Australians will be encouraged to embrace treated sewage for drinking in the largest-ever bid to overcome the ''yuck factor'' and push the contentious option onto the national agenda.

A $10 million drive, partly funded by the federal government, aims to convince the public that introducing recycled water to drinking supplies is a palatable, cost-effective alternative to measures such as desalination.

The ''engagement strategy'' will target households, students, politicians and the water industry.

Public scepticism and fears over health risks have traditionally kept the toilet-to-tap concept off the political agenda.

In 2006, Toowoomba residents rejected a plan to drink treated effluent, even as the town faced a dire water shortage.