The diagrams compare the current water supply system in Australia with the proposed system in the future.
Overall, the biggest change is that in the future, wastewater from households, shops, and factories will be recycled through the water treatment plant instead of being released directly into the river.
At present, pure water from the dam and storage area is supplied to households, shops, and factories in the city. These places then produce two types of water: storm water and waste water. Storm water flows straight into the river, while wastewater is sent to a water treatment plant. After being treated, this water is also discharged into the river.
In the future system, water will still be taken from the dam and delivered to the city in the same way as now. However, the major improvement is that all wastewater from households and industries will be redirected back to the water treatment plant. After treatment, instead of sending the water to the river, the plant will recycle it and supply it back to the city as pure water. Only storm water will continue to flow into the river.
In summary, the future system aims to reduce water waste and increase recycling by reusing treated wastewater rather than disposing of it into the river.