Australian Water Management Review 2010 by APRS Media

Australian Water Management Review

2010

Water Management Review 2010

Industry Foreword

National Water Commission

Murray Darling Basin Authority

Wimmera Mallee

Department of Environment

Wastewater & Infrastructure

Desalination

Trenchless Technology

Stormwater

Queensland Water Grid

Pumping

105

Irrigation

128

Training, Education & Development

Designers Kym Reichenbacher Michael Griffiths Publisher Garth Wright General Manager Gary Peach

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Water Management Review 2010

APRS Head Office Level 6, 38 Currie Street, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000 G.P.O Box 1746, Adelaide SA 5001 Phone: 08 8113 9200 Fax: 08 8113 9201 Pre-Press: 08 8113 9206 Email: prepress@aprs.com.au APRS Queensland Office Level 2, The Mansions 40 George Street, Brisbane, 4000 PO Box 15454 City East, Brisbane, Qld 4002 Phone: 07 3229 9766 Fax: 07 3229 3066

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The need to take action on water By Ken Matthews

Australia’s water is still in trouble yet, worryingly, the pace of reform has slowed on almost every front. This is the National Water Commission’s overriding conclusion in its second two-yearly examination of Australia’s water management – Australian Water Reform 2009.

If anything, the position has deteriorated since the Commission’s previous assessment in 2007. Climate change is biting deeper, in the continuing southern drought, in dwindling rivers, dams and groundwater, in stressed native landscapes, hard-hit irrigation farms and rural communities, in our increasingly erratic weather patterns. Water reform was always hard but this has raised the bar for all of us. Forty per cent of the water plans promised by state governments are still uncompleted, and many existing plans have been put on hold due to low flows in southern Australia. The good news is that there has been some progress, in knowing how much water we have, in understanding how to manage it wisely, in planning, and in the emergence of an efficient water market that has brought some relief to irrigators. But it isn’t nearly enough. For example our report finds that our governments will not meet the fundamental commitment they made in agreeing to the National Water Initiative in 2004 to end overallocation of water by 2010. Australia’s states and territories have committed to completing 195 water plans. So far, they have only completed 112 plans. Many of the plans that are in place will not deliver sustainable water use. On the positive side, the introduction of water trading has enabled many users, especially farmers, to either sell their water or to buy more. The Commission’s Australian Water Markets Report 2008–2009 showed that in the 2008–09 year, the trade of water entitlements almost doubled and that allocation trade continued to grow significantly. However, government-imposed obstacles still hamper this vital trade, whose aim

is to allow water to flow to the most efficient and important end uses, including the environment. Until we remove these obstacles, farmers and farming communities will not be able to plan with confidence. This isn’t fair to farmers, and it isn’t fair to the Australian environment. In the past, providing water to the environment to keep our iconic landscapes alive has often been depicted as a win/ lose choice. This is not so. All Australians need a water system that is sustainable – that can sustain irrigation farming, sustain landscapes and sustain cities, industries and homes. We cannot build our economy at the cost of the Australian landscape; nor can we protect the landscape if we allow our economy, industries or communities to falter. Good water management must embody all these things – and, furthermore, we know from experience that it is possible to strike a balance. It is encouraging that in December 2009 COAG committed to redoubling its efforts to accelerate the pace of reform under the National Water Initiative and to refer the findings of Australian Water Reform 2009 to the Water Reform Committee. The Committee has been asked to focus on measures to achieve an end to all over-allocation and overuse, improved environmental conditions and management of water for the environment, the removal of barriers to water trade and better engagement with communities and other key stakeholde rs on the implementation of water reforms. The Commission was also heartened to see that some of its other key recommendations are being progressed including NWI consistent water-sharing plans, a National Framework for Non-urban Water Metering, a National Water Skills Strategy, and a

Ken Matthews

National Framework for Water Compliance and Enforcement. Water reform cannot and must not be delayed. As the Commission emphasised in Australian Water Reform 2009, further reform of our water system is unavoidable. Too much time has been wasted. Let’s get on with it.

Building Capacity to Manage our Water

In Australia we have been reforming the way we manage our water for the last two decades, built on agreements going back more than a century. The current drought and the threatened additional impacts of climate change have strengthened support for acceleration of the reform process. Agreement on the transfer of some powers from the States to the Commonwealth Government is an excellent example of this determination. The reforms have included substantial restructuring of the institutions and agencies with water management responsibilities, and the diversification of private sector involvement in the water sector. Perhaps an unintended consequence of the process, and other factors outside the sector, has been the simultaneous decline in our capacity to implement the reforms. Now that investments in the water sector, including major infrastructure, have been revived and look set to maintain healthy levels for the foreseeable future, building this capacity for the future is even more important. The shortages in water sector skills were starting to be noticed in some quarters in the early 2000s. Initiatives such as the International Centre of Excellence in Water Resources Management (ICE WaRM) were being conceived to address the challenges and opportunities emerging. ICE WaRM was established in 2004 to focus on education, training and research in water management, at a time when many were yet to acknowledge that climate and water issues were increasingly serious constraints on national economic and social development. The physical effects of water scarcity, particularly in the major Murray-Darling basin, have focused attention on the dramatic and immediate aspects. But water management issues are seldom solved with short-term measures. As well as dealing with the crises of the moment, decision-makers have to look to the longer-term questions as new initiatives are to be implemented. One such question is: how are we going to attract and appropriately skill the tens of thousands of new entrants into water sector occupations, and re-skill those remaining, for the challenges ahead?

Water Management Review 2010

ICE WaRM had a head start to make contributions to this agenda, and has been building momentum to meet the emerging demands, from organisations active in the water sector, and from individuals wanting to advance their careers in water. For example, in the higher education sector ICE WaRMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flagship is the Master of Water Resources Management, with Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma options, available since 2006. This multiple-award-winning programme is offered collaboratively by several universities in diverse modes of delivery. The structure is very flexible, providing a solid grounding in sustainable water management while allowing students to develop specialist knowledge and skills. One of those specialist streams is in water planning, a new initiative since 2009 supported by the National Water Commission. This has added to the considerable list of elective courses on offer at postgraduate level. The demands on many currently employed in the sector are such that both the individuals and their organisations are unable or unwilling to make long-term commitments to structured learning and award programmes. ICE WaRM provides public short courses, and is also able to structure specific programmes to meet organisational needs. Examples include elements of in-service formal training combined with field or industry-based activities. Where these include assessments, they can also be structured to count towards transferable award recognition. The current shortages have already led to an influx of new employees with some skills but no experience in the water sector. ICE WaRM, in collaboration with the Australian Water Association and others, is providing a series of short courses suitable for these new inductees. These courses for new entrants have been amongst the most popular of the training programme. More courses are under development at the time of writing, and will be listed on the website (see www.icewarm.com.au) as they become available. ICE WaRM acts as a facilitator or broker of collaborative activities in water-related education and training. Many such

collaborations extend across traditional boundaries, between researchers and educators, water agencies and industry, and importantly across administrative boundaries. ICE WaRM provides a national focus, as well as an international gateway, for access to the best expertise in water management. Our future leaders in water management deserve nothing less.

Richard Hopkins

(Chief Executive, ICE WaRM)

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Troubled Waters Climate change raises the bar on Australian water reform

Too many Australians still pin their hopes on the mantra “When the rains come again...” – rather than recognising the reality in their rain gauges, dams, rivers and bores, a major new report finds As drought tightens its grip on the nation’s throat and a changing climate foreshadows dry times ahead, Australia’s leading water experts have warned that we must go faster and further in changing the way we use and care for our scarce and precious water. Despite steady deterioration in both quantity and quality of water over large areas, Australia as a whole is failing to meet the challenge of emerging scarcity, Australian Water Reform 2009, the second major review of the state of the nation’s water management warns. This two-yearly assessment by the National Water Commission (NWC) is the sharp end of the National Water Initiative, a regular report on progress under the agreement by Australian governments to make our water use more efficient, secure and sustainable. The report details significant and heartening progress towards water reform in many areas – but finds that, overall, reform has been too slow and fragmentary to keep up with the changing climate. “In many places water is still seriously overallocated and overused. Water markets are not functioning as freely as they should, and this is dragging out the uncertainty for farmers and other users. The Australian landscape is still not getting its fair share of water, and many iconic places are it a critical state. All told there needs to be a far greater sense of urgency in how we manage our water,” says Commission Chair Ken Matthews Symbolising the situation facing most of Australia’s fresh waters and their management nationwide, overallocation and overuse continue to bedevil efforts to put the Murray-Darling Basin’s waters on a planned and sustainable footing, the NWC says. Irrigation industries and their communities are struggling, native ecosystems dying,

Water Management Review 2010

surface and groundwater water quality and supplies declining. Behind this lies stubborn wrangling between the partner governments over the meanings of ‘overallocation’ and ‘overuse’, a failure to introduce and implement effective water plans in some catchments badly needing them, obstacles to trade in water which hinder adjustment, efficiency and development, disputes over the environment’s share of water and a still widespread reluctance to accept that surface and groundwater are often connected. Despite these setbacks, however, the report finds real improvements both in our understanding of how much water we actually have – and in our ability to trade in water so it flows more freely to the most efficient and competitive end-use. If Australia doesn’t measure up to its own exacting standards of what needs to be done in water, there is nevertheless international admiration for what has been achieved so far – from a world in which nearly every country has yet to come to grips with the realities of a climate radically different from the one in which humans have evolved. “The take-home message for every Australian is that, notwithstanding some progress, our water is still in trouble – and reform must be driven farther and faster than ever,” Ken says.

Planning

Water planning may sound like a dry argument to the public, but it holds the key to Australia’s future. Not only does it involve understanding how much water we have, but good plans set out clearly how it can be best shared between the economy, the community and the environment. Australia’s states and territories have committed to completing 195 water

plans. So far, they have only completed 112 plans. Only 22 new plans have been introduced in the last two years, when the nation was supposedly pursuing major changes. This situation, in the words of the Commission, is “critically inadequate”. It calls for a renewed sense of urgency about rolling out good quality water plans by local authorities. Also while most water plans provide well for the physical resource and its economic uses, many are weak when it comes to the social and environmental uses of water. There is, in particular, a need to ensure enough water is returned to the environment to protect the Australian landscape and its iconic places, the Commission says. Many plans also fail to properly take account of likely future drying in the climate. There is a lack of openness about telling the community what changes in water availability really mean, especially when it comes to how water plans will deal with trade-offs between competing uses. There is also a failure to engage Indigenous people in water planning. Progress in mapping the links between surface and groundwater and building them into plans has been slow. Climate change will have a big impact on whether these plans succeed – or whether they fail, with disastrous consequences for the industries, towns, people and ecosystems affected. For example, the Commission estimates that in the order of 30% less water could be available for irrigated agriculture in northern Victoria in the years ahead. Critical to effective water planning is knowing the size of the total water resource – and the Commission’s latest report foreshadows the end of casual exploitation of water as a “free good” that anyone could harvest by scraping up a small dam or sinking a bore. In future all bores should have a licence, it says.

One resource

The report also foreshadows the end of the un-metered private bore. Although knowledge of Australian groundwater resources is patchy and often poor, there are clear signs in some areas – mainly from sinking water tables – that they are being emptied faster than nature can replenish them. The drying climate will make this worse. In view of this, the NWC argues that all groundwater be regarded as connected to surface water, unless there is good scientific evidence to the contrary – in effect, every litre taken from a bore should be regarded as coming from a connected river or major surface water source. All states and territories have now passed laws that regard surface and groundwater as a single resource, other than Western Australia, which has recognised connectivity through its planning processes. In order to better map our underground water, its surface connection and how quickly we are using it, all bores should be from now on be licensed and metered, with priority for those systems known to be heavily-exploited, the NWC says. It urges a nationwide effort to quantify Australia’s groundwater resources more accurately.

Measuring water

With the Bureau of Meteorology now in charge, Australia is for the first time creating a central set of accounts for water. Following the advice that, if you can’t measure it you can’t manage it, there has been good progress in developing national standards for water accounting, the NWC says. It urges individual jurisdictions to adopt these quickly, along with plans for metering and measuring all their water resources. In what could prove a ‘watershed’ for Australian attitudes to water (as a precious substance rather than a free gift) the Commission makes the far-reaching recommendation “that governments commit to a shared ultimate national goal of universal licensing and metering of all surface and groundwater extractions, including for stock and domestic purposes.” To give it teeth, it urges a national approach to compliance and enforcement, to catch the water cheats.

A thirsty landscape

Without water even the drought-hardy Australian landscape dies – and many

of its iconic places are now at great risk, the report notes: “Widespread and prolonged drought has resulted in critical environmental degradation in the MurrayDarling Basin. High profile cases of ecological decline, like the Lower lakes and Coorong...have been linked to a combination of drought and unsustainable extraction.” While the ideal of giving a share of water to the environment is honoured in most water plans its practical implementation often lags far behind. Indeed, many plans still lack tools for making good decisions about where, when and how much to water. The NWC wants all water jurisdictions to state clearly the environmental outcomes they aim to achieve, and how their water use will achieve them. In times of extreme scarcity, any decision to take water away from the environment must be publicly explained and justified. The Commission strongly supports buybacks, large and small, to augment environmental water and is critical of State barriers to water trade that undermine this. It wants environmental water to be registered and reported in a consistent national fashion, and a national scientific approach to list the ecosystems most in need of watering.

Ending over-use

Overallocation is when the total of all water extraction entitlements adds up to more than the sustainable level of extraction. Overuse is when more water is actually taken than is sustainable.

Unfortunately, despite these being fairly straightforward concepts, most water jurisdictions in Australia still do not define or observe them. There remains a ‘fundamental lack of agreement” between jurisdictions and even states as to what they mean – and this is sapping confidence in Australia’s ability to manage its water well, the NWC warns. It sees as a serious problem the fact that in many places where water is overallocated, the community has not been informed – and needs to be, so they can be returned to sustainable levels. Another is that water is sometimes recovered for the environment without a clear public explanation of how it is to be used, and this imperils community support. It urges the Council of Australian Governments to speed up its development of guidelines for environmentally sustainable extraction, to bring greater certainty both to irrigators and the Australian landscape. At the same time, states and territories should not delay practical actions to address overallocation and overuse.

Secure access to water At its root, the goal of Australian water policy is to give users confidence about the security of their supply – but achieving this in a drying climate spells painful adjustment for many along the road to greater certainty. This is a message the National Water Commission does not back

away from, arguing that the quicker we complete the needed reforms, the sooner certainty will return. All water entitlements should be backed by the law. They should be clearly defined, registered, protected and not linked to land. They should specify who bears the risks from any future changes in water availability. They should be tradeable. This combination will give holders much greater control of their own destinies, the NWC says. Most Australian jurisdictions are fairly well advanced with these measures, though the Commission has told Western Australia and the Northern Territory to hurry up. In New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia there have been efforts to improve the flexibility of entitlements to better manage the risk of low water availability – and the Commission encourages this, along with being up-front with users about how water shortages are to be handled.

Trading water

Since the reforms began large volumes of water have been bought and sold both within and outside the Murray-Darling Basin as water users grow accustomed to a new era in which water can flow from one use to another according to its value. This water market remains the centrepiece of national water reform. “Significant benefits are flowing to buyers and sellers ...movements in water have facilitated industry adjustment and economic development,” the Commission finds. Water allocations and entitlements are the most widely-traded products, though others may emerge to suit the needs of different kinds of users. It noted that the length of time taken to process water trades and transfer entitlements – mostly a month but up to a year in extreme cases, is a big cost on users and a brake on the market, though there are signs this is improving. However, the 4 per cent limit on water being traded out of certain irrigation areas in a year has “impeded the use of buyback programs, unfairly and arbitrarily penalised willing sellers...distorted patterns of water trade...inhibited structural change and complicated interstate collaboration”. It should be axed, the Commission states. It found that while the link between water entitlements and land has now

Water Management Review 2010

been generally severed, further progress is required. The delay in bringing in water plans to 40 per cent of Australia’s jurisdiction has also hindered efficient trade. The NWC wants a close eye kept on ‘market intermediaries’ – middlemen – to ensure they do not undermine public confidence in a fair water market, and it wants water users to be better informed of their rights.

Pricing water

It is essential that the price of water encourages its efficient use and sound investment, the NWC says. The right price signals will encourage innovation, wise infrastructure spending, efficient industries and household use. This, it adds, is a better system than imposing water restrictions (which have hidden costs) because prices are out in the open and everyone can see what water really costs. NWI consistent water pricing does not yet apply everywhere in Australia. The Commission is concerned that state and local governments are sometimes still hiding the real costs of water from their urban consumers by subsidising the cost of new infrastructure projects. It wants to discourage the use of grants and subsidies that distort the signals reaching all users. Progress in meeting the National Water Initiative’s goals for recovery of the costs of water management has been very limited, the Commission warns, especially in Queensland, Western Australia, Victoria and South Australia. It urges a far more rigorous economic approach to water. And while most states have had success in curbing householder use of water through restrictions, they would do better to employ price signals too. For irrigators especially it is important that future charges for water be transparent, especially in cases where there is big spending on upgrading infrastructure.

Who bears the risks?

In a drying, drought-prone climate, there is always the risk that water will not be available in the future to fulfil an entitlement or meet one of the major economic, social or environmental goals of the NWI. While water plans and water markets can give users greater certainty and more options, they cannot guarantee

future supplies. To provide users with greater certainty over how changes in water availability will be dealt with, the NWI sets out a formula for sharing the risks between water users, government and the environment in a known and predictable way - and most users see this as absolutely vital. But this is not yet happening, the Commission says. “There is widespread debate and uncertainty about the best approach to risk assignment....in the Commission’s view it is important to address that uncertainty in order to provide entitlement holders with greater planning and investment certainty over how changes in water availability will be dealt with.” It calls for all water jurisdictions to clarify how risk will be shared in the event of shortages, and the decision to be clearly explained to the public and users.

Adjustment

Structural adjustment is the natural process of change in sectors of the economy. It is pivotal to water reform. In the irrigation industries and irrigationdependent communities there are bound to be winners and losers from the changed circumstances, but it is important they have the freedom to make their own best choices, for example to sell water or to buy it, quickly and easily. The Commission argue strongly that all artificial barriers, impediments and subsidies that interfere with this process must be removed, as they only protract the pain and delay the arrival of a truly sustainable water system and viable regional economies. . If the barriers to water trade are removed, users will make their own best decisions whether and when to buy or sell water, it argues. The unavoidable fact for Australia’s irrigation industry is that, due to drying and the need to ensure an environmental share, there will probably be a lot less water available in future for irrigated agriculture: in northern Victoria, for example, in the order of 30 per cent less. It is vital for irrigators in all areas to know what they are facing, so they can make plans accordingly. “Until we remove the current obstacles to trade in water, farmers and farming communities will not be able to see their future clearly, or invest with confidence. They will remain

trapped in a black hole of uncertainty,” says Ken Matthews, who grew up on an irrigation farm.

City water

Urban water has become front page news in recent years, with almost all big cities imposing restrictions on consumers and searching for new sources of supply. However the Commission cautions that water restrictions alone are unlikely to deliver reliable supplies, and urges they be seen more as a last resort than a first option. Despite these and other measures Australian city water has failed to achieve security in most places. There has been a general move to diversify sources of water supply away from reliance on big rain-filled dams towards desalination, domestic rainwater tanks, mining of wastewater and recycling of non-drinking water. However Australia’s cities could be doing more and implementing it more quickly, the Commission feels. Many need

to improve the way they plan for and manage their water in a time of climatic uncertainty and erratic rainfall, it says. If we are to have “water-sensitive cities” there must be better ways to quantify the real costs and benefits of water use and wider adoption of water markets to ensure efficiency. These would improve the price signals to all urban water users.

