IT'S brown, it stinks and we all contribute but it is something we don't want to talk about.

That is unless, of course, you have an interest in Cairns’ sewerage capacity and what is politely known as the Cleaner Seas Project.

Cairns Mayor Val Schier and water boss Bruce Gardiner yesterday showed off the significant progress being made in the $188 million project that will increase capacity and the quality of the water produced in the city’s four major sewage treatment plants.

Mr Gardiner said the end quality of the treated sewage, which will be used for gardening and toilet flushing in new Cairns estates, would be as good as some towns’ drinking water.

The water, which technically will be clean enough to use in washing machines, is also destined for industrial use, flushing the airport’s toilets and watering golf courses and the botanic gardens at Edge Hill.

Asked what would happen if a child or pet drank the treated water, Mr Gardiner said it would be "class A" quality as determined by the Environmental Protection Agency.

"But we wouldn’t recommend drinking it because something could get through, but dogs certainly wouldn’t have a problem with it," he said.

Cr Schier said it was important people knew about the project as most people did not think about where their waste went after they flushed the toilet.

"It is one of the things people will get used to in the future that we will be using recycled water," she said.

"There are lots of applications."

Cr Schier said it was important to note the treated water that will now go out to the Reef would have far less nutrients and be environmentally friendly.

Reef and Rainforest Research Centre managing director Sheriden Morris gave the project a green thumbs up.

"This is an excellent step forward, it is a real leadership role for Cairns Regional Council," she said.

"Many other councils up and down the coast would benefit from what they are doing here, particularly in terms of the Great Barrier Reef."

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