Piping recycled wastewater to farmers is enticing, but is it economically feasible?

As drought tightens its grip calls have been mounting for the 100,000 megalitres of wastewater that is released by treatment plants into Moreton Bay near Brisbane every year to be diverted to farmers further west. But is the idea economically feasible?

In a drought year when water for irrigation is especially sparse, calls have been growing for that treated water to be pumped and piped to irrigation areas in the Lockyer Valley and over the Great Dividing Range to the Darling Downs.