Conclusion

Despite much progress, the National Water Commission says there have been unconscionable delays in all areas of water reform, made worse by the changing climate. “So far as water is concerned we can see clearly where this is heading and, unless we act now, we know there is more – and probably worse – to come,” Ken Matthews says. “The take-home message for all Australians is that further reform of our water management system is unavoidable – and cannot be delayed.”

National Water Commission Managing our water more effectively is one of the greatest challenges facing Australia. The National Water Commission is responsible for driving national water reform under the National Water Initiative Australia’s blueprint for how water will be managed into the future. National imperatives for water management include more effective water planning to determine how we share valuable water resources between competing uses, protection of significant environmental assets, expansion of water markets, and improved security of water supplies and entitlements. The Commission provides advice to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) and the Australian Government on national water issues. To advance its reform objectives, the Commission also reports regularly on

Driving water reform in Australia

specific aspects of water management such as the performance of urban water utilities and rural water service providers, the operation of Australian water markets, and the impacts of water trading. Through its $250 million Raising National Water Standards Program, the Commission invests in projects to advance water reform and improve water management. The Commission also provides leadership by being a catalyst for water reform. Waterlines reports are regularly published to boost understanding and awareness of water management issues.

Through its bienniel assessments, the Commission reports to COAG on progress towards implementing the commitments agreed by the Australian, state and territory governments under the National Water Initiative. The Commission’s recently published second biennial assessment found that despite some progress, the pace of water reform has slowed on almost every front. In its recommendations to COAG, the Commission has called on governments to commit to a renewed round of national water reform.

Position statements are released to improve the quality of debate about water challenges and recommend actions vital to advance reform.

For more information, visit the Commission’s website - www.nwc.gov.au.

From dams to desalination SMEC and the seven seas

The mystique of desalination; creating pure fresh water from salty seas has fascinated mankind for centuries. Desalination reduces dependence on the climate and brings a greater degree of certainty to precious water supplies. SMEC is at the centre of desalination activity in Australia. SMEC has been involved in the Adelaide, Sydney and Victorian desalination plants and exports their desalination expertise to other parts of the world. Water has been at the heart of SMEC’s life since the late 1940s, where SMEC designed and built the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme. Enormous dams were constructed, kilometres of tunnels were dug, large pipelines and pump stations were installed and the nation prospered. The power and resources of eastward flowing rivers were harnessed to provide energy and water for the burgeoning industrial centres and water for the food bowls in the west. This was a mammoth achievement and is fondly known as one of Civil Engineering’s ‘Wonders of the Modern World’. Planning is a critical element to water management. When SMEC began, planning was based on US empiricisms, using slide rules, mud maps and rules of thumb… it was all about controlling supply, meeting demand and building dams and structures that would last forever. Today at SMEC, water planning focuses on environmental, economic and social values. These values are defined and enumerated to provide a basis for the development of highly complex numerical models of the underlying water system. A modern water system in a developed area will consist of a complex mixture of dams, pipelines, canals, pumping stations, treatment plants, sewerage systems, seawater outfalls, recycling plants and more. All of these aspects are integrated into a modelling framework and used alongside GIS, DTM, simulation and optimisation techniques to enable decision makers to achieve the best possible outcome. Recent developments in water technology enable the real time operation of highly complex systems such as desalination plants, hydro-electric dams and power stations, sewage treatment plants and sewerage systems using SCADA integrated with modelling systems.

Water Management Review 2010

SMEC has been at the forefront of these technologies in Australia and throughout the world. From Sydney to Swaziland, SMEC has designed and built water system models and has innovated at every step of the way. For situations that cannot be modeled numerically, SMEC operates the only independent physical modelling facility in Australia. Planning provides the concepts for the development of detailed designs. SMEC’s Design Engineers consider the durability, corrosion and economic life of materials; analyse the strength of stresses, strains, failure modes and bursting pressures; and delve into the intricacies of codes of practice – incorporating both Australian standards and a variety of international standards. SMEC develops, designs, drafts and reviews – then repeats the process again. In the construction phase, SMEC’s engineers manage the whole construction process. SMEC ensures that design specifications are met, that the right materials are used, and that costs are effectively managed. SMEC guarantees that whatever is built will not only serve its purpose, but last its economic life. SMEC is one of the few employee-owned Australian companies that is as successful in its home country as they are in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific. SMEC has an established network of 33 offices around the world and has delivered projects in over 85 countries. With over 4,000 employees, SMEC’s operations are conducted through a number of companies including subsidiaries established to meet regional requirements and pursue specialised sector activities. SMEC provides high quality consultancy services to clients ranging from private sector organisations, to Government agencies and International Financial Institutions, in the following areas: Water; Transport; Energy and Renewables; Natural Resources and Environment; Mining and Underground Services; Buildings and Urban Development; and Social Development. SMEC’s services generate economic wealth and provide essential services that contribute to national development in some of the fastest growing economies. SMEC’s commitment to good corporate citizenship is universal.

WATER SERVICES Engineering Services for the Water Industry

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Re-shaping water resource management in the Murray–Darling Basin For the first time in Australia’s history there is now a single body responsible for overseeing water resource planning in the Murray-Darling Basin. This has come about through a number of significant water reform decisions and was motivated by the growing realisation that the health of the Murray-Darling Basin is in serious decline. The Water Act 2007 (Water Act) introduced key reforms for water management in Australia. It established the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) with the functions and powers, including enforcement powers, needed to ensure Basin water resources are managed in an integrated and sustainable way, and in the national interest. The Water Act requires MDBA to prepare the Basin Plan, a strategic plan for the integrated and sustainable management of water resources in the Basin. The Basin Plan will set legal limits (sustainable diversion limits) on the amount of water that can be taken from the Basin’s rivers and groundwater systems. It will also include an environmental watering plan to ensure that enough water is allocated to the environment for the maintenance of ecosystems. All signs are indicating that the new sustainable diversion limits will be lower than the current limit.

Water Management Review 2010

Why was water reform needed?

In less than a century, water extracted from the Murray-Darling Basin has increased five-fold, from 2,000 GL a year in the 1920s to over 10,000 GL a year today. A century of regulating the rivers for transport and irrigation has also had an impact by generally confining river flow to within the banks and reducing the frequency of flooding. The temporal pattern of flows has also been altered with peak flows now received in December to February each year, compared to preregulation peak flows, which were usually in spring. The average inflows into the Murray have shrunk from 24,000 GL a year to 1,300 GL and the system continues to suffer from the lowest three years of inflows in 108 years of records. The 2006-07 water year was the driest on record with an historic low inflow of 130 GL. This was followed in 2007-08 by the third driest, and in 2008-09 by the seventh driest years on record. The continued drought, the impacts of climate change and population growth have added to the pressures on the river systems and in 2002 the Murray stopped flowing to the sea. The first environmental report card on the ecological health of the Murray-Darling Basin, the Sustainable Rivers Audit (20042007) which covered 96,000 km of rivers and streams, found long-term degradation in most of the Basin’s valleys and that 20

At a glance The Murray–Darling Basin incorporates Australia’s three longest rivers and stretches from Queensland’s channel country through NSW to the Australian alps, Victoria’s north-east and the Riverina, and on into South Australia’s Riverland and the Coorong at the mouth of the Murray. It contains 30,000 wetlands including many internationally significant sites. The Basin covers an area of over 1 million square kilometres or 14% of Australia and is home to over 2 million people with a further 1 million people outside the Basin relying on its water. There are about 40 Aboriginal nation groups in the Basin. Export earnings are over $9 billion a year and the Basin supports 39% of Australia’s agricultural production, worth $15 billion.

The Mitta Mitta River where it flows into the drought affected Hume Dam. MDBA photo by Arthur Mostead

of the Basin’s 23 river valleys were in poor or very poor health. A report for The Living Murray program found that 70% of river red gums in the Koondrook–Perricoota Forest (the second largest river red gum forest in the world) were stressed, dying or dead, largely due to the drought, combined with 12 years of no flooding. Salinity levels have increased and algal blooms have increased in frequency in line with the increased frequency of periods of low river flow. In 2007 the CSIRO’s first inventory of sustainable yields of all surface and groundwater systems within the Basin revealed that consumptive water use in the Basin had reduced the average annual stream flow at the Murray mouth by 61% and that water failed to reach the river mouth 40% of the time, compared to 1% prior to regulation of the river. CSIRO concluded that without changes to the water sharing arrangements in the Basin, climate change would likely lead to irreversible ecological degradation.

Planning for a future with less water?

A proposed Basin Plan will be released in mid 2010 to allow for extensive consultation with stakeholders. The first Basin Plan will be completed in 2011 and approved by the Minister for Climate Change and Water, after which it will be regularly reviewed and updated.

Dust storm at Meringur in Victoria. Climate changes is bringing more extreme weather events. MDBA photo by Arthur Mostead

Basin states and the ACT will be consulted in the preparation of the Basin Plan including through the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council and the Basin Officials Committee. To ensure a smooth transition for water users the Basin Plan will honour existing water plans for the life of those plans. The South Australian, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Queensland plans expire in 2014 and Victoria’s in 2019. The states and the ACT will continue to determine how water is allocated and used in their own jurisdictions through the development of water resource plans, but these must be consistent with the Basin Plan. The Australian Government has also funded a ten year plan Water for the Future, managed by the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, to secure water supplies to assist agriculture to adapt to changed weather patterns, as well as to improve river health. An important component of this program is buying back water from willing sellers and using it to meet core environmental needs. The program also includes funding infrastructure towards more efficient irrigation to help reduce the amount of water that is lost each year through leakage and evaporation. In the long term these new arrangements and the Basin Plan aim to address the historic over-allocation of the river

systems and secure the future of the Basin, and of the many communities which rely on it for social, cultural and economic survival. For further information or to find out how to comment on the proposed Basin Plan contact engagement@mdba.gov.au or phone our free number 1800 230 067.

Further reading CSIRO sustainable yields report – www.csiro.au/partnerships/MDBSY Murray–Darling Basin Authority factsheets - www.mdba.gov.au/ services/publications Socio-economic context for the Murray–Darling Basin (ABS, ABARE and BRS) http://www.mdba.gov. au/services/publications/moreinformation?publicationid=37 Murray–Darling Basin Authority stakeholder engagement strategy - www.mdba.gov.au/ services/publications/moreinformation?publicationid=35 Sustainable diversion limits issues paper - www.mdba.gov.au/ services/publications/moreinformation?publicationid=36 Sustainable rivers audit - www2. mdbc.gov.au/SRA/

savewater!® Alliance

While the affects of climate change continue to take their toll in most parts of Australia, and rainfall continues to be low in many areas, it is fundamental that there is a strong focus by the nation on preserving our precious water resource. Drought response plans, desalination plants and new pipelines are being implemented in order to combat the weather variability. While supply augmentation plays an important role, so do we as human beings. In order to sustain future supplies, our behaviours must change and adapt to our current climatic conditions.

The savewater!® Alliance works with member water businesses, government agencies and product companies to deliver water conservation programs throughout Australia. savewater!® offers a combination of web resources and practical programs to help all Australians change the way they use water. The savewater!® Alliance currently has water corporation members in Victoria, NSW, Queensland and the Northern Territory. To join the alliance or for further information visit: www.savewater.com.au or Contact: Phone: (03) 8508 6888 Fax: (03) 8508 6899 Email: info@savewater.com.au

Australia’s leading resource on water conservation

www.savewater.com.au

Water Management Review 2010

WMPP Delivers Regional Vision 450 millimetre PVC pipe stack near grain silo

During the 1890s the Dimboola Shire Council called for investigations into â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;piping the Wimmera Mallee channel systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Despite the delay of over one hundred years for action, their vision for a regional future has been well and truly exceeded by the implementation of the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline during the early twenty first century. The range of project benefits and innovations achieved were not considered (or even possible) during those early deliberations. Issues such as returning water savings to the environment, future agribusiness development, improved water quality and the social wellbeing of the community were not on the agenda at that time. The real success of the community driven infrastructure project, replacing 18,000 kilometres of earthen channel with 9,000 kilometres of pressurised pipeline, lies in the identification and delivery of environmental, economic and social benefits flowing from the infrastructure change. The strong regional profile of the project and the level of stakeholder engagement during the development of the project plan, has guaranteed that the range of issues identified during the planning phase have been delivered as direct benefits from the pipeline. The initial ten year implementation plan was fast tracked to be completed in less than four years, due to the extreme drought conditions. With regional

Water Management Review 2010

storage capacity below 10 % for several years, precluding channel supply and necessitating extensive water carting, the impetus for the implementation of the pipeline increased dramatically. Financial support from government, landowner cooperation and innovative use of technology has enabled the shortened timelines for pipeline construction. Extensive consultation, built on the vision of regional leaders, ensured the aspirations of regional community and business groups were incorporated into the pipeline proposal. The vision was supported by Victorian Government water policy reform, as well as the emerging water policy debate within the Australian Government. Government focus on sustainable water management led to their investment in the project to secure water savings for the environment. The pipeline created a new regime of water management in the region, providing benefits to the environment, securing water for all consumptive users and providing a sustainable future for the Wimmera Mallee. The regional water supply system was historically over-committed, impacting on both the environmental sustainability and the economic viability of the region. Re-allocation of over 100 gigalitres of the water savings (generated by piping the system) to the environmental water reserve and a business development pool, contributes to a sustainable environmental and economic future for the region. This delivers on the primary government

objectives of returning water to the environment, and providing for regional development opportunities. Of course the primary legacy of the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline Project is securing water for existing customers, delivering quality water to over 5,000 farm properties and thirty six towns across the two million hectares of the Wimmera Mallee region. Access to greatly improved water quality, on tap twenty-four hours a day seven days a week, has triggered considerable onfarm water management change. Driven by the extended drought, farmers were well prepared for piped water, with onfarm reticulation systems including tanks, troughs and pipelines. These systems will be extended as the livestock sector recovers and the economy of the region improves post-drought. The pipeline will also deliver formal water entitlements to rural customers, establishing a regional water market and providing security for investment. This will allow the shift of water to high value activities, with the community making economic or social decisions about where water is directed. Farmers are now identifying diversification opportunities to build on the strength of the grains expertise in the region and the availability of secure good quality water. Key opportunities in intensive animal production (such as sheep, cattle and poultry) will build on the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural advantages of temperate climate, good

soils, wide open spaces with ample buffer zones, and direct proximity to grain and oilseed production. The pipeline has enabled water to be available for these new developments. Food processing, value adding to the grain produced in the region, is another option for development. Historically these types of investment have not been possible due to poor water security and quality. Capacity for future economic growth has been incorporated into the pipeline, with a specific focus on diversification in the agricultural sector. As well as significantly improved water management, the pipeline design includes a number of innovations identified in response to the infrastructure change. For example, after improved security of supply, the regional community identified recreation water as a high priority. As well as delivering water to every farm and town in the region, eleven recreation lakes will receive piped water, reinforcing the social value of water in the dry landscape. Another key community concern was the decommissioning of the channel and dam system and the resulting loss of open water and its impact on flora and fauna habitat. A volume of environmental water was incorporated into the design of the pipeline, to target high value ecological sites across the region. This innovation enjoys strong support, particularly amongst regional Landcare organisations. Incorporating fire services into the pipeline design has engendered broad community support, especially in light of the emerging climate change scenarios. Access to an

Record low storage levels and water availability in the Wimmera Mallee

emergency supply of water (through a hydrant or a static tank) is now available across the Wimmera Mallee, greatly improving emergency response capability. Water quality improvements deliver additional benefits to residents. The annual channel supply to towns and farms provided variable water quality – decreasing in the north of the region, deteriorating over the twelve month period between deliveries through seepage and evaporation. Salinity levels varied significantly, with some town supplies in excess of 3,500 EC during the summer period. Turbidity and bacteria levels impacted on the water treatment processes. Given the impact of climate variability predictions, the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline

provides new choices for regional water management. Management of finite water resources will become more important with changed rainfall patterns, reduced water availability and increased frequency of severe weather events. As awareness of the environmental needs of regional waterways grows, the balance between consumptive and environmental water uses will be scrutinised more closely. Returning water to the environment, providing security for businesses and farms and building a positive lifestyle for the people who live and work in the region, are all benefits identified by the regional community and delivered by the pipeline. The initial vision of regional leaders, all-inclusive of the region’s economic, environmental and social aspirations was incorporated in to the planning and design of the pipeline. For many in the community, there was the expectation that the project benefits would be ‘watered down’ and the focus would shift to cost savings at the expense of delivering the whole of region solution. But the implementation of the original pipeline project plan has delivered on everything that the regional community identified, at an affordable cost.

Intensive animal production will increase with piped water supply

The catch-cry “A future for our children” has been realised by the implementation of the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline. Future generations of Wimmera Mallee families will enjoy the benefits of living, working and investing in the region, benefits resulting from the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline.

Mitchell Water The ongoing drought facing Victoria has seen the State Government invest in a range of major water infrastructure projects to secure water supplies. One of the first major water projects was the $688 million Wimmera Mallee Pipeline Project – an ambitious scheme to replace the many thousands of kilometres of open earthen channels used to reticulate water to farmers and towns throughout the vast region with a pressurised pipeline. The scope of the project is massive and so too the benefits. More than 100,000 megalitres was lost every time the earthen channels were filled. The new pressurised pipeline will deliver 100 per cent efficiency with every drop released from the Grampians reservoirs now reaching end users. The Government and local water management authority, Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water, elected to tender the pipeline construction task in a staged construction approach with an initial construction estimate of 10 years. Leading Victorian based pipeline construction company Mitchell Water successfully won six of the seven construction stages and is on-track to commission the final stage in early 2010 – little more than three years since construction began in 2006. While Mitchell Water’s fast tracked construction program assisted in delivering much needed clean water to users across the network in record time, a comprehensive stakeholder relations, environmental and cultural heritage management program smoothed the project’s pathway. Addressing the concerns of the thousands of farmers whose land the pipeline traversed and the many challenges presented in a region noted for its rich bio-diversity, agricultural and cultural heritage, Mitchell Water’s environmental and stakeholder management program was broad and detailed in scope. All information, including landholder contact details, ecological, soil, vegetation and cultural heritage information, together with a detailed aerial survey and contour information, as well as pipeline design and specification (including ‘as constructed data’) information was combined

Water Management Review 2010

in a comprehensive Geographical Information System. The landholder liaison process provided the basis for managing the interface between Mitchell Water, landowners and customers – and involved contact with more than 4,000 landholders. The process was considered extremely important during the three year construction phase and the company experienced no construction stoppages due to landowner issues or concerns. Mitchell Water was also extremely sensitive to bio-security issues to prevent cross contamination in the important agricultural region. Staff also undertook a compulsory environmental care course including training in environmentally sustainable work practices. Conducted by the Department of Sustainability and Environment, the course provided Mitchell Water and GWM Water staff with an understanding of the key environmental issues relating to the project, as well as practical training and an understanding of the required actions. To ensure ongoing environmental consideration over the course of the project regular toolbox meetings provided refresher information on key issues, with participation by client staff as required. Reinstatement of the pipeline route was carefully managed. “We’ve been very mindful of environmental considerations and have reinstated the route to the complete satisfaction of the Department of Sustainability and Environment who are now using our work practice as a benchmark,” Mitchell Water General Manager, Rob Shelton said. The construction specification called for topsoil stripped from the right of way to be replaced within just three days. This called for efficient construction management on large diameter pipe sections and saw utilisation of a range of proprietary developed equipment such as the Swiftpipe vibratory plough, to speed construction and minimise soil disturbance on the smaller diameter pipeline routes. During the four-year construction phase there was also an imperative to maintain water supply to customers. This proved difficult due to severe water restrictions, low storage capacities,

extremely low rainfall and the need to maintain dual supply arrangements - annual channel supply and emergency pipeline supply combinations across the region. Furthermore, a cooperative approach by Mitchell Water and the client saw the industry standard practice varied to allow water to customers prior to full commissioning and handover of the system. By aligning construction priorities with practical requirements, emergency water supplies were made available to customers well before the contract completion. For example, in Supply System 1 (Yaapeet) rural and urban customers were supplied with water within just 12 months of the award of the contract for construction of the 1,200 kilometre pipeline stage.

