The town of Googong, just outside Canberra's border, has a new water recycling plant.

Construction began on the new town of Googong in 2012, allowing planners to set up services for a projected population of 18,000 people, including schools and businesses.

Its latest achievement is the full commissioning of a $133 million water recycling plant which, is expected to reduce the town's water usage by nearly two-thirds.

The new plant runs on a network of purple pipes and taps to distinguish it from drinking water.

The recycled water can be used to water gardens, flush toilets, irrigate playing fields and extinguish fires.

The town's population has reached the critical mass required to make the water facility work, meaning it is now fully operational.

More information is available here.