and repair project slowed morning traffic along the highway and caused a major traffic backup.

-Marin Independent Journal, February 6, 2007

Now you know: Portions of three Los Angeles County beaches were closed after they were contaminated by a sewage spill. City and county health officials worked quickly to clean the spill and notify the public in the wake of last week's audit showing that the public was not informed of 90% of spills in the county.

-ABC7.com, February 7, 2007

Fore! A sewer main in Pinehurst, North Carolina collapsed while a utility crew attempted to remove roots from the pipe. 50,000 gallons of sewage spilled into a lake used to irrigate the Pinehurst Resort golf course.

-Fayobserver.com, February 8, 2007

Macon me crazy: Debris blocking a sewer main in Macon, Georgia caused 1,400 gallons of sewage to spill into the Ocmulgee River. Crews removed the blockage and cleaned the area, but the press release of the incident did not appear in the newspaper until nearly a week after the incident.

-Macon.com, February 8, 2007