Australia’s biggest When a regional water authority tendered a contract to build Australia’s biggest pressurised water pipeline, little did they realise they’d get a contractor who could not only do the job, but fast track it cutting more than seven years from the initial construction estimation.

Combining the experience of a staff of highly skilled pipeline project managers, engineers, surveyors and designers, and Mitchell Water’s fleet of specialised equipment fitted with GPS machine control technology ensures contracts are delivered with speed and grade precision.

Welcome to Australia’s biggest pipeline construction contract, the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline Project. Designed and constructed by Mitchell Water.

Letting Mitchell Water construct the Wimmera Mallee project shaved years off the construction time, saved millions of dollars and delivered water to drought affected families and farmers across almost 10 per cent of Victoria in record time.

Mitchell WAter Vic 473 King Street, West Melbourne Victoria 3003 P +61 3 9254 6200 QlD Level 18, 123 Eagle Street, Brisbane Qld 4000 P +61 7 3112 2970

Delivering excellence in pipeline construction

www.mitchellaust.com

Who are custom built stainless? Custom Built Stainless is an Australian owned company located in the heart of the Riverina – Griffith. CBS prides itself on specialising in irrigation design, stainless steel fabrication, design engineering, pipe work, pump filtration and mainline fittings - with emphasis on stainless steel within the water transfer industry. Operating since 2006 - within this time Custom Built Stainless has developed a reputation for continually providing high quality workmanship and services to meet our client’s demands. Comprising of a modern equipped workshop manned by highly trained and loyal employees with a focus on quality, innovation and customer service. Six of the core employees have

Water Management Review 2010

over 140 years combined experience within the Engineering industry. Custom Built Stainless biggest strength is in the ability to produce a finished product that meets expected financial budgets and time deadlines. Whether it be multiple small scale tasks, or larger corporate clients. The ability to manufacture a range of custom built pipe work has enabled CBS to diversify from predominantly irrigation to water authority projects and are able to custom design mainline fittings to suit any client’s requirement. Custom Built Stainless are able to offer a diverse range of services within the Engineering industry. CBS have supplied to date such services to BKB Envirotech. in their works within

the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline Project in Western Victoria and also Lake Mokoan Water supply project in the Benalla region. CBS have supplied pipe work for valve assemblies, valve pits, air valve spools, pump stations and associated fittings manufactured from schedule 10 316L stainless steel ranging in size from 40mm to 700mm in diameter. As an environmentally conscious company CBS are committed to caring for and protecting our environment – devising an action plan to ultimately become a Carbon neutral company. Visit our website at www.cbstainless.com.au , for more information and to see our involvement in the latest projects.

Maloney Field Services (Australia) Pty Ltd

2,100 landholders – this was the number of individual landholders affected by the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline Project (‘WMPP’). During the peak of this massive project, Maloney Field Services had a team of 15 land access consultants and land acquisition managers backed by a support and administrative team liaising and consulting with landholders throughout the Wimmera Mallee region in Victoria. MFS negotiated 299 Easement Agreements together with a further 1,800 Access Agreements and purchased 21 freehold sites. These sites and agreements accommodated some 8,000 kilometres of pressurised pipeline replacing over 18,000 kilometres of inefficient earthen channels. ‘The negotiation of these agreements took the best part of 3 years’ said MFS Director Jamahl Waddington. ‘Our role encompassed all aspects of the

land acquisition including undertaking Assessments of Compensation, all liaison and consultation with affected landholders, preparation and registration of all easements and other required land tenure together with the preparation of a comprehensive Construction Line List document detailing all cautions, special conditions and restrictions for each property affected by the project.’ ‘We were first engaged for a 10 year project which was then condensed from 5 years down to 3 years. Due to the crippling drought in the Wimmera Mallee region, timeframes moved constantly and essentially we were working on 5 different major projects at any one time.’ A project of this size and complexity showcases MFS’ ability to co-ordinate land acquisition programs on any scale. Whilst the vast majority of MFS’ personnel have now been redeployed to other major projects around Australia, the WMPP stands testament to our ability to work

as part of a successful project team to deliver projects of all sizes. Our dedicated team of land access personnel, project managers and directors, our project support team and administration together with our property valuers, combine to deliver a complete land acquisition service for a range of clients for a range of projects in all parts of Australia. MFS was established in 1970 and since this time has grown into the largest specialist provider of land access services around Australia. MFS headquarters remain in Adelaide with presences in Melbourne, Newcastle, Brisbane, Darwin, Gladstone and Roma. MFS undertake land and easement acquisition for water, gas and slurry pipelines, transmission powerlines, railways, wind farm and renewable energy projects, fibre optic projects, roads and expressways. Companies amongst our major clients include Santos, Origin Energy, BHP, AGL and Epic Energy.

NATIONAL LAND ACCESS AND VALUATION SOLUTIONS SERVICES Management & Co-ordination of Land Acquisition Programs | Acquisition of Land & Easements Landholder Liaison & Negotiations | Valuations & Assessments of Compensation Paralegal / Document Control | Community and Stakeholder Relations

LOCATIONS Adelaide | Melbourne | Brisbane | Newcastle Darwin | Gladstone

Maloney Field Services (Australia) Pty Ltd Adelaide Head Ofﬁce: Level 2/135 Fullarton Rd, Rose Park SA 5067, P: 61 8 8333 2722 | www.maloney.com.au Contact: Jamahl Waddington | M: 0402 148 160

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Black & Veatch ADVANCED WATER TECHNOLOGY WITH EXCEPTIONAL FUTURE FOCUS. Australian water leaders are managing numerous new layers of complexity atop the age-old hydrologic cycle to meet today’s water needs while still ensuring a sustainable future. Water scarcity, climate change, growth and population trends demand more innovative planning, processes and infrastructure. Black & Veatch will help you conquer these challenges. We offer proven global experience and expertise to help you overcome the layers of complexity, with the advanced technology and capabilities that are critical to address the range of social, environmental and economic issues at stake. We bring you knowledge and resources that start at the local level and extend through international networks to deliver viable solutions right now with more options for the future. And, we tackle every project with speed, costefficiency, superb communications and top performance. To confront your most complex water challenges, talk to Black & Veatch about front-line solutions and answers.

DELIVERING A WORLD CLASS PROJECT QUICKLY AND SAFELY

Bundamba Advanced Water Treatment Plant, Western Corridor Recycled Water Project, WaterSecure, SE Queensland A Black & Veatch/Theiss joint venture team was selected to design, construct and commission this 66 ML/d facility, which is part of the third-largest recycled water scheme of its kind in the world. The facility treats wastewater to the highest purified recycled water standards; the treated water is then piped to the Swanbank and Tarong Power Stations for use in cooling processes, eliminating the need to use potable water supplies. Advanced treatment processes, including microfiltration and reverse osmosis membranes with advanced oxidation treatment, produce top quality purified recycled water in quantities that could potentially meet the daily needs of 140,000 people. Stage 1A was online in just 10 months, and Black & Veatch’s integrated global workforce was critical to the successful fast-track schedule. While a strong team “on the ground” achieved 1.7 million hours without a lost time injury, Black

Water Management Review 2010

& Veatch design centres across the globe worked around the clock, enabling resources to be on the project 24/7.

DISCOVERING NEW, SUSTAINABLE SOURCES

Groundwater Replenishment Trial, Water Corporation, Perth

Media Filtration treatment coupled with ultraviolet and chlorine disinfection was chosen as the preferred treatment strategy. In addition to managing these trials, Black & Veatch is providing process option engineering, functional design development, cost estimation, construction and commissioning support.

In one of the largest trials of its kind in Australia, Black & Veatch as a key member of the W2W Alliance, is helping to design, construct and commission a groundwater replenishment pilot plant for the Water Corporation in Perth, Western Australia.

GROUNDWATER CHALLENGES, GROUNDBREAKING TECHNOLOGY

The pilot plant will treat water sourced from the Beenyup wastewater treatment plant’s ocean outfall. This is a significant resource which can be used, with appropriate treatment, to recharge aquifers and groundwater resources, and represents an ultimate potential minimum yield of 25GL/year. Advanced technologies include ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis membrane treatment and low-power UV disinfection.

The Water Corporation turned to Black & Veatch for innovative process solutions. The result was an upgrade to the Wanneroo water treatment plant that housed the world’s first large-scale magnetic ion exchange facility (MIEX).

IMPROVING THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Eastern Treatment Plant Tertiary Upgrade, Melbourne Water, Melbourne Black & Veatch is helping Melbourne Water upgrade this wastewater treatment plant to tertiary standards in order to provide an effluent quality that addresses marine discharge impacts. The upgrade will also increase water recycling opportunities by providing improved quality water suitable for irrigation, firefighting and industry. The project included an extensive series of technology trials of tertiary and advanced treatment processes to determine the most efficient way of achieving the treated effluent quality standard. Based on the completed trials, Ozone and Biological

Wanneroo MIEX Groundwater Treatment Plant, Water Corporation, Perth

The project included conceptual and detailed design, construction management and commissioning. The ambitious target date was met by clear program milestones and careful planning that minimized shutdowns at the existing plant. The upgraded plant has successfully controlled dissolved organic carbons, leading to significant reduction in coagulant use, chlorine dose and complaints about taste and odour. An estimated 20% of the world’s population served by community systems drinks potable water through systems designed, constructed or supported by Black & Veatch.

CONTACT:

Brisbane: (07) 3010 9445 Melbourne: (03) 8673 4200 Perth: (08) 9436 8900 Sydney: (02) 9019 0600 weknowwater@bv.com www.bv.com

BUILDING A WORLD OF DIFFERENCEÂŽ

ADAPTATION. One of the most ancient survival techniques for virtually every life form on earth is still among the most effective. Black & Veatch is distinctly qualified to help you confront climate change impacts and adapt to a future that canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be predicted on the past. Drawing from both local and global expertise, we help you deploy the most advanced strategies and technologies for water resources to plan and adapt in the face of uncertainty...in the harshest environments or under the worstcase scenario. Brisbane (07) 3010 9445 Melbourne (03) 8673 4200 Perth (08) 9436 8900 Sydney (02) 9019 0600 www.bv.com

Vulcan Coatings Protective Coatings need to improve to meet the requirements of an increasingly demanding market. Vulcan Coatings are a specialist applicator of high performance coatings, focusing on protecting pipe and tank systems against corrosion, abrasion and chemical attack. Corrosion of ageing Water and Chemical containment tanks is a major problem for many industries, and many of the traditional Epoxy and Polyurethane products just don’t extend the life of the tanks to justify the high expense of rectification. Vulcan Coatings Polyurea is changing all that, extending the life cycle of existing plant with minimal downtime and disruption to production. Pipeline coating is fast become another area of Vulcan’s specialty due to the high demand for highly durable, chemically resistant coatings. Their pure polyurea product K5 was developed to protect substrates against extreme abrasion. This has enormous application and has been welcomed by pipe companies looking for a coating that will protect pipelines even after being subjected to the abrasion associated with a horizontal directional drilling process. For example, Origin Energy faced the challenge of running 180 metres of 100nb HDD mild steel pipe under the Balonne River in the Surat Basin as part of their extensive development in this area. This pipe needed to withstand a wide range of corrosive and abrasive factors including: •

Corrosion from soil high in sulphates;

•

Abrasion from being pulled/dragged through the HDD; and

•

Exposure to moisture as pipe runs directly under Balonne riverbed.

Origin Energy needed to be mindful of various impacts that this project could have on the surrounding environment, while also giving consideration to pastoral and Native Title land rights in the region. The answer to this problem, particularly when faced with spanning the Balonne River, was the implementation of a horizontal direction drill (‘HDD’) creating a curved path under the riverbed for a pipe to follow.

Water Management Review 2010

The greatest challenge came in finding a coating for the pipe that would protect from corrosion, while simultaneously being tough enough to withstand being dragged through the HDD hole. Previous attempts and trials had found that most coatings were either shredded by the dragging/pulling process, or cracked when placed under the stresses of the curved HDD installation. Vulcan Coatings, a QLD based company applied their K5 abrasion resistant Polyurea coating to the pipe. K5 offers a completely seamless, monolithic coating that was originally developed as a resilient blast resistant polymer for use by the US Military. The coating was applied in house and field joints were then coated seamlessly in situ. Critically, it was the elongation properties of K5 Polyurea (greater than 300%) that set it apart, allowing for the greatest possible angle of curvature for the pipe without compromising the corrosive protection. After the pipe was installed, the leading edge was inspected and no damage was found after traversing the 180 metres. Electrical leakage testing carried out by Origin Energy showed that no defects had been sustained during the installation process. If you are a assets manager who is wanting the most durable system available on the market today Vulcan Coatings Polyurea should be your next consideration. Be it internal or external of containment tanks for water, food, or chemicals. Or whether you are looking for an alternative option to the many pipeline coating products available, Vulcan Coatings provide a seamless system that will provide your assets the protection to meet the intended design life you require.

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Water for the Future Preparing Australia for a future with less water

The Australian Government is getting on with the job of tackling water scarcity in the face of climate change through a comprehensive national response to meet water availability challenges in both rural and urban areas. Water for the Future is built on four key priorities: taking action on climate change; using water wisely; securing water supplies; and supporting healthy rivers. These priorities will be delivered through a ten-year, $12.9 billion investment in strategic programs including infrastructure investment to help water users adapt to a future with less water, purchasing water for the environment, and a renewed commitment to water reform nationally. Water for the Future provides $5.8 billion for rural water use and infrastructure projects to improve the efficiency of water use on farms and in irrigation delivery systems. To help restore the health of our vitally important rivers, wetlands and floodplains, Water for the Future has $3.1 billion for purchasing water entitlements. Other initiatives include securing water supplies for cities and towns through projects such as recycling, desalination, and stormwater harvesting.

The Australian Government is implementing a suite of policy measures and funding programs to give effect to the Water for the Future priorities: taking action on climate change; using water wisely; securing water supplies; and supporting healthy rivers. The policies that are reforming the way water is managed in Australia range from changing the governance arrangements for the Murray-Darling Basin to developing a new national water market system. Funding programs are addressing water scarcity at all scales and encompass multi-million dollar assistance for irrigation businesses to modernise their operations, rebates for householders to install rainwater tanks and grey-water systems, and support for local governments to secure town water supplies into the future. Specific actions are restoring

Water Management Review 2010

parts of our environment that have been degraded by reduced water availability.

Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure The amount of irrigation water that leaks out of irrigation systems or is lost to evaporation is about the same as all our major capital cities consume. Making better use of the water that is available is critical to adapting to reduced water availability which is forecast as a result of climate change. That’s why the Government is investing heavily in helping irrigators to upgrade their water infrastructure.

To meet the challenge of reduced water availability in the future, the Government has committed more than $4 billion so far to upgrade and modernise water and irrigation infrastructure in the MurrayDarling Basin. As part of its support for irrigators to modernise their infrastructure, the Government has invested more than $4.6 million to assist 18 water providers to develop modernisation plans for irrigation districts and covering about 75 per cent of total irrigation entitlements in the Murray Darling Basin. Another component of the Government’s investment in irrigation infrastructure is an assessment of ‘hotspots’ to identify and quantify the worst water losses in key areas, using a methodology developed by the CSIRO. The findings will help planning for modernising irrigation infrastructure with assistance through the Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program. Irrigators in the Lachlan and southernconnected system of the Murray-Darling Basin are being assisted through the $300 million On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Program to modernise their on-farm irrigation infrastructure and return water to the environment. The Government is also helping small block irrigators to leave the industry while staying on their farms. The Small Block Irrigators Exit Grant package is providing funding for eligible farmers willing to sell their water entitlements to the government and change to different kinds of farming or other activities. Top: Irrigation sprinklers near Hay, NSW (Andrew Tatnell & DEWHA) Bottom: Irrigation channel near Mooroopna, VIC (John Baker & DEWHA)

The Strengthening Basin Communities program has been established to help communities in the Murray-Darling Basin plan for a future with less water as Australia continues to face the challenge of drought and climate change. Strengthening Basin Communities is providing $200 million in two stages. The first planning stage is assisting local governments to assess the risks and implications associated with climate change, with a particular focus on water availability. For example, Mansfield Shire Council in Victoria will use $135,000 to study the interaction between groundwater and surface water within the Shire to ensure the long-term conservation, management and sustainable use of their groundwater resources. The second stage will support local government bodies and urban water service providers to implement water saving initiatives that improve urban water security by reducing demand on potable water supplies. Eligible projects include recycling and reuse, demand management programs, and water sensitive urban design.

Buying back water entitlements

A new way of managing the Murray-Darling Basin Over a mere decade or two, southern Australia has shifted from relative water abundance into an era of water scarcity, impacting on the environment as well as irrigators, rural and regional towns, and large cities. The volume of water extracted right across the Murray-Darling Basin is being reviewed by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority as it develops a Basin Plan. The plan will establish new sustainable diversion limits, or caps, that incorporate groundwater and surface water to ensure the sustainability of the resource.

Strengthening Basin Communities Encouraging local governments and water service providers in the MurrayDarling Basin to plan for and design water saving initiatives is the key to the survival of the Basin.

The Australian Government is buying back permanent water entitlements directly from irrigators in order to restore the balance between water for human use and for the environment. By the close of 2009, the Australian Government had secured the purchase of 766 gigalitres of water entitlements worth just over $1.2 billion. Purchasing water entitlements has the added benefit of helping to smooth the transition to lower sustainable diversion limits expected under the Basin Plan. The Government is primarily using a tender process to purchase water entitlements for the environment. As well as buying water directly from individual farmers, groups of farmers working with their irrigation water provider can lodge proposals for selling water entitlements collectively. There are benefits for groups of irrigators in the same region to work together. For example, if all irrigators along a channel sell their entitlements, the

Government can assist with the cost of decommissioning infrastructure and developing alternative stock and domestic water supplies. The Government will also consider funding the purchase of land with the relevant state government where a property of high conservation value with significant water entitlements comes on to the market. For example, Toorale Station on the junction of the Darling and Warrego rivers was purchased by the New South Wales Government in late 2008 with funding assistance from the Australian Government. The purchase returned water to the Darling River while providing a boost to the New South Wales conservation reserve system.

Returning water to the environment

Water entitlements acquired under Water for the Future programs become part of Commonwealth environmental water holdings, managed by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) and are used to benefit the environment. Like any water entitlement holder, the volume of water allocated against an entitlement the Commonwealth holds will vary from season to season. In making decisions on the use of the water, the CEWH takes into account input from Murray-Darling Basin state governments and local site managers, as well as advice from the Environmental Water Scientific Advisory Committee, a panel of scientific experts. In 2009, 29.4 gigalitres of Commonwealth water was allocated to 23 floodplain and wetland sites in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. An example of Commonwealth environmental watering occurred at Carpark Lagoons on the Katarapko floodplain in the River Murray National Park, near Berri in South Australia. This site was allocated 200 megalitres of environmental water in March 2009. Katarapko is a diverse floodplain and wetland habitat for a range of aquatic and terrestrial animals and is also the site of a river rehabilitation project, known as Katfish reach. The Carpark Lagoons are some of the last wetlands in the area with living mature river red gums, and this water was aimed at preventing the death of these trees.

Securing urban water supplies

All Premiers and Chief Ministers have endorsed the model for a National Water Market System. The new system will include a common registry system or system upgrades for all jurisdictions, and a new national portal and interstate processes to speed-up cross-border water trades and cut transaction costs.

The Australian Government has committed $1.5 billion towards a range of initiatives towards securing urban water supplies and to reduce reliance on traditional rain-fed water sources.

For further information on Water for the Future call 1800 218 478

Many of Australia’s cities and towns are also facing some big challenges in securing their water supplies as a result of extended drought and projected growth in demand. The already-emerging impacts of climate change add further urgency to this task.

or visit www.environment.gov.au/water

To date significant funding has been directed to a number of wastewater recycling, stormwater harvesting and desalination projects around the country. Funding has also been made available to support individual Australians in taking action to conserve water resources by installing rainwater tanks and greywater systems. For example, a $3.3 million project in Brisbane, the ‘South Bank Stormwater Harvesting and Reuse Centre’ project, will lead to about 77 megalitres per year in water savings. Stormwater entering the South Bank parklands from a surrounding catchment, which would otherwise flow into the river, will be intercepted and treated for reuse on-site.

National Water Market System

Australia’s water market is being strengthened through a $56 million investment by the Australian Government to develop a faster, more efficient and nationally focused water market system.

Top: Carpark Lagoons in the Katarapko Floodplains SA prior to the environmental watering in March 2009 (Mark Mohell & DEWHA)

This will address differences between water registers in each state and territory, and their varying capacity to inform the market and support interstate water trade.

WATER

Above: Water tank (Michelle McAulay & DEWHA)

for the

Below: Carpark Lagoons in the Katarapko Floodplains SA after the environmental watering in March 2009 (Mark Mohell & DEWHA)

FUTURE

Preparing Australia for a future with less water Water for the Future is the Australian Government’s 10-year, $12.9 billion initiative to prepare Australia for a future with less water. Water for the Future is built on four key priorities:

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taking action on climate change using water wisely

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securing water supplies supporting healthy rivers and wetlands

For more information visit www.environment.gov.au/water or call 1800 218 478

Water Management Review 2010

Lucas. Unseen in all the right places. From tight urban situations to remote Australia, Lucas can meet the challenges of sustainable infrastructure engineering for water, wastewater and energy pipelines and associated facilities. Our trenchless technology carried Sydney Water sewer lines 2,400 metres directly beneath Cascades Dam (above) in the Blue Mountains National Park, setting a world record. Lucas technology carries pipelines under Victoria’s coastline at Port Campbell, the Brisbane River, the city of Wollongong and is currently at work on Perth’s Southern Seawater Desalination Plant and the Gorgon Gas Project. Other Lucas divisions install broadband infrastructure with minimal disruption in unique microtrenches, provide a range of water treatment and recycling solutions, and have made coal seam gas a viable, lower-carbon energy resource.

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Lucas. Proud to be named Sustainable Infrastructure Company of the Year.

PIPELINES • TRENCHLESS • WATER TREATMENT & RECYCLING • COAL SEAM GAS

AJ Lucas Group Limited www.lucas.com.au Sydney (02) 9490 4000 Melbourne (03) 8615 7800 Perth (08) 6216 9800 Brisbane (07) 3235 8100 2009 Sustainable Infrastructure Company of the Year

SuStaining auStralia

Australia’s largest recycled water scheme reaps environmental rewards Australia’s largest recycled water scheme is not only delivering a secure water supply for South East Queensland but also environmental and community benefits for the region.

OCCA reps and WCRW Mario Pirrone

WaterSecure’s $2.5 billion Western Corridor Recycled Water (WCRW) Project is part of the South East Queensland Water Grid —Australia’s largest water infrastructure initiative since the Snowy Mountains hydro-electric scheme— and was completed in 2008. Water is purified at three advanced water treatment plants, travelling via a network of more than 200 kilometres of large-diameter underground pipes, storage tanks and pumping stations to deliver a new source of pure water for South East Queensland. The project has the capacity to provide up to 232 megalitres of water a day to the region’s power stations, industry and agriculture. If drinking water supplies fall below a combined capacity of 40 per cent, water will also be supplied to the Wivenhoe Dam. WaterSecure’s water purification plants bring a range of benefits to South East Queenslanders, with the most significant being water security for future generations. But one of the key elements behind its success is the environmental outcomes the project delivers, and the ability to mobilise grassroots community groups to undertake crucial work in their communities. During construction a number of groups benefited through community grants programs that have helped communities along

Water Management Review 2010

the construction alignment and this support is continuing throughout the operations phase. CEO of WaterSecure Keith Davies said environmental benefits had always been a key driver of the water recycling project, and the community grants program played a central role in leaving a lasting and beneficial legacy. “While delivering a major water infrastructure initiative, we recognised there’s a lot more we could deliver other than treatment plants, pipelines and pumps. We really wanted to contribute to the environmental and social fabric of communities affected by our project,” Mr Davies said. “Our Community Support Program provided an opportunity for local community and environment groups to get meaningful projects off the ground.” During construction, WCRW devised two separate community grants programs to support affected communities. Each round of grants provided $120 000 to not-for-profit community organisations undertaking community-based initiatives. Successful recipients were able to demonstrate that their project satisfied a community need or provided a significant contribution to social, cultural or environmental sustainability.

Two of the grant recipients included the Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordination Committee (B4C) and the Oxley Creek Catchment Association (OCCA). These groups received grants for projects that protect, revegetate and enhance local creeks and wetlands. Mr Davies said the community grants program was a great way for the project to give something back to communities affected by construction works. “The Bulimba Creek Catchment has been directly affected by our project a number of times. Twenty-eight kilometres of underground pipeline runs through the catchment and our pipelines cross Bulimba Creek five times,” Mr Davies said. “By providing funds to allow B4C to undertake its fauna monitoring program, we are helping provide scientific, social and environmental benefits for the entire community.” Environmentally, B4C’s program directly contributes to the continued protection of the Bulimba Creek Catchment, which is home to threatened and endangered bird species. Socially, the program engages the community and will help Brisbane residents better understand fauna within our region, which provides the chance for wide-scale attitude change. Scientifically,

the program will produce important fauna data for urban wetlands in Brisbane, which will be contributed to ecological journals and databases. “I’m told that since 1997, B4C has planted 260,000 native plants, protected 400 hectares of land and received the 2005 National River Prize at the International River Symposium. Particularly for a group based completely on volunteers, it’s a remarkable effort and we’re pleased to have assisted in their endeavours.” A second group to have benefited from the program is the Oxley Creek Catchment Association (OCCA). The Oxley Creek Catchment forms a pocket of biodiversity within Brisbane’s southwestern suburbs, which is home to a variety of flora and fauna. OCCA used the grant to protect two of its tributaries—Mayfly and Pennywort creeks. Mayflies are aquatic invertebrates found in healthy, clear waterways, while the Pennywort is a rare plant found in Brisbane waterways. The grant was used to remove weeds that had choked the waterway, revegetate degraded areas using a number of tree planting days and conduct educational programs with local schools. “The Oxley Creek Catchment Association did a great job of bringing Oxley Creek into the greater social consciousness, while providing environmental benefits,” Mr Davies said. “Weed control and tree-planting days enabled the community to gather in a social and informal setting, where they could share a common goal of restoring a local creek. School education days were also held, bringing the environment into the consciousness of tomorrow’s decision-makers.” These initiatives are further enhancing the environmental benefits the WCRW Project is having on the region’s waterways through its normal operations. WaterSecure’s advanced water treatment plants are not only the first of their kind in Australia, they are also the first plants of their kind in the world to address environmental impacts on waterways by further treating byproducts of the treatment process before discharging them.

“When the plants receive influent water it undergoes pretreatment,” Mr Davies said. “The plants use a flocculation-clarification process, which removes suspended solids and soluble phosphorus.” Ferric chloride is added to the water and, encouraged by gentle mixing, causes solids to coagulate and form “floc”. The flocculated solids are then separated from the water in a high rate clarifier fitted with lamella plates. The ferric sludge produced is then thickened, dewatered using a centrifuge and disposed of in a landfill rather than ending up in the Bremer or Brisbane Rivers as it would have if the water had been discharged from the source wastewater treatment plants. Water removed during pretreatment is sent back to a wastewater treatment plant and re-treated, further improving the efficiency of the process. At its current production rate, Bundamba Advanced Water Treatment Plant is disposing an average of 14 tonnes of sludge a day. At full capacity, this would increase to about 25 tonnes a day. The microfiltration and reverse osmosis treatment processes produce backwash and a concentrated discharge that are further treated to reduce nutrient levels before they are discharged into the Brisbane River. Due to differences in influent water characteristics, the Bundamba and Luggage Point plants use different techniques to manage nitrogen levels. The Bundamba Advanced Water Treatment Plant uses a nitrificationdenitrification process to manage nitrogen levels in reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC) produced. The ROC is passed

into a nitrification tank where temporary breakpoint chlorination is used to convert ammonia to nitrogen gas, which is then removed in the denitrification tank. “Our project has been internationally recognised for our engineering excellence and construction innovations, and we’ve won more than thirteen highly sought after international, national and state awards, including the 2009 Water ReUse Project of the Year at the Global Water Awards,” Mr Davies said. “But the environmental recognition and community grants have been one of the most rewarding elements of our project. “We will continue this work through the operations phase and have already started rolling out our Community Support Program.” WaterSecure has begun working with Reverse Garbage, a Brisbane-based not-for-profit that collects pre-consumer waste otherwise destined for landfill from businesses in south east Queensland. It is then sold at low cost to the community, in particular to schools and artists. “We’ve partnered with Reverse Garbage to host art workshops in schools located near our assets that will be on the theme of water and the environment. Their focus on recycling and reuse perfectly complements what we are doing at Western Corridor. “Community-based groups do an excellent job of harnessing existing community interest and transferring it into grassroots, ‘on-the-ground’ resources. It’s great to support organisations that deliver genuine benefits to the community and environment, and it’s great to create an environmental legacy.”

Black & Veatch In early 2006, Black & Veatch and their consultancy partners were appointed by the Queensland Government to carry out preliminary design for the overall Western Corridor Recycled Water Project (WCRWP), which comprised three Advanced Water Treatment (AWT) Plants, as well as the distribution network and major pumping stations. Review of the existing business case confirmed the viability of the project; but crucially the team came up with an optimised treatment strategy, which resulted in significant project savings. In this design, treated water either could be used locally in areas around each of the AWT Plants or at potential sites along the length of each transfer pipeline, or it could be readily combined at Bundamba for transfer along the Western Corridor. This transfer offered a range of uses, including power station cooling, irrigation or industrial applications, or to storage at Lake Wivenhoe for indirect potable reuse. Due to the importance of the WCRWP to the people of Queensland and the desire to ensure that the project was started as early as possible, the joint venture of Black & Veatch/Thiess Construction and Western Corridor Recycled Water Pty Ltd, or the Bundamba Alliance, was made responsible for designing and constructing the 66ML/d Bundamba AWT Plant in June 2006. The alliance worked in partnership with the Queensland Government’s Department of Infrastructure and Planning to deliver the project. The contract to design and construct Bundamba Stage 1A was awarded with a completion date of 3rd Quarter 2007. In order to meet this date, the project team had to focus on how to build the plant in a very short period. The basic treatment process and major operating parameters had already been established during

Water Management Review 2010

the preliminary design stage. However, major equipment had to be selected not only on lowest capital and operating cost but also on ease of construction and effect on civil works. With these criteria in mind, the project team selected equipment that would minimise excavation and shorten construction time as well as maximising off site erection and testing. This resulted in the selection of encased skid-mounted pre-treatment and RO membranes and in-pipe UV equipment. Major tankage was designed to be entirely above ground to maximise pre-casting. A key challenge for the Bundamba AWTP was how to treat a blended flow from four wastewater treatment plants, each with a different treatment process and configurations and different effluent qualities. The main treatment steps of ultrafiltration membranes, reverse osmosis (RO) membranes followed by advanced oxidation using UV irradiation and hydrogen peroxide together represented the gold standard for water reclamation. This was the first full-scale facility designed to meet such stringent nitrogen, disinfection and emerging contaminant quality parameters and also the first large-scale application of 18” diameter RO membranes. Large diameter membranes were chosen for their lower capital cost; fewer membranes are required for the same throughput resulting in less maintenance and a lower plant footprint. Advanced oxidation was added as a treatment step to ensure that the purified recycled water met the required guidelines for water recycled to a drinking water source. Purified recycled water will be added to Wivenhoe Dam should levels in the dam fall below a certain threshold.

As well as having a team based on the project site, Black & Veatch through its concept of the Integrated Global Workforce was able to carry out design work in China, India, Singapore, UK and US, bringing the benefit of global solutions to a local problem. Progress was faster than many thought possible. Stage 1A was officially opened in early in September 2007 after ground breaking was carried out only in November 2006. Working closely with partner Thiess, Black & Veatch led the start up effort and detailed testing and commissioning plans were developed. Quality was maintained and safe working procedures were strictly adhered to with over 1.7 million hours worked without Lost Time Injury. In 2008 and 2009, the Bundamba AWTP received numerous national and international accolades from the global engineering community. These included Water Project of the Year at the 2008 Global Water Awards, International Project of the Year by the Construction Management Association of America, Global Honour award for Design Category at the 2008 International Water Association (IWA) Project Innovation Awards, and winner of the Environmental Engineering Award at the 2008 Engineer’s Australian Engineering Excellence Awards. In November 2009 the plant was named as one of the top ten engineering wonders in Queensland. Contact Black & Veatch at: Brisbane: (07) 3010 9445 Melbourne: (03) 8673 4200 Perth: (08) 9436 8900 Sydney: (02) 9019 0600 weknowwater@bv.com www.bv.com

Hydo Tasmania Consulting According to a recent Treasury report Australia’s population is set to reach 35 million people by 2050. With the population currently sitting on just over 22 million, this increase will place even more pressure on the allocation of our natural resources, in particular water. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, water consumption in Australia is split between agriculture: 60 per cent; households: 13 per cent; water supply: 11 per cent; manufacturing: 4 per cent; mining: 3 per cent; electricity and gas: 2 per cent; and other industries: 7 per cent. Australia’s water challenge lies in how to keep water use in these segments low as we support a growing population. We have a depth of knowledge across the water market, with numerous private and government businesses that have world-class credentials in solving problems in this area. We can meet the water challenge through careful planning, using the necessary skills available in our own backyard. Among the businesses that operate successfully in this sector is Hydro Tasmania Consulting, a water and energy consultant that has been dealing with the issue of water management for almost 100 years. Providing their services across Australia and internationally, the company understands the need to refine processes and continues to support innovation in the area. “We recognise that there are challenges in water management, but there is a great deal of expertise in this country and we have developed some world class solutions“, says Hydro Tasmania Consulting General Manager Scott Baddiley. “This is a critical time for Australia’s water resources, and the decisions we make and programs we put in place now will have a big impact on our water management outcomes in the future. “The opportunity here is to use and develop our local knowledge, and then export these skills to solve similar challenges overseas”.

Hydro Tasmania Consulting will be at booth W30 at the OzWater conference. If you have any questions about their products or services please contact Stephen Buckland Stephen.Buckland@hydro.com.au

Drought drives innovation in water planning

by Emma Pryor and Simon Bluestone, MWH In response to a variety of pressures, water planning in developed nations has changed significantly over the past 40 years. Many innovative responses have emerged to address increasing social, economic and environmental challenges associated with water use. In particular, in parts of Australia and the United States, the severity of drought has provided the impetus for significant change in water planning over relatively short periods of time.

Australian experience

Having expanded in response to a series of droughts, the current operating storage capacity of the Sydney system of dams is around 2,600 billion litres. This was sufficient to see the city through the moderate drought of 1992-1998; however, facing yet another severe drought that began in 2002, the New South Wales government developed the ‘Metropolitan Water Plan’ in 2004 (revised again in 2006). The plan adopts the ‘Water for Life’ strategy, which has four key components: dams, recycling, water efficiency and desalination. The components are advocated as a diversification strategy to ensure the city becomes less dependent upon rainfall. Under the plan, recycling and desalination will provide 12% and 15%, respectively, of the city’s water needs by 2015, and significant reductions in demand will be achieved through efficiency. The adaptive plan is presently being updated for republishing in 2010. One element of the plan, the Sydney desalination plant, was first developed in 2004 and approved in 2006, when Sydney’s dam supplies were approaching 30%. At the time, the desalination plant was offered as the only viable emergency solution; however, justification of the use of desalination to meet water needs and the potential environmental impact of the plant have continued to be issues of public debate. By contrast, when the drought spread through South East Queensland, where the majority of that state’s population resides, the supplies to major urban centres began to come under threat. In response, planning for the South East Queensland Water Grid began

Water Management Review 2010

in 2006, which included the Western Corridor Recycled Water Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR) project, an initiative of the Queensland Government. It is the largest recycled water scheme in Australia and will result in the recycling of almost all of Brisbane’s effluent. The scheme was commissioned in 2008, though the IPR element is not yet in use as the government has made the decision to put recycled water into the drinking supply only as a last resort. From 2005 onwards, as the drought situation worsened, every major city in Australia planned seawater desalination plants, most of which were built and commissioned. The rapid development of this source started with the Perth plant (100 billion litres), and was followed by Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane (Gold Coast). Alongside these developments, demonstration projects for IPR were put into planning in Canberra and in Perth (managed aquifer discharge), largely as research projects to better understand the risks and management required. Concerned about the need to balance supply alternatives, the federal government increased its presence in water management. In late 2006, a national guideline framework for the management of recycled water was produced to ensure water products are fit for their intended purposes, effectively replacing a series of prescriptive treatment trains and quality targets for uses contained in state-based guidelines. Then, in mid 2007, the National Water Commission released a position paper on the use of recycled water, endorsing the industry research that stated IPR can be ‘satisfactorily and safely managed’ and is deserving of ‘even-handed consideration […] as one option for communities to augment their water supplies’. At the same time, the national Productivity Commission called for better economic assessment of all water supply options. With the national framework in place (although still navigating state approval processes), and caught in the grip of severe drought, the City of Orange in central New South Wales, home to nearly 40,000 people, commenced planning for the reuse of stormwater in 2007. Utilising the risk-based framework to ensure fitness for purpose of the

product, the Blackman’s Swamp Creek scheme was commissioned in 2009 and will supply 20% of the city’s water supply requirements (1,200 ML/a). While there were small (often urban) wins, the federal government was still frustrated with the lack of progress in integrated and sustainable water planning by each of the states, particularly in a rural setting and on a catchmentwide basis. In response, it passed the Water Act 2007. This Act will see the commencement of the first MurrayDarling Basin-wide, integrated and sustainable water resource management plan in 2011. For the first time, the plan will provide a comprehensive national framework for the sharing of water between rural communities, irrigators, mines, other industry and the environment, taking into account social, environmental and economic considerations as well as climate change adaptation, water quality, water rights and water trading.

California dreaming

The western United States has long struggled with water resources management. Southern California’s existence was premised on the ability to provide water from where it fell in the north or in the east, to where it was needed for farming and urban growth in the south. The Los Angeles Basin comprises only 0.06% of the state’s stream flow, yet serves as home to more than 60% of the state’s population. California’s population is predicted to grow from the current 38 million to more than 60 million people by 2050. This is compounded by the pressures of climate change, underfunded and ageing infrastructure, environmental regulation and economic crisis. Over 45 years ago, in her doctoral thesis, Noble Prize-winning economist Dr Elinor Ostrom, noted the need for Southern California to develop a more economic and efficient source of water supply. More recently, Dr Ostrom noted lessons that apply to managing water rights: 1. there is no one best system for governing water resources; 2. many more viable options exist for resource management than envisioned in much of the policy literature;

3. it helps to think of resource management as a problem of designing a management system to meet a set of ongoing challenges; 4. complexity, uncertainty and conflict are inherent attributes of many water management systems; 5. water management, notwithstanding its technical aspects, is largely a problem of governance; and, 6. successful resource management depends on integrating the human sciences. These lessons underpin the transformation to sustainable integrated water resources planning that is taking place in Southern California. The drought period of the late 1980s required Southern California water agencies to mandate water conservation. Since this time, integrated resource planning, which has driven legislative, policy and planning changes to see water recycling, stormwater harvesting, groundwater management and low impact development (water sensitive urban design) increasingly considered as viable alternatives, with a role to play in water supply planning. These changes have been made in the context of federal initiatives to control pollution of waterways and to share water with other economic and environmental users of water. Alongside its significant history of importing water, today, the City of Los Angeles is aggressively diversifying water supply opportunities. In May 2008, the city adopted ‘Securing L.A.’s Water Supply’ – a long-term, sustainable plan water supply plan, which has identified expanding recycled water; increasing water conservation, enhancing stormwater capture, accelerating cleanup of the groundwater basin, and expanding groundwater storage as key elements of the city’s future.

Conclusion

In both Australia and Southern California, there has been a shift from acceptance of supply augmentation — through ever-increasing water imports and the cleaning up, but ultimately discharging as pollution, of sewage and stormwater effluents — to a water resource-based mind-set (which advocates a variety

of water products that are fit for their intended use, locally produced, and less climate dependent). Also, economic regulators in both jurisdictions have questioned whether all the alternatives for supply are given fair consideration, whilst scientists in both places adopt systems-based, risk-management approaches rather than prescriptive technological ones. These options and supporting management approaches for diversification must be further explored. However, perhaps even more interestingly, the experience of both places has highlighted a very real tension in water planning: under the pressure of critical (drought) circumstances, innovation thrives, yet, with diminishing time remaining for action, not every option remains a genuine option. Whilst criticality brings the political will to create great change, by the time a crisis point is reached several response options are already lost. The challenge for the future therefore becomes: How do we create a resonant impetus for change before crisis is upon us to maintain the integrity of the planning process? One possible means of creating part of this impetus that stands out in the Australian context is the continued development of national policy, regulatory and legislative frameworks. This is an abridged version of a paper delivered by Emma Pryor at OzWater ’10, the annual conference of the Australian Water Association.

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Water Management Review 2010

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Hatch provision and reticulation of all services and the Energy Recovery system. Hatch is a global engineering services company, with 8000 staff located in offices around the world. The company has $50 billion of projects under management and provides engineering, management and consulting services to client projects worldwide, to the mining and metals, energy and infrastructure sectors. Hatch has earned a reputation for innovation, engineering excellence and project management skills which add value at each stage of the client’s project. For these reasons, Hatch maintains exceptional long term relationships with leading mining companies such as BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, Xstrata and Alcoa. Globally, Hatch’s experience in the Infrastructure sector provides clients with services to design, procure and contract manage the construction of wharfs, coal terminals, dams, rail, roads, airports and municipal and industrial water systems. Hatch’s engineering services are backed by its in-house Environment and Community Interface Group. Most recently, Hatch, in Australia has applied these skills, with outstanding results, to infrastructure projects, for industrial and public sector clients, for projects in Australia and overseas. Current projects include: •

Luggage Point Advanced Water Treatment Plant, Queensland, Australia Hatch was a member of an integrated engineering team which undertook the design of the plant. Hatch provided significant process, design, and management expertise to the project which was engineered entirely using Hatch’s suite of design tools.

•

Adelaide Desalination Plant, South Australia, Australia Hatch is a member of the Design JV group for the Adelaide Aqua Consortia. The scope of the design work included the seawater intake/ outfall structures and pipelines, the intake pumping station, all site structures, all site civil works, the

Water Management Review 2010

•

Mosaic Company Phosphate Spent Liquor Plant, Florida, USA Australian Hatch offices provided piloting, process design and commissioning support for the Mosaic Company Phosphate Spent Liquor Plant which is installed in a phosphate facility in Florida, USA. Hatch progressed this project from concept, through piloting, detail design, supply commissioning and operation. The plant provides an environmental and potential yield benefit to Mosaic and was commissioned in 2009.

•

Koniambo Nickel SAS, New Caledonia Hatch is involved in the engineering and construction of the US$2.2 billion project in the northern province of New Caledonia. The project includes the construction of a 35 megawatt power facility, a metallurgical plant, mine development and all associated infrastructure. The water infrastructure which includes a 40 MW open-loop cooling water system for shotting of the ferronickel product, a 200 m3/h SWRO desalination plant, 75 m3/h RO/EDI demineralised water treatment plant, submarine ocean intake and outfall and water storage and reticulation systems. An integrated water management plan was incorporated into the design phase to optimise water recycle and reuse opportunities, minimise water consumption and wastewater generation.

Having acquired BHP Engineering and Kaiser Engineers, Hatch has deep roots in Australia where it operates from three major hub offices, Brisbane, Wollongong and Perth, and a number of smaller offices. All Hatch’s Australian offices workshare between themselves and other Hatch hubs around the world so enabling optimum skills and resourcing to projects regardless of where they reside. Hatch has a complete engineering design and delivery system incorporating all engineering disciplines and integrated tools which link all aspects of the project such as design, budget, schedule and procurement.

As part of Hatch’s infrastructure group, Hatch Water creates solutions to water and wastewater treatment, water supply and water management challenges. Hatch Water designs, constructs, commissions and operates water and other fluid treatment systems and has expertise in: •

Desalination: Thermal, membrane, and emerging technologies

•

Biological Treatment: for sewage and industrial wastewater

•

Membrane Technologies: reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration, micro-filtration, and membrane distillation.

•

Bioreactors

•

Media filtration: multi-media filters, sand filters, greensand filters, activated carbon filters, walnut shell filters, gravity and pressure filtration

•

Oil-water separation

•

Acid mine drainage treatment: high density sludge, low density sludge, membranes

•

Slurry handling: sludge pumping, filter presses, vacuum dryers

•

Acid mine drainage treatment (high density and low density sludge systems)

•

Site water management

•

Mine effluent treatment

•

Process Water Supply

•

Cooling water tower management

•

Boiler feed water

•

Flue gas desulphurization wastewater treatment and recycle

•

Produced water treatment

•

Oil sands surface mining water management and reuse

•

Potable water – membrane systems, contaminant removal, hardness reduction

•

Sewage treatment – membrane bioreactors, biological treatment, reuse

•

Advanced wastewater treatment for reuse

COUNSULTING

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

TECHNOLOGIES

OPERATIONS SUPPORT

WATER INFRASTRUCTURE INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS

Projects: Luggage Point Advanced Water Treatment Plant Adelaide Desalination Plant Koniambo Nickel SAS Contacts: Trevor Clarke +61 2 4968 6811 Richard Thew +61 7 3166 6322 Neil Wende +61 8 9428 5670

Hatch is among the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest engineering consultancy firms, delivering safe and high quality projects to the mining, metals infrastructure and energy sectors. Hatch Water provides investigations, planning, design and delivery of water infrastructure projects. Our global outlook and ability to work collaboratively with clients, affiliated companies and partners is what sets us apart.

South East Queensland’s first Class A+ recycled water residential development is here

The Gold Coast is leading the way in sustainable water and wastewater management. Class A+ recycled water is being pumped to more than 4000 dual reticulated homes, businesses and schools in Pimpama and Coomera on the northern Gold Coast – one of Australia’s fastest-growing areas.

It is the first initiative of its kind in South East Queensland and part of Council’s Gold Coast Waterfuture Strategy to sustainably manage and conserve water. The launch of Class A+ recycled water in Pimpama and Coomera in late 2009 has bought to fruition Gold Coast City Council’s Pimpama Coomera Waterfuture (PCWF) Master Plan. Initially, the project connected more than 4000 homes to the Class A+ recycled water network, with separate purple pipes, taps and hoses. Another 350 homes are scheduled for connection later in 2010. Class A+ recycled water is not for drinking, but can be used to flush toilets, water gardens, wash cars, fight fires and for construction and irrigation. Similar systems, have been designed at Rouse Hill in Sydney and Mawson Lakes in Adelaide. The PCWF Master Plan was developed in 2004 with the aim of creating a fully integrated urban water cycle management plan for the 7000-hectare Pimpama-Coomera region. The area is still largely undeveloped, making it an ideal place to establish a community with positive attitudes and behaviours towards water and water conservation initiatives. The Director of Gold Coast Water, Richard Went, said the PCWF Master Plan was internationally recognised, having won many awards and setting a benchmark for water, wastewater and stormwater management in Queensland. “The plan won the International Water Association’s Water Congress Global Grand Prize for water planning in 2006 and was runner up in 2008 in the Practical Realisation of Sustainable Urban Water Management category.” said Mr Went. “Gold Coast Water has ensured that the Class A+ recycled water is backed by state-of-the-art infrastructure. “An $82 million recycled water treatment plant has been built at Pimpama to ensure the Class A+ recycled water is treated to quality standards,” “In addition, a recycled water reservoir has been built at Upper Coomera, alongside a potable reservoir to store water for the area’s ever-growing population.” The PCWF Master Plan includes many supportive water management systems. •

Water Management Review 2010

Rainwater tanks are plumbed into the cold water

•

washing machine tap and an outdoor tap to further reduce demand on drinking water.

reservoir at Upper Coomera. The stored water is then pumped to local homes and businesses.

understanding to acceptance of the PCWF Master Plan and to provide an avenue for feedback and liaison.

Reduced Infiltration Gravity Sewers (RIGS) have been built to reduce the volume and velocity of stormwater entering the wastewater network.

Involving the community

Annual research conducted on behalf of the PCWF Alliance shows:

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) has replaced traditional kerbs and channelling with visually attractive swales and retention ponds. These landscaping features allow stormwater runoff to be slowed, reduced and filtered before it can enter creeks and rivers.

Mr Went said the project provided the Pimpama-Coomera community with a sustainable urban water cycle.

Community and stakeholder support has been crucial to implementing the Pimpama Coomera Waterfuture (PCWF) Master Plan. One outstanding innovation of the Master Plan’s development and implementation was the effective involvement of the community through a local advocacy group and a community-based committee which oversaw the development of the Master Plan. •

“The community can now capture, use and re-use water in innovative ways. “The region has been marked for rapid population growth, with an estimated population of 120,000 in 2056. We need to encourage positive attitudes and behaviours towards water and water conservation to ensure a sustainable future.”

The Class A+ recycled water treatment process

Class A+ recycled water production is subject to stringent specifications and controls to ensure maximum quality. Waste water treated at the Pimpama Recycled Water Treatment Plant goes through a seven-barrier process that includes: •

preliminary treatment

•

biological nutrient removal

•

anthracite, sand ﬁ ltration

•

disinfection

•

ultra ﬁ ltration

•

ultraviolet ﬁ ltration

•

disinfection.

The process ensures water is treated to a quality standard before being sent to a new, 22-million litre recycled water

•

The committee comprised a team of Gold Coast community and industry representatives, technical specialists in water, wastewater, economics and engineering, Councillors, Council officers and managers and State Government representatives. The committee approach was important in creating a high level of community engagement and ownership of the Master Plan.

Implementing the PCWF Master Plan also achieved a measurable change in stakeholder knowledge, attitudes and behaviour. The PCWF Master Plan was unique in being located in a ‘greenfield’ area with few traditional communication channels. A Community Advocacy Group (CAG) was established to achieve better acceptance and understanding of the Master Plan and to enable more targeted dissemination of information between the project team and the local community. The CAG represents a broad range of local community and stakeholder interests and provides a forum for disseminating information about the PCWF Master Plan to a cross section of the community in order to gain public support. The CAG also builds trust and transparency by regularly bringing GCW and other key stakeholders face to face. The CAG’s goal is to empower the community to move from awareness and

•

Gold Coast residents broadly support water conservation initiatives, particularly in light of forecast population growth in the region

•

Stakeholder support for Class A+ recycled water being plumbed for toilet flushing and outside nondrinking uses is 95%

•

Accurate information about the PCWF Master Plan’s recycled water system and health and safety issues could be effectively disseminated through the implementation of a CAG.

The Launch Campaign

A campaign was executed in 2009 to increase awareness, build upon the understanding within the community and create excitement and support for the Class A+ ‘go live’.

Pimpama Recycled Water Treatment Plant

needs and questions regarding Class A+ recycled water.

The campaign used strategies based on GCW’s detailed knowledge of the community to ensure key messages and communications mechanisms were relevant and tailored to their intended audiences. The launch involved two tiers.

Go live campaign: •

Benefits campaign including: •

•

Community displays in local shopping centres, libraries and Council service centres.

•

Community Advocacy Group. This allowed community leaders and students to deliver messages and education material to community networks and school communities.

An area door knock delivered key education material and a terms-ofuse document to each household scheduled to receive Class A+ recycled water. A community open day at the Pimpama Recycled Water Treatment Plant to help members of the community understand the Class A+ treatment process and to foster acceptance and ownership

Living with Class A+ recycled water

Training for internal GCW stakeholders to ensure they understood and actively supported the project during the launch.

Jules and Darren Davis recently brought a home in Coomera because it is at the forefront of sustainable water use. Their home at Coomera Waters has dual reticulation, which supplies drinking water and Class A+ recycled water through two

A series of education events for businesses, developers and plumbers aimed at addressing their specific

About Diston Sewage Purification

We provide for…

We have 40 years of experience in environmental consulting, design, construction and maintenance of sewage treatment plants, gross pollutant traps, water tanks and more recently rain water harvesting systems and wet lands. With commitment to quality, reputation and client satisfaction we are the leader in the waste water industry.

Litter trap, sewage treatment plant and stormwater harvesting installation

With 40 years experience we know our business. From rural to inner city we provide total “cradle to grave” solutions.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Consultation. Design. Approval (EPA/Council). Installation. Testing.

Lifetime support & maintenance.

www.distonsewage.com.au

Diston Sewage Purification 2/29 Hightech Pl Lilydale Vic 3140 Australia Phone: +61 3 9735 0122 Fax: +61 3 9735 0133 matt@distonsewage.com.au

Water Management Review 2010

completely separate networks. The Davis family moved to the region from Rouse Hill in Sydney, an area that has supplied recycled water for non-drinking purposes since 2001. Mr Davis said they had looked forward to being able to turn on the tap and water the garden, while remaining conscious of how precious water was. “It is very satisfying to know that our community will be water sustainable. We will save drinking water and at the same time protect local waterways.” Said Mr Davis. “It’s an exciting time being able to turn on the tap and have Class A+ recycled water flowing.” For more information about the Class A+ recycled water and the PCWF Master Plan, visit www.goldcoastwater.com. au/pimpamacoomera or phone Gold Coast Water on 1300 366 692 or email: waterinfo@goldcoastwater.com.au

Sea Water-170x245_GB_Sea Water-206x276 25/11/09 10:40 Page1

www.degremont.com

LIFE.

REUSE Degrémont's membrane filtration technology is suitable for the whole range of treated wastewater uses, from agriculture and landscaping to industry and many others. Already valued by farmers and industries, the clean water produced by this demanding process makes a major contribution to water conservation and environmental protection.

DESALINATION Degremont draws its desalination experience from its portfolio of more than 250 reverse osmosis plants around the world. The process removes mineral salts by forcing water to cross a semi-permeable membrane. With the growth in world demand for drinking water and with 40% of the world's population living within 100 km of the sea - this technology offers a sustainable solution for the supply of potable water.

THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT SPECIALISTS

WATER: SOURCE OF

Virotec Global Solutions Ten-years of providing sustainable solutions to the water industry Virotec Global Solutions has been acknowledged as a leader in implementing sustainable wastewater solutions for industry throughout Australia. As part of its commitment to the “Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate”, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) on behalf of the Australian Federal Government recently invited Dr Lee Fergusson, Virotec’s Chief Executive Officer (pictured bottom left), to document the ten-year history of the company by producing a comprehensive investigative report into the various industrial and municipal applications the company has implemented over the last ten years. The resulting document highlights the commercial and technical history of Virotec, and focuses on the many industrial applications that Virotec has successfully undertaken throughout the country. These include solutions for timber preservation sites, lead and zinc smelters, gold and copper mine sites, industrial wastewater applications and solids treatment (including filter cake and other sludges and sediments), highway construction and infrastructure projects, coal-fired power plant wastewater, stormwater applications, municipal wastewater and biosolids treatment, landfills and many other industrial applications to treat wastewater and solids. The full document can be found at: www.virotec.com/ten_year_case_ history.pdf Virotec’s reagents form the core of four waste treatment and environmental remediation technologies: ViroFlow™ Technology, ViroSoil™ Technology, ViroMine™ Technology and ViroSewage™ Technology. Virotec technologies have the ability to bind metal and metalloid contaminants into non-bio-available forms, bind nutrients (phosphate and nitrate) and provide pH buffering. ViroFlow™ Technology immobilises up to 99.9% of metals in process waters and permanently binds metals in solids, converting hazardous solids into inert solids which are safe for disposal. Contaminated water treated with ViroFlow™ Technology can be recycled into existing industrial processes thus reducing water costs. Results have

Water Management Review 2010

shown that ViroFlow™ Technology is an easy-to-implement, sustainable and cost-effective method for treating heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, arsenic and chromium, acidity, phosphate, biological oxygen demand, fats, oils and greases, and a host of other intractable environmental and industrial problems in Australia. Virotec also treats obnoxious odours and other problems associated with organics contamination, including hydrocarbons. For example, Virotec has become the “go to” company for copper, chromium and arsenate treatment, having implemented dozens of projects where leachable heavy metals were reduced to below detection limits. Virotec’s capability in developing processes to remediate harmful wastes and solve soil and water contamination and environmental degradation so successfully has led us to expand our portfolio of services to include environmental assessments where Virotec analyses the potential impact that toxic substances can cause to human health and environment, and site assessments where Virotec provides a tailored assessment report to suit your needs, ranging from simple studies to more complex and detailed assessments utilising standards that can be modified to your requirements. A range of case studies outlining the many different types of applications and their outcomes, along with the latest news and technical developments, are available at: www.virotec.com. If you would like to hear more about our proven solutions to your wastewater and solids problems, give our team of professionals a call on 07-5573-3353 or visit our web site at: www.virotec.com for more information.

6000 experts working in 140 countries around the world Get to know us and you will feel the difference. Perhaps itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the fact that we never ever give up in the face of a challenge or the fact that we thrive on setting standards for a greater universal good. Whatever the reason, we are nevertheless 6000 people deeply committed to delivering best, most effective integrated solutions possible to you. The attitude is what makes us who we are. ITT Water & Wastewater. We are the grand total of our outstanding product brands, Flygt, Sanitaire, Wedeco and Leopold. We draw on the support of our strong global resources to work in close partnership with you, wherever in the world.

www.ittwww.com

13 19 14 Water Management Review 2010

Our Products ITT’s history is one of pioneering achievement in product development. Flygt originated the revolutionary, close-coupled, submersible, motor driven, wastewater pump. Since 1948, we have been at the forefront of new developments such as: • • • • • •

Submersible wastewater pumps Solids handling submersibles Slurry pumps Propeller pumps Mixers, aerators and recirculation pumps Hydro turbine pumps

• • • • •

Pressure drainage systems Control and monitoring systems Reverse osmosis Ultra violet Ozone

Our Applications ITT Water & Wastewater is involved in a broad spectrum of activities with our products being found in an extensive range of pumping, mixing, aeration, UV and Ozone applications. Across Australia and New Zealand, we supply over 100,000 units every year for the following applications: • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Municipal, industrial, commercial and domestic wastewater systems Sewage treatment plants and storm water systems Industrial processes Dewatering and drainage Mining, tunnelling, quarrying, land reclamation Power Industry Construction Agriculture, aquaculture and irrigation Raw water supply and treatment AUSTRALIA Flood control Energy conservation Transfer, handling or treatment of waste and storm water or effluents Ultraviolet Ozone

NEW ZEALAND

ITT Water & Wastewater is involved in a broad spectrum of activities aimed at helping governments, municipalities and companies improve sewage handling, flood control, energy conservation, land reclamation and tunnel construction. Our products are used extensively in mining as well as industrial processes, agriculture and aquaculture.

What can ITT Water & Wastewater do for you? Integrated solutions for fluid handling are offered by ITT Water & Wastewater as a world leader in transport and treatment of wastewater. We provide a complete range of water, wastewater and drainage pumps, units for primary and secondary biological treatment, products for filtration and disinfection, and related services. What’s more, thanks to ITT’s sustainable policies, this is done in the most efficient and environmentally friendly way possible. Australia Ph: 13 19 14 Email: enquiry.au@itt.com

New Zealand Ph: 0800 33 19 14 Email: enquiriesnz@itt.com

www.ittwww.com

Nubian provides Australian Government with treated grey water for recycling The Australian Government is leading by example, designing the Headquarters for the 16th Aviation Brigade and Army Aviation Systems Branch, Defence Materiel Organisation to achieve a 4 star green rating. This facility in Enoggera, Queensland, is part of a $168 M Multi-Role Helicopter Facilities project. The Green Star Rating is largely due to the specification of the Nubian CGT2-60 that allows for 30% reduction in potable water use. The 4,400 sqm facility services 196 personnel from the 16th Aviation Brigade and the Army Aviation Systems Branch. The Nubian CGT2-60 can treat 6,000 litres of water per day. Greywater is collected from showers and hand basins and the treated water is recycled for use in toilet flushing.

As the Nubian system is skid mounted, complete factory testing occurred pre delivery. The system is completely automated using Nubian’s multi-tier microprocessor control system, which together with the Hydroguard 702 on-line water quality analyser allows off-site monitoring of system performance. Nubian is a water solutions company specializing in greywater, stormwater and rainwater recycling. For more information on a commercial Nubian Greywater Treatment System or any of Nubian’s other products call 61 2 9647 2633 or visit the website www.nubian.com.au. MRHF unit post assembly in the Nubian factory, NSW

One partner in fluid control? That’s a smart choice. Bürkert has wide experience in partnership with Australian water treatment experts and industrial end users. No other water treatment partner delivers Bürkert’s extensive range of own-manufactured valves, instrumentation and controllers, plus the engineering expertise to make your project a reality. Call us now on 1300 888 868.

Local credentials include: n n n n n n

www.burkert.com.au

Water Management Review 2010

Water Authority valve & IO panels Industrial WT compliant with Water Board guidelines Desalination plants & Potable WT Complete transportable WT skids (OEM manufacture) Waste Treatment, Recyc & Collection Systems Reverse Osmosis, Micro Filtration & Ion Exchange

Water solutions, Like Father, Like Son.

Like many irrigators around Australia, father and son John and Mark Jenke had the problem of insufficient, good quality irrigation water for their Barossa Valley vineyards. Rather than continuing to buy scheme water (which was becoming very costly) they decided to utilise their bore water allocation as they had done in the past. Neither John or Mark were using their bore water at the time, as both bores had earlier shown the potential for large salt stress issues and had previously caused significant dripper blockages due to the build-up of iron and calcium scale.

As seen on Landline March 07

In looking for a solution the Jenke’s discovered Hydrosmart, an Adelaide based company that manufactures a unique water treatment technology. They were advised that the Hydrosmart system would be a low cost, sustainable solution and in June 2008 both installed Hydrosmart systems to their bore fed irrigation lines.

After just one season John & Mark were only too happy to provide the following feedback:

plants utilizing all the water I give them. Thank you for your time and expertise in assisting us with the system”

“Cleaning drippers is a costly and time consuming job, however, during the Vintage 2009 we had no need to get out in the heat to do this. The Hydrosmart unit was installed directly after the pump and water meter, treating the water just prior to going through the irrigation pipes. The benefits have justified the purchase price and the system only costs about $12.00 a year to run. Our vines performed very well in 2009 Vintage. Despite three harsh summers and minimal winter rains, we were pleased with our yields. The health and vigour of our vines resulted in exceptional canopies, long canes and healthy leaves with no sign of salt stress. I believe that the Hydrosmart unit has helped break down the bonds of the saltminerals and calcium crystals in the bore water-keeping drippers flowing and the

The frequency approach targets the electron bonding ability of minerals such as calcium/iron/sodium chloride and other molecular ‘giants’, reducing them to a smaller non bonding elemental state providing solutions to a wide range of water issues. This means that for Hydrosmart customers like the Jenke’s, the calcium and iron scale that was previously causing problems within the irrigation system is now a bioavailable nutrient source in the soil. A pretty smart turnaround, a win for the clients and the environment. Visit www.hydrosmart.com.au or call 1300 138 223

Effective chemical free water solutions... Salinity/Scale/Algae Breakthrough here now !

• Grows healthy viable plants in salinity levels 7,000 ppm • Improved plant health and growth (published trials on significant improvements in Brix/Baume and scale elimination) • Ideal for wastewater treatment and reuse with subsurface drip irrigation systems • Works on all types of water supplies • Running costs of only $10 per year. Users : Adelaide Oval SA, Clare Golf SA , Willunga Golf SA, D’Arenburgs Vineyard SA, Palm Grove WA, Mosman Park WA, Qld Dept Sports & Recreation Rockhampton Showgrounds, Turf Farmers WA, Mercure Resort Broome WA, Hindmarsh Island Marina, Councils, Caravan Parks etc..

Smar t Science S eri ous S avi ngs Sustainable Solutions

www.hydrosmart.com.au Freecall 1300 138 223

...that don't cost the earth

Culligan helps industry save water by reusing it

As a global leader in water treatment, Culligan focuses on helping industrial users source the right equipment for the most efficient and cost-effective ways to reuse and recycle water for industry, irrigation and infrastructure. Culligan industrial grade water filtrations range from relatively minor applications to major projects like desalination. The company uses the latest multi-stage filtration technologies such as advanced reverse osmosis to provide optimal results. Innovation and flexibility are the key to Culligan’s capacity to provide appropriate solutions to major water treatment. In addition to this, Culligan draws on the global expertise of its worldwide network. In many cases, proven overseas solutions can be adapted and localised, providing significant savings in development, culligan ad - A5-winwinwin- 2 4/12/09 implementation and maintenance.

save, recycle and reuse water have seen Culligan place increasing emphasis on finding more and better ways to conserve this vital resource. A particular source of concern is the use of fresh, drinking-standard water for processes that can use water of a lower grade. Often pure water enters the waste water system with its purity only slightly diminished, for example: fruit and washing, hosing surfaces, carwash rinse cycles and so on. Culligan offers water users custom-tailored treatments for their needs. Typically these include a four-stage process: • •

•

4:07:37

The obvious and increasing needs to

Primary: remove large foreign bodies and solids Secondary: biological purification, oxygen enrichment, remove suspended impurities PM Tertiary: Non-chemical filtering, making water suitable for industrial and irrigation uses

win/win /win

•

Quaternary: Ultra-filtration and reverse osmosis to targeted purity levels

With many applications and processes where recycled water can be used without compromising quality, Culligan offers advanced purification technologies to meet your exact needs, saving money, water and the environment: a win/win/win result. In addition to purifying industrial process water for reuse, Culligan also provides a comprehensive range of commercial drinking water systems, (hot and cold). The company’s full service includes system recommendations, sales, installation and maintenance of equipment and filters. Culligan’s water treatment systems are certified to ISO 9001:2008. Further information is available from Richard Garlick, Industrial Manager on (02) 9335-2802 or email: ragarlick@culligan.com.au

Talk to Culligan Water for win/win/win solutions

Save water, save money, save the environment Culligan makes it simple and cost-effective to reuse process water that has been purified to the required standard. This minimises the need for using drinking-standard water for applications that do not require this level of purity. Drawing on the expertise of the worldwide Culligan network, we also save your organisation money by providing proven solutions while having the expertise to develop innovative new ones as required. The result: unbeatable levels of cost-effectiveness, flexibility and environmental responsibility. Culligan water treatment systems range from advanced, affordable drinking water applications to major industrial and desalination plants. © wrightgraphics.com.au 17409AWMR

Call us now to discuss how much water and money we can save you while helping reduce your impact on the environment.

www.culliganwater.com.au Water Management Review 2010

1300 669 119

Bladder Surge Tanks If you have a water hammer problem in your system, Charlatte bladder tank will protect you from overpressure and negative pressure. Charlatte bladder surge tanks are a simple solution to surge problems. In time of severe drought, leaks and bursts in piping systems can undo our water conservation efforts. Approximately 10% of Sydney water supply is lost due to leaks (SMH). Pressure surges in pipelines can result in leaking seals, burst pipes as well as component damage. Another less known effect of surge is pathogen intrusion. During negative pressure contaminants on the outside of the pipe can get past the seals and enter the system. This presents a sanitary issue in the case of drinking water. Environmental agencies in Europe and US are alert to potential risks due to pathogen intrusion during transients. EPA Paper is available on Olaer website. Pressure Surge is often called Water Hammer. Water Hammer can be defined as a rapid change in pressure. Rapid changes in pressure are caused by rapid changes in flow rate. Worst case scenario for surge is pump trip due to power failure at maximum flow. Pressure surge can cause overpressure and negative pressure. Many commercial software packages are available to analyze the effects of surge (Hammer, AFT Impulse, Flowmaster, KY Pipe, etc.). Surge analysis should always be performed at design stages of the pipeline.

Charlatte have been manufacturing bladder surge tanks for over 40 years with sizes ranging from 100 to 100,000 litres. Charlatte is the preferred supplier for large surge tanks around the world. Charlatte bladder tanks offer many practical benefits to end users. A Bladder tank is a self regulating system which means that there is no need for electricity, compressors, air receivers, complicated controls, sensors and valves. This equates to savings in electricity, maintenance and equipment costs. Fluid is contained inside the Butyl bladder which means no corrosion which in turn ensures long life of the tank. Olaer BC 0707.indd Bladders are manufactured from heavy duty butyl rubber which is suitable for drinking water.

Installation and commissioning become very simple with a Charlatte bladder tank. After tank is connected to the pipeline and charged with nitrogen (or compressed gas) it is ready for use. Olaer can provide commissioning assistance and training. If you have any questions or enquiries about Charlatte product range contact charlie@olaer.com.au

Website: www.olaer.com.au Phone: 02 9981 6888

Is there a requirement for analysers that do more?

with the CRIUS® analysers, can remotely monitor and download data from multiple analysers to any internet enabled PC. The CRIUS® analyser is capable of meeting all requirements at a tiny fraction of the expected costs. Remote access and robust control algorithms and management are not the only things that come with the CRIUS® range of analysers. Double or Triple validation, automatic text alarms, Modbus over TCP/IP (LAN), data logging, auto-cleaning and auto-calibrating are all part of the CRIUS® additional capability electronics. At the heart of all the CRIUS® analysers lies the Pinode electronics. ‘Cutting edge’ and ‘state of the art’ are just two of the ways these electronics have been described. The powerful processor and extensive I/O provide greater functionality and this allows the CRIUS® range of analysers to do so much more than other instruments. Where there is a requirement for this additional functionality, the fact that it is ‘built in’ means that no other equipment is needed, resulting in lower costs. During 2009, despite experiencing the worst recession for 30 years, the sales of the CRIUS® increased by 300%.

Chlorine Analyser Remote Access

Apart from award winning CRIUS® electronics, all the CRIUS® analysers have reliable sensors and the CRIUS® 3500 residual chlorine analyser is no exception. However, just being equipped with a superb chlorine sensor was not enough for a County Council in Ireland. The EPA insisted that all of their small and remote treatment sites should not only measure free chlorine, pH and turbidity online, but should also data-log and report exceptions centrally. This would normally require SCADA to be put in at a cost of many tens of thousands of dollars per site. Fortunately, the CRIUS® Multi-parameter analyser was more than a match for the job. Chlorine, pH and Turbidity measurements are available on a single analyser. The CRIUS® can monitor, control and data-log many parameters from the single analyser using control algorithms, data logging and remote access via a GSM/GPRS modem. Pincom 4, a new piece of software that goes

Water Management Review 2010

Dissolved Oxygen self-verification and automatic cleaning Another example of where the powerful CRIUS® electronics can add functionality and value to our customers is with the brand new Dissolved Oxygen Analyser.

With traditional DO meters, operators need to go to the sensor regularly to clean it and check its calibration. Using its powerful electronics, the CRIUS® DO meter is able to check the functionality of the internal optics every five seconds (and alarm if there is a problem). When the self cleaning mechanism blasts air over the sensor, the electronics can monitor the change in signal (while maintaining the control signal) and confirm that the instrument is working perfectly and doesn’t need to be calibrated. By self cleaning and self verifying the reading from the sensor, the CRIUS® electronics are able to drastically reduce the time spent maintaining the DO instrument (up to 95% reduction) saving the operator time on an unpleasant job, and the plant money. In addition, the self verification of the sensor gives the operator the confidence to run the plant within tighter DO limits, which in turn significantly reduces the power consumption of the blowers. So is there a requirement for analysers to do more? That is entirely up to you, but if you’d like to learn more please contact George Benca at sales@bintech.com.au or go to the website www.bintech.com.au

Bintech Systems Water Solutions Flow Meters

• Magnetic Flow Meters • Ultrasonic Meters -Transit Time / Doppler • Open Channel • Custom Spool Systems

Analytical Monitors

• Residual Chlorine • Dissolved Oxygen Ozone • • Dissolved Turbidity Ozone • Turbidity Suspended Solids • Suspended Solids pH/ORP • pH/ORP Conductivity • Conductivity Fluoride • Fluoride Chlorine Gas Detectors • Chlorine Detectors Portable Gas Meters • Portable Meters

Level Systems

• Ultrasonic Transmitters and • Ultrasonic ControllersTransmitters and • Controllers Point Level Switches • Point Level Switches Magnetic Level Gauges • Magnetic Level Gauges Sludge Level Systems • Sludge Systems WirelessLevel Systems • Wireless Systems

Supplier & Manufacturer of high quality process control instrumentation Bintech Products Pty Ltd

Sy ste ms

ABN 62 061 110 834

more than level best

17 Scholar Drive, University Hill, Bundoora, Vic 3083 T: 03 9467 7300 T: 1300 363 163 F: 03 9467 7900 E: sales@bintech.com.au

www.bintech.com.au

AVK Australia Product Development

The development of AVK’s Product Program is based on the needs and demands of customers world-wide. Close co-operation with customers in the fields of water and gas supply, as well as sewage treatment has given AVK a thorough knowledge of these sectors’ requirements and this is clearly reflected in the innovative design of the products. Ideas and suggestions from many different countries are considered centrally in order to obtain the best possible result for all markets. To extend and maintain the position as one of the world’s foremost valve manufacturers, AVK has invested in an advanced Technology Centre for the development of new products and processes and also ensures that all AVK products are updated to make optimum use of modern materials and production techniques.

UNIVERSAL END CAP

Large sealing range capability. Advantage of side and/or rear tapping. Ideal for pipe flushing, pressure testing or air release valve fitting.

REDUCED WEIGHT

Reduced weight and environmentally friendly DN100 & DN150 resilient seated gate valves. Ideal for civil and subdivision developments on potable and waste water in below or above ground applications.

Effective alternative to traditional metal strapping techniques on socketed valves in the common sizes of DN100 & DN150. They are easy to attach, simplify form work and make thrust blocking secure.

Specifically developed DN750 main valve size to suit local requirements enhanced with a large DN150 bypass arrangement for much faster line filling and equalising pressure across the main gate.

ISOLATION VALVE

To be used in conjunction with spring hydrants or air release valves to provide isolation for maintenance purposes. Standard with DN80 inlet and options to have either DN80 or DN100 outlet.

AIR RELEASE VALVES

A comprehensive range in both PN16 & PN25 ratings are now stocked in Australia. Their significant advantage is much higher flow capacities than others. Beware not to size ARVs on flange inlet diameters alone!

Water Management Review 2010

Non-restrained mechanical short straight coupler. An addition to the range with M16 size 3 bolt design for DN80, 100 & 150 providing an effective method for connecting pipes.

ANCHOR LEGS

DN750 WITH DN150 BYPASS

The following are typical examples of items released for the Australian and New Zealand markets:

3-BOLT STRAIGHT COUPLER

10 YEAR WEDGE WARRANTY

AVK is so confident of its resilient wedge, the heart of the sluice/gate valve, that we will warrant the wedge component for a period of ten (10) years. (Refer to web site for full details).

AV K A u s t r a l i a P t y L t d

More than meets the eye

• Valves & Hydrants

• Couplings & Adaptors

• Dismantling Joints

• Surface Boxes

559A Grand Junction Road Wingfield, Adelaide 5013 South Australia

Phone: +61 08 8368 0900 Fax: +61 08 8368 0970 E-mail: info@avkvalves.com.au

www.avkvalves.com.au

Hydro Innovations

How John Dee of Warwick saved on capital costs and running costs by using a new and innovative piping design and pumps from Gorman-Rupp.

The Application John Dee Warwick is a beef processor (Abattoir) located in South East Queensland. They wanted to upgrade their waste water pumping system to enable them to handle the day-to-day waste water flows from their plant (estimated to be 25 to 35 litres per second (l/s)), but then to be able to ramp up to meet additional flow demands during storm conditions (estimated to be at least 60 l/s). The static head in the system is only 3 metres, with discharged effluent running through 450m of 150mm PVC piping. John Dee wanted to use self priming pumps to minimise their occupational health and safety issues and to minimise service costs over the life of the installation.

at 1550 rpm with a 45kW electric motor to deliver 61 l/s in the system.

The Options

Pros and Cons

The following options were considered for the application:a.

A smaller pump to handle “day-today” flows, with the second pump being a larger one to handle higher “storm condition” flows.

Two “medium sized” pumps to operate alternately during normal conditions, but both pumps operating in series during the higher flow demands.

Option A - One Small and One Large Pump It was ideal for John Dee to operate at 25 to 35 litres per second (l/s) during normal operation. This perfectly suited the Gorman-Rupp T4A3S-B Super T Series Trash pump. It could operate at 1100 rpm with a 5.5kW electric motor to deliver 25 l/s. John Dee needed the second pump to deliver at least 60 l/s, but wanted to be able to pump at less than this flow occasionally to cover some “peak” normal conditions that the smaller pump was not coping with. It was therefore ideal for this pump to be controlled with a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD). This duty suited the Gorman-Rupp V6A60-B, which can run

Water Management Review 2010

Gorman-Rupp Parallel/Series pumping unit being installed. Note the interconnecting piping.

The main advantage of this system is its flexibility with regard to flow rate. With the VFD, operators can ramp the pump speed up during higher flows and back down during lower inflow periods. If John Dee wanted to, they could opt for a larger motor (75kW maximum), which would then give them the capacity to ramp flow up to 70 l/s even if piping was the higher pressure rating. The disadvantages of the system are as follows:• The capital costs are much higher because of the cost of the higher performance pump, but mainly due to the higher cost of the VFD controls. If John Dee went for maximum flexibility, this system would be the most expensive by up to $30,000 (or approximately 50% more) not including what might be the added cost for running power to a 75kW motor. • There is no spare parts compatibility between the pumps, so any emergency parts stock the plant might want to carry, would need to be for two different pump models. • Pumps would not wear evenly, and the plant might find that their larger

pump is in “near new” condition in 5 years but the smaller pump needs an upgrade because it’s been doing all the work.

Option B - Two “Medium Sized Pumps, with Parallel/Series Piping This option uses 2 pumps (both GormanRupp T6A3S-B Super T Series), which are set up to operate alternatively. The piping is connected the same as a “normal” duty/standby pumping arrangement except for the addition of some minor but critical interconnecting piping. Instead of both pumps only being able to pump into the common discharge line, interconnecting piping is added along with an additional non-return valve and an additional isolation valve. Gorman-Rupp call this “Parallel/Series Piping”. This additional piping now allows the pumps to operate as series connected pumps when the second pump is called upon to operate, while still allowing single pumps to alternate. When a single pump operates it will produce 44 l/s. This is higher than the target flow rate (25 to 35 l/s) for 1 pump, but because pumps can alternate, there are no problems for the motors in the “starts per hour” area. This flow rate also covers off that intermediate flow area that the previous option needed to cover with the large pump running slower through the VFD.

The real advantage of this system can be seen when the second pump is brought on in this system to cope with the higher flow storm conditions. Because the 2 pumps are able to operate as series connected pumps, the added pressure created can overcome the friction losses in the line and produce 61 l/s.

stage). This will also mean that the VFD is much smaller than with Option A (18.5kW vs the 75kW of Option A).

Each pump is now producing 61 l/s at 13.5m head, which is also in a great spot on the curve for these pumps (actually at BEP).

• There is spare parts compatibility between the two pumps.

Pros and Cons

• One pump running can handle the regular flow rate.

The only disadvantage with this system is that it is not as flexible as Option A in that the flow cannot be ramped up and down to match in-flows. Although this can be added with the addition of a VFD to the “discharge pump” (in this system, one of the pumps always acts as the “suction pump” or “first stage” and the other acts as the second

The advantages of this system are as follows:• The cost is substantially cheaper than Option A

• Pumps can alternate after every pumping cycle.

• When higher inflows demand a higher output, both pumps operating in series can deliver 61 l/s (or 38.6% more than when a single pump is operating).

The Solution Mr John Hart of John Dee Warwick elected to go with option B as the best engineered solution. Gorman-Rupp Parallel/Series pumping unit being installed. Note the interconnecting piping.

HYDR

INNOVATIONS

NORMA fights fire with retrofittable ﬂame protection housing NORMA Group is the global leading system manufacturer in the connecting technology domain, providing high value-engineered products and solutions.

w e

NORMACONNECT® RFP

Specializing in the design and production of hose and pipe clamps and connectors, the company introduced a new retrofittable flame protector for pipe couplings. NORMA pipe couplings are made for the permanent, reliable and efficient assembly of pipes without the need for flanges, special end treatments or special fitting tools. The new NORMACONNECT RFP is a reliable flame protector for maximum safety up to 850°C according to latest IACS requirements and ISO 19921 regulations. Its low weight and straightforward design allows quick, easy assembly without any tools and the built-in flame resistant mineral fibre mat provides a premium level of flame protection. The new Retrofit Flame Protector NORMACONNECT® RFP has been extensively tested and is approved by Germanischer Lloyd. Approvals are also underway with several major organizations. For further information, please contact the NORMA Customer Service on (03) 9761 4416, send an e-mail to sales.au@normagroup.com, or visit our websites www.normagroup.com or www.normapacific.com

• Flame resistant up to 850°C • Easy assembly without tooling • Retrofittable • Low weight • Meets IACS requirements • No chemicals in flame protection mat The NEW NORMACONNECT® RFP is a retrofittable flame protection housing that has been specially designed for use with NORMACONNECT® FLEX and GRIP pipe couplings. Its low weight and straightforward design allows quick, easy assembly without any tools and the built-in flame resistant mineral fibre mat provides a premium level offlame protection.

NORMA®- a NORMA Group brand

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www.normagroup.com

Zero Reject Stream Impulse Hydro is a Queensland-based team of specialists brought together to provide industry and municipals with a complete water treatment solution. Impulse offers 97% recovery rates - vastly more appropriate for Australia’s water needs than the industry standard of 60-70%. The business combines nearly 40 years experience in water treatment with the engineering excellence of Fibre King Pty Ltd, an 83 year old company producing packaging lines for the pharmaceutical, food and beverage industries. Impulse Hydro’s focus is in the design, manufacture and project management of specialised water treatment systems. In addition to its formidable in-house engineering resources and world wide manufacturing network, over 50 staff are employed by the group in mechanical and electrical engineering, machining, mechanical and electrical fitting, sales, administration and service. The problem of brine treatment was seen as a critical focus at the team’s inception, and it prompted them to seek and secure the exclusive licence for a MVC (Mechanical Vapour Compression) Brine Concentrator developed by EESTECH in conjunction with the CSIRO. A demonstration plant, which is has been sold to one of the major players in the Australian CSG market, is currently being refurbished and will be deployed in the Surat basin early next year. Earle Roberts, CEO, believes that Impulse Hydro’s client-specific preliminary and pre-treatment technologies and reverse osmosis with MVC deliver the best combination of flexibility, energy efficiency and minimal discharge. “We formed Impulse in response to an urgent need for a better approach to water treatment in Australia. There are a lot of Reverse Osmosis providers out there, and various other generic processes are readily available, but no one had yet taken the time to research and secure the most efficient technology and meld it with extensive treatment and manufacturing experience into a complete closed loop system”. Full systems are available as either fixed or relocatable plants, under various finance options, including rental. Impulse Hydro is a wholly Australian-owned company, and it presents a timely and practical solution to our country’s water treatment issues. For more information go to www.impulsehydro.com or contact Earle Roberts on (07) 3283 1197.

DELTA influence expands Irrigation crops, sporting grounds, mines, nursing homes, wineries, fruit and vegetable farms and houses on the Pacific Ocean island nation of Vanuatu might seem to have little in common. But a need for high-quality water around the world has led to all of them benefiting from a revolutionary Australian-made product. The application of DELTA Magnetic Water Conditioners to combat the many waterquality problems people face in everyday life is expanding around the globe. From agriculture, mining and business to recreation and simple household needs – access to good-quality water is fundamental in generating success. DELTA Magnetic Water Conditioners, which treat water through powerful magnetic fields, are proving a mighty weapon against mineral and salinity problems in water supplies and soils. DELTAwater solutions, who manufacture and distribute their 100% Australian made and owned conditioners out of their Hunter Valley base in NSW, are meeting a growing list of demands.

Non-chemical and non-power solution

One of the latest has emerged from Vanuatu where calcium-laden water plays havoc with plumbing. Brian Smith from North Efate, Vanuatu, says that a six-month analysis period using a 25-millimetre (mm) Grade-4 conditioner has produced ‘very pleasing’ results. Brian, seeking a ‘non-chemical and nonpower’ solution to calcium problems for his island home, installed a DELTA Magnetic Water Conditioner at the start of 2009 after considerable research and investigation. He is so impressed with results he has contacted local builders Mark and Richard Nuttley from Rabco Builders. “Mark has seen the results after our six months in the house and agrees he should include the product with every house be builds as standard equipment,” Brian says. “As a comparison, in his house he has to remove and clean his shower heads every month to clear calcium build-up. We have gone six months without a reduction in pressure or any blockage at all.”

Lifeline

A DELTA Magnetic Water Conditioner has also ‘chucked a big lifeline’ to NSW

Water Management Review 2010

irrigator Stephen Way from Whittier Park near Deniliquin. “The technology must work or all the canola we planted last year would have died. It’s definitely chucked us a big lifeline. And the crops we’re growing this year are excellent so it’s made something that was basically useless valuable again.” Stephen says the bore water he was using for sheep and to irrigate crops was ‘destroying the country’. “We were doing that much damage using the bore that we had to limit its use for the past five or six years. Our land was becoming obsolete because of the build-up of salt in the soil and growing sodium problems. In the years of drought I very much doubt that if the DELTA Magnetic Water Conditioner wasn’t working whether we’d even be here.’’

Magnetic Water Conditioners change the molecular structure of saline water. While not reducing salinity levels, they allow water to be more accessible to plants and reduce the potential for plant damage. •

Magnetic water treatment is environmentally friendly, pollution and maintenance free, incurs no chemical, maintenance or energy costs and has a service life of more than 25 years. All DELTA products have a 100% money back guarantee.

•

For inquiries about DELTAwater solutions, phone 1800 283 600 or visit website www.deltawater.com.au

Long-term results

DELTAwater solutions is also achieving long-term results for clients. Bundaberg fruit and vegetable grower Godfrey Priebe has a message for DELTA staff after using a 100mm conditioner for his irrigation crops for the past 10 years. “It works so well there is no way I’m giving it back. In fact I wouldn’t even sell it back to them if they asked me to,” he says. Godfrey, who grows fruit and vegetables including tomatoes, capsicums, watermelons and zucchinis on three farms in Bundaberg district, says he believes the influence of his conditioner is improving his crops every year. “It’s still working, that’s for sure. In fact we’ve just harvested capsicums in a spot I would never have dreamed of growing capsicums before because of the high salt content in the soil,” he says. “Capsicums don’t like high salinity and our irrigation water is up to 7200EC. Yet they did well! When we put capsicums in there about 10 years ago we lost the lot and I have never been game to do it again until now.” Godfrey says he hasn’t needed to maintain the unit in the past decade. “I’ve never touched the magnetic unit. It’s still sitting there where we threw it on 10 years ago. But it might come with me if I move,” he says. Godfrey says his plants seem to thrive on the magnetically treated water and as a result they produce high-quality fruit. •

DELTA technology works on a philosophy of adaptation. DELTA

Top: A selection of DELTA Magnetic Water Conditioners. Photo by David Fletcher Below: The 300mm DELTA Magnetic Water Conditioner at Whittier Park

Far left: These images show plant growth using water treated with a DELTA Magnetic Water Conditioner compared to plant growth without treated water. Left: The DELTA advisory service is a very busy part of business with people from across Australia and around the world sending water samples to the laboratory every day. The rigorous testing process helps DELTA pinpoint problems with people’s water. The fact that DELTA doesn’t make any recommendations until they see a water analysis, and that they are quick to say if their product can or can’t help, gives them a high level of credibility in the marketplace.

Desalination helps make water secure After enduring the worst drought in more than 100 years, South East Queensland is now well positioned with safe, secure and climate independent water supplies. The Gold Coast Desalination Plant is the largest desalination plant on Australia’s eastern seaboard and began producing water in February 2009.

The plant is providing up to 133 megalitres of desalinated water a day for the South East Queensland (SEQ) Water Grid – Australia’s most ambitious water supply solution since the Snowy Mountain Hydroelectric Scheme. CEO of WaterSecure – the state authority that manages the facility - Keith Davies says the Gold Coast Desalination Plant uses the world’s most advanced membrane technologies to transform seawater into water that meets the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. “The Gold Coast Desalination Plant is using state of the art technology to produce drinking water for the South East Queensland community,” he said. “We no longer have to rely on rain falling over our catchment areas to receive water. We can now produce drinking water from the sea. The whole process takes about seven hours. Around an hour to draw the water in from the sea, an hour to process it through the plant and about five hours of

Water Management Review 2010

storage in the potable water tanks before being pumped into the Water Grid.”

Site

Selection of the Gold Coast Desalination Plant site was based on a rigorous technical, social and environmental assessment. “The plant is located on an 8 hectare former landfill site adjacent to the Gold Coast Airport,” Mr Davies said. “Before any construction could occur, significant remediation work was undertaken to ensure solid foundations. “More than 180,000 cubic metres of fill were removed and replaced with 130,000 cubic metres of clean fill. This created a strong and stable foundation for the 12 buildings on site.”

Sea water intake

The first phase in the production of desalinated drinking water is the sea water intake. At the Gold Coast

Desalination Plant, up to 340 megalitres of seawater enters the plant each day through 70-metre-deep tunnels that stretch north of the Gold Coast airport, underneath the Gold Coast Highway and into the ocean. “The intake tunnel is about 2.2 kilometres long and ends 1.4 kilometres into the ocean, about 20 metres below the surface,” Mr Davies said “At the end of the intake tunnel, we have a large mushroom shaped water intake structure, where gravity feeds water at a flow rate of about .05 metres per second – less than the ambient sea currents in the area. The intake structure has been designed to minimise the chance of fish and other marine life entering the shaft and monitoring shows this design has been successful. “Once it enters the plant, seawater is filtered at a 40 per cent recovery rate – meaning we can produce about 40

Reverse osmosis is one of the most advanced water purification technologies and produces some of the purest forms of water in the world. Seawater travels through two reverse osmosis passes at the Gold Coast Desalination Plant. “The first pass consists of nine trains, with each train containing 186 pressure vessels, and each pressure vessel containing eight membrane elements. This means there are 13,392 membrane elements within the first pass, which would stretch out for more than 13 kilometres if joined together in a single line. “The membrane elements in these pressure vessels are remarkable. They contain bound membranes so thin that a stack of five thousand would be just one millimetre thick. The pressure vessels are packed so tightly that inside one tube are enough membranes to cover a hectare. “Magnified 40 million times, the membrane would be the size of a chain mesh fence, and a water molecule would be the size of a golf ball. A salt molecule would be slightly larger than a water molecule.

megalitres of drinking water from 100 megalitres of seawater.”

Pre-treatment

Seawater undergoes pre-treatment to prepare it for the reverse osmosis phase. “Seawater passes through 3mm screens, before entering a pre-treatment building that includes two static mixers, four flocculation tanks and 18 dual media gravity filters,” Mr Davies said.

each day. This sludge includes salt, ferric hydroxide, polymers and suspended solids from the ocean and is sent to landfill, rather than returning to the ocean. “The water that is separated from the sludge is clear and known as supernatant. This supernatant is mixed with the outgoing concentrated seawater and released to the ocean.”

Reverse osmosis

“Every 24 to 28 hours, these tanks are backwashed to clear accumulated particles. The backwash flow returns to the residuals process, where solids are removed from the backwash stream.

As water enters the reverse osmosis building, it passes through 5-micron cartridge filters that remove particles that would otherwise have to be removed by reverse osmosis membranes.

Residuals “At this stage we add ferric sulphate and coagulants to promote flocculation, which is the process of clumping suspended solids together within the water.

“As reverse osmosis removes almost all impurities except the water molecule itself, it’s important to have very clean sea water prior to the reverse osmosis stage,” Mr Davies said.

“These solids are separated in a lamella thickener, and centrifuge, which creates 10 to 30 tonnes of thickened sludge

“These cartridge filters provide a final barrier against suspended solids reaching the membranes.”

“To pass water through these membranes, the pressure vessels house between 54 and 57 bar of pressure, which is equivalent to standing up to 570 metres underneath the sea.” About 45 per cent of the seawater that travels through the first pass is captured as permeate. Once permeate has passed through the first pass, about 15 per cent is distributed to the stabilisation phase, and 85 per cent is forwarded to the second pass for further treatment. The concentrated seawater from the reverse osmosis process is combined with the supernatant from residuals and returned to the sea. Mr Davies says one of the most interesting elements of the plant is its DWEER energy recovery device, which recycles and re-uses considerable amounts of energy required for the reverse osmosis membranes. “Concentrated seawater rejected by the first reverse osmosis pass still has considerable pressure, so it is channelled through the DWEER to recover energy,” he said.

“The pressurised water powers pistons and recovers up to 97 per cent of the energy that was traditionally lost.” Water then enters the second reverse osmosis pass, where around 85 per cent of water is recovered as permeate. “The amount of water fed to the second pass is about 85 per cent of the first pass product. The second pass permeate produced is transported to the remineralisation phase, along with the higher quality 15 percent of the first pass permeate.” An automatic Clean-In-Place system is used to clean the reverse osmosis membranes. The modular nature of the plant design means one train of reverse osmosis pressure vessels can be cleaned whilst other trains continue to operate without impacting overall capacity on the first pass.

Remineralisation and storage

The permeate is substantially pure water after undergoing reverse osmosis, which while very pure, requires the addition of salts to make it suitable for drinking. “We add carbon dioxide and lime to the permeate to align it with water that is found in traditional drinking water supplies and to help protect downstream pipes from corrosion. “As with regular drinking water plants, water is chlorinated to provide a disinfection residual in the distribution system and is also fluoridated in line with the Queensland Government’s fluoridation program.” After leaving the Gold Coast Desalination Plant, water is pumped to Robina where it is mixed with treated dam water and distributed to consumers through the SEQ Water Grid. Concentrated seawater leaving the plant and returning to the ocean completes the cycle. “Concentrated seawater exits via the outlet tunnel and marine diffuser, which have been designed to minimise potential impacts on marine ecology,” Mr Davies said. “Stretching 1.2 kilometres into the ocean, the outlet tunnel terminates with a 287-metre-long linear diffuser that has 14 diffuser outlets, with salt water exiting each port.

Water Management Review 2010

“This salt water is directed upwards to assist its diffusion, because saltier water is heavier than less salty water. This water dissipates to normal salinity levels within an area of around 120m by 400m – about the size of eight football fields. “Our ongoing monitoring program shows that salt water dispersed from the marine outlet tunnel quickly mixes with the surrounding seawater and does not negatively impact marine life.” Mr Davies said considerable effort was undertaken to ensure the quality of the marine environment.

plant’s operations for around 18-20 months, depending on the operating schedule. Mr Davies said desalination will be integral to Queensland’s water supply solution for the next generation “In the first 9 months of operation the plant has supplied more than 17.5 billion litres of water to the SEQ water grid and is supplying residents on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane with a new source of quality drinking water.”

“We have undertaken a number of studies monitoring fauna, water quality and salinity levels,” he said. “There is an ongoing monitoring program at the outlet shaft, measuring the quality and composition of the concentrated seawater, and also further monitoring at the perimeter of the mixing zone. “We have been pleased with how aquatic flora and fauna have responded to date, as there is a thriving eco-system around the intake and outfall structures. Video footage on our website shows marine life in abundance around the artificial reefs created on the structures.

Energy consumption

The Gold Coast Desalination Plant is one of the most modern and efficient desalination plants in the world today. “When desalinated water was produced in the 1980s, it would take around 30 kilowatt hours of energy to produce a cubic metre of water. “The Gold Coast Desalination Plant can produce a cubic metre of water using about 3.2 kilowatt hours of energy. This is the energy used to move the water through the plant, excluding pumping the water out into the Water Grid. Over the course of a day, a desalination plant can provide water for 665,000 people under Target 200 water restrictions for 21 mega watts of energy. “This makes the Plant one of the most efficient in the world today. In addition we are able to offset the greenhouse gas implications of our operations through renewable energy.” Renewable Energy Certificates were purchased in 2009 that will offset the

“This makes the Plant one of the most efficient in the world today. In addition we are able to offset the greenhouse gas implications of our operations through renewable energy.”

Like father, like son – teamwork on the Victorian Desalination Project

The $3.5 billion Victorian Desalination Project will deliver Australia’s largest desalination plant and secure a source of water for Victorians. Given the enormity of the project, it’s no surprise to find family members working side-by-side, like father and son, Jim and Tim Davidson. “It’s so rewarding to be working with your son as a professional engineer on such an exciting and challenging project,” says Jim Davidson. For Jim this project meant moving across the country to take on the role of Construction Phase Services Manager for the Parsons Brinckerhoff and Beca engineering joint venture. For his son Tim, it was making a choice to join the project to further his career path. Tim works for Thiess

Degrémont as a site engineer for the Screen and Feed Pump Station building. This building houses the system that first screens the seawater to remove large particulates prior to pumping it through filters. Tim is enthusiastic about the opportunity to gain experience on one of Australia’s largest projects. “To be on the job with my father makes the experience that much more interesting,” says Tim. The Victorian Desalination Project will provide an additional 150 billion litres of water each year to Melbourne, Geelong and, via other connections, South Gippsland and Western Port towns. Jim explains the aim is for the Victorian Desalination Project to deliver tangible benefits for the community. “There’s no better feeling than being

able to help people through your efforts,” says Jim. “One example is the team’s commitment to minimising impacts on the local environment,” says Jim. The main plant building will be covered by a living roof, the biggest of its kind in Australia, and covered with indigenous vegetation. An ecologically sustainable coastal park will be created on 225 hectares of the 268 hectare site. The coastal park will create new habitats for local fauna. There will also be a network of paths for local cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders. Parsons Brinckerhoff is in a joint venture with Beca to provide multidisciplinary design services to Thiess Degrémont, the design and construction contractor for the project.

MAKING WATER MATTER

Making water matter with thought provoking ideas for processes and technologies. www.pb.com.au

The future is renewable energy have you secured a strong partnership?

The world is changing. Global warming is a scientific reality and ever more companies, governments and institutions are looking into the endless possibilities that renewable energy technology is opening up as an alternative to polluting fossil fuels. It seems that the marketplace surrounding renewables is swelling, with many providers entering particularly the solar space with products and solutions. Sometimes it can be difficult to navigate through the myriad of products and services on offer. Many renewable energy manufacturers, dealers and installers are only new on the market. Like many new businesses some are great and some will not last the distance. If you have decided to investigate the installation or sourcing of renewable energy technology, it’s a good idea to do your homework and make sure your partner will be there for you when you need them. Conergy is a globally renowned and established manufacturer and systems integrator in the renewable energy industry and has been operating for over 10 years. The company manufactures and distributes components and systems for generating solar electricity, solar hot water and wind power for domestic, commercial, community projects and industrial applications. Conergy Pty Ltd, with headquarters in Perth and state office and warehouse facilities in Sydney,

Water Management Review 2010

Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Darwin, is a subsidiary of Germany’s stock listed Conergy AG. Conergy’s Australian operations were established at the beginning of 2005 and its quality products and guaranteed performance warranties have seen the company fast become one of the leading manufacturers and wholesale distributors in the Australian industry. The company’s focus is solely on renewable energy technology, and it prides itself on a history of successful small to large scale projects. Whether for domestic use, remote area power generation or some of the world’s largest mutli-megawatt solar power farms – Conergy has a track record of successful implementation with high quality products and performance guarantees that are regularly exceeded. Conergy engineers have over ten years’ experience in building photovoltaic systems – and in the past have already successfully installed thousands of these systems worldwide. Comprehensive consulting, planning, financing and monitoring services complete the Conergy customer service concept. It is with this product variety and backed by its engineering competence that Conergy also plans its major solar projects. In solar parks, for example, solar components are installed by in-house technicians or approved service providers and handed over to the investor in turnkey condition.

With efficient products, reliable materials suppliers and consistent investments in its international sales networks, Conergy has optimum customer access in all the world’s major renewable energy markets. The solar company thus occupies a key position in the solar value creation chain. If you are seeking a strong global partner in renewable energy, contact your nearest Conergy state office on 1300 724 531 or visit www.conergy.com.au for more information on its world leading products and services.

Your global partner in renewable energy

Since the 1998 start up of the Conergy Group in Germany, our philosophy has always remained the same: to deliver the best renewable energy solution for every energy consumer worldwide. The first ten years have seen us follow through and grow, with many decades ahead to carry on this task.

As the importance of clean energy generation grows, ensuring you have a strong, experienced partner in the field has become more important than ever. Conergy stands for quality products, solid warranties and the lived experience of operating in the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s developing and mature renewable energy markets.

Our achievements speak for themselves: Conergyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commercial and industrial scale solar power, solar hot water and wind power solutions are delivering real results for our customers worldwide, using only the resources provided by mother nature.

Conergy has remained strongly committed to Australia since setting up its operations here in 2005. With state office distribution centres in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Darwin we are your partner of choice - from supply, to system design and project commissioning.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to make a change. Contact us today:

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GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies

Application Examples;

GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies is a leading innovator in advanced measurement, sensor-based and inspection solutions that deliver accuracy, productivity and safety to customers in a wide range of industries, including oil & gas, power generation, aerospace, transportation and healthcare. The business is part of GE Enterprise Solutions and has more than 40 facilities in 25 countries worldwide. Panametrics AquaTrans™ ultrasonic flowmeters handle most of your water and water treatment flow applications with ease. Clamp them onto existing pipes without shutting down your process. With no moving parts to break or wear, these drift-free meters require virtually no maintenance, saving you money year after year. The full-function TransPort® PT878 portable flowmeter fits into the palm of your hand. Its powerful features help you do surveys or check unreliable meters throughout your plant.

Water Management Review 2010

Measuring flow of domestic water in each of the buildings located on a USA university campus. The UTX878 appealed to the customer as an economical nonintrusive, maintenance-free alternative to the paddlewheel flowmeter. Since the UTX878 does not come into contact with the process there is no danger of clogging and does not require shutting down the process. The UTX878 was also easily powered using the existing 24 VDC supply. A Hydro Power plant in Philippines has a problem with an existing wetted type flow meter system on their 6-meter pipe. They could not detect a flow rate and cannot afford to shutdown the pipe. We provided a PT878 – Portable ultrasonic test on the 6-meter pipe and demo the performance of the meter. The biggest pipeline we have tested so far. The test went well and the result is acceptable to the end user. After successful trail on the PT878, an AT868 AquaTrans™ Ultrasonic flowmeter dual channel clamp on type was installed. For more information, visit www.gesensinginspection.com

GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies

What Matter You Most...Water...

Panametrics AquaTransâ&#x201E;˘ ultrasonic flowmeters handle most of your water flow applications with ease. Clamp them onto existing pipes without shutting down your process. With no moving parts to break or wear, these drift-free meters require virtually no maintenance, saving you money year R

after year. The full-function TransPort PT878 portable flowmeter fits into the palm of your hand. Its powerful features help you do surveys or check unreliable meters throughout your plant. www.gesensing.com

GE imagination at work

1/19 Resolution Drive, Caringbah , NSW 2229

02-95254055

gesi@ge.com

Go with the flow riding the wave of trenchless technology Trenchless Technology is of the utmost importance to the water industry in Australia. The technology offers waterwise solutions, can save water, clean and rehabilitate pipeline systems and install new underground infrastructure using environmentally sensitive methods. The range of trenchless installation and rehabilitation techniques offer the means to prevent infiltration and exfiltration, protecting Australia’s waterways. The scope of the trenchless industry in Australia is significant. Many innovative companies have developed technology to reline and repair pipes, eliminating the need for expensive excavation. Here we look at two case studies featuring trenchless technology and the benefits to the water industry. Installation: the installation of the Sugarloaf Pipeline involved tunnel boring through hard rock. Rehabilitation: HDD was used following flooding to replace a potable water pipe in Far North Queensland.

Tunnel boring protects Toolangi state forest

The $A750 million Sugarloaf Pipeline Project involves the construction of a 70 kilometre pipeline linking the Goulburn River near Yea to the Sugarloaf Reservoir in Melbourne’s northeast, including an 830 metre tunnel completed with a tunnel boring machine. The pipeline is designed to allow the transfer of 75 billion litres of water to Melbourne by 2010 as part of the Food Bowl Modernisation Project. The pipeline will have a maximum diameter of 1.75 metres.

John Holland was awarded the contract to construct the pipeline. The contract is an alliance between Melbourne Water, John Holland and designers Sinclair Knight and Mertz and GHD. The initial development phase of the project commenced in early 2008, with construction commencing in November 2008 and due to be completed in 2010.

Ollie the TBM

An $A8 million remote controlled tunnel boring machine has completed an 830 metre tunnel under the Toolangi State Forest to make way for the water pipeline. Spokesperson for the Alliance Denise Hurley said stringent environmental approval processes and many months of preparation went into preparing the site for Ollie (the TBM). “The Alliance’s tunnel team had to dig a launch shaft and assemble a bridge crane to lower the machine into the shaft. The four key components of Ollie, which have been shipped from Germany, then had to be assembled, tested and lowered into place,” she said. The TBM, nicknamed ‘Ollie’ after the world’s biggest earthworm the Giant Gippsland Earthworm (Oligochaetra), was manufactured especially for the rock encountered in the area. A Herrenknecht AVN 1800 TD (with an extension kit to suit 2,000 ID/2,400 OD pipes) was used to excavate the tunnel, 700 metres of which was through rock with strengths ranging from 80 to 250 MPa. The final 130 metres was excavated through soft colluvial material. ‘Ollie’ mixes the excavated material with slurry for transport back to the surface, where it is segregated by a large Slurry Treatment Plant onsite. Some of the rock has been used elsewhere on the Sugarloaf Pipeline. The majority is disposed of at the old Castella Quarry. Alliance Project Manager Rob Cranston said the successful completion of the tunnel marked a major milestone in the pipeline project. Mr Cranston congratulated the Project Manager Sam

Water Management Review 2010

Jones and his team on successfully completing the tunnel earlier than expected. Tunnelling began on 1 April and took ten weeks. A crew of ten worked 24 hours a day, six days a week to complete the drive. Workers have dismantled the tunnel boring equipment.

Water works

As of January 2010, both pump stations are now operational and the pipeline is now full. It will remain full as testing of the pump stations and pipeline continues. In addition, water supply points along the pipeline have been commissioned, which will allow the Country Fire Authority permanent access to water in the event of a bushfire, Visiting the site, Victorian Water Minister Tim Holding said water could now flow to Melbourne from the $A750 million project as early as February 2010. The project has injected more than $A200 million into the Victorian economy and about $A50 million into the regional economy. At its peak, the project employed more than 1,200 fulltime direct and subcontract staff, with up to 800 people employed for a sustained period over twelve months. The two pump stations that will take water over the Great Dividing Range – the

This article was first published in Trenchless Australasia magazine.

For subscriptions and marketing opportunities please contact Great Southern Press (03) 9248 5100 or visit www.trenchlessaustralasia.com

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Goulburn River pump station, north of Yea, and the high lift pump station to the south of Yea.

After the floods

Severe flooding during Tropical Cyclone Charlotte in February 2009 saw the Far North Queensland township of Karumba left without a potable water supply after part of the 44 kilometre Karumba Water Supply Pipeline was washed away. Carpentaria Shire Council contracted JR & LM Tracksons Directional Drilling to complete urgent repairs to the pipeline under the Norman River, using Vermeer’s D330 x 500 HDD rig, in just seven weeks.

Carpentaria Shire Council Director of Engineering Matthew Fanning says that contractors faced many challenges during the $A1.7 million repair of the pipeline, which runs from Normanton to Karumba. “The project had to be completed in some of the most trying conditions and time constraints due to the emergency at hand. This flood event was the second largest on record. At the time, both Karumba and Normanton were completely isolated from each other and the broader region. The only means of transport was via boat or helicopter. “The flow of the flood caused erosion on the banks of the river, which undermined

the anchor blocks of the existing pipeline. This caused the pipeline to move and a breach occurred in the pipeline.” Investigations into the location were hampered by two metres of crocodileinfested floodwaters. At one stage, ping pong balls were unsuccessfully placed into the pipeline to try and confirm the area damaged by the Norman River. “The river was acting as a reservoir with an open pipe on its bed with a nine metre head. At this stage, pressure tests were not possible as the values were still under floodwaters. “Equipment was slung out via helicopter

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to pressure test sections of the pipeline. The failure was eventually identified in the Norman River spanning some 500 metres in length and nine metres deep,” Mr Fanning says.

State of emergency

JR & LM Trackson and other contractors were engaged under the emergency provisions of the Queensland Local Government Act to provide urgent excavation works and transportation services, with the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Environmental Protection Agency providing support with necessary approvals obtained during the construction phase, so as not to delay the reinstatement of the water supply. Meanwhile, the Australian Defence Force established a temporary water treatment plant in Karumba to supply its 600 residents with up to 400 kilolitres of water per day during the repairs.

Accessing the site

The scope of repairs involved gaining access to the site of the river crossing, on both sides of the river, to replace a 560 metre section of 250 mm diameter water main with 315 mm PE pipe using directional boring approximately seven metres under the riverbed. “The only way to repair the pipeline was to replace the existing main by directional boring a new pipeline under the river bed. The contractors used for this project were chosen on the ability to start work in the quickest possible time and from reputation of their quality of work,” Mr Fanning says. Environmental factors were also a key consideration in using horizontal directional drilling (HDD). “The environmental benefits of the method of installation of the new pipeline meant minimal environmental disturbance. “The original pipeline was placed on the bed of the river utilising dozers and resulted in significant damage to the surrounding mangrove environment, river bed and banks,” Mr Fanning says.

A barge was used to overcome the issue of access, carrying JR & LM Trackson’s Vermeer D330x500 HDD rig to the repair site on the Normanton side of the river. Meanwhile, helicopters would airlift the rig onto a high ridge on a local property on the Karumba side. “We were then able to walk the 330 in there and set up on bog mats. Because the 330 is self-contained, all you have to hook up the hose and you’re ready to drill,” says JR & LM Trackson owner and Managing Director Jeff Trackson. Mr Trackson also says that the project was extremely challenging. “Yes, there was a high content of salt in the water, as it was very close to the ocean. This made tracking [during repairs] difficult, so our remote steering tool was used.” The contractors began repairs to the pipeline in March and completed the project on 5 May 2009, with the water pipeline commissioned two days later.

Drilling experience shines through Mr Trackson has been using Vermeer equipment for more than ten years and highly recommends the equipment and services.

“I bought my first drill – a D16-20 – from Vermeer, Brisbane, in February 1999. With a ll the drills, ploughs, trenchers and vacuum tanks I have purchased, the team at Vermeer have gone out of their way to make sure my operators know what the machines can and can’t do. I would strongly recommend them to anyone in the industry or about to enter the industry,” Mr Trackson says. Mr Trackson has also used the D330x500 Vermeer rig in subsequent projects. “The drill is doing great. There was no trouble doing the water pipe in Karumba, as well as a 600 metre shot under Cattle Creek, which is a large flood plain, for Telstra’s optic fibre, which was washed away in the floods. “We also have six large diameter bores, one being used for 600 mm x 300 metre

river crossings for Tenix Alliance in Mackay,” Mr Trackson says.

A legacy of skills The Karumba Water Supply Pipeline repair project was nominated for an Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia Queensland Excellence Award, which Mr Fanning says is a great acknowledgment of all stakeholder efforts at the time. “This was an outstanding achievement considering the challenges encountered such as no vehicular access, continual work site flooding and unstable ground conditions. The repair of such a critical piece of infrastructure has provided for a legacy of skills, knowledge and capacity. “The staff who assisted with the failure investigation and repair have gained significant skills and knowledge in fault finding and repair techniques.” Mr Fanning says that measures have also been taken to better map and isolate different sections of the pipeline, which remain vulnerable during the wet season. “The replacement of the water pipeline has resulted in the removal of the highest risks of failure during natural disasters. The new pipeline has been placed seven metres under the base of the river to ensure protection from future flood events.”

Trenchless Technology and Australia’s water industry The case studies presented here are a mere drop in the ocean of trenchless possibilities. For more information visit www.trenchless-australasia .com.au and don’t miss Trenchless Live 2010, to be held 17-20 October 2010 in Coffs Harbour. This official ASTT event will feature an exciting, hands-on and truly live exhibition and demonstration of trenchless equipment. In addition to the free entry exhibition, Trenchless Live will also feature a range of training, both classroom and hands-on and keynote presentations, as well as relaxed social functions and networking opportunities.

Coe Drilling Coe Drilling Pty Ltd is one of the top 3 Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) contractors in AustraliaAsia. Working with pipeline contractors, utility companies, engineering firms and owner companies - installing pipelines, conduit, cable and remediation wells. Coe Drilling Pty Ltd owns and operates small, mid-sized and large Maxi drilling rigs - with capabilities up to 880,000 pounds of pullback. We have installed pipe sizes with diameters up to 56 inches - and completed continuous bores up to 2,040 meters in length. Operations span all of Australia and Asia. Some typical projects include: •

4 X 20” River Crossings in Sydney for Alinta on the Sydney Looping Gas Pipeline – design & construct

Coe Drilling Pty Ltd 11-13 Gibbs Street, Labrador, Queensland 4215 Australia. +61 7 5500 5222 Tel +61 7 5500 6444 Fax www.coedrilling.com.au

Water Management Review 2010

including fabrication and testing. •

4 x 28” River Crossings in India for Indian Oil Corporation – design & construct including fabrication and testing.

•

1x 750m Wastewater Outfall for 18” pipeline including offshore diffuser and onshore pipeline works.

•

2 x Rock Shore Crossing for 6” Fibre Optical Conduits in Hong Kong.

•

2 x Rock Shore Crossing for 6” Fibre Optical Conduits in Bass Strait including 1 x 2040m and 1x 450m.

•

2 x 18” River Crossings in Pakistan for BHP Petroleum.

•

2 x 1500m Hard Rock Crossings in Brisbane Australia including 1 x 24” and 1 x 10” – design & construct including fabrication and testing.

At present Coe has 4 x HDD Rigs operating across AustralAsia as well as 3 x 56” Micro Tunnelling Units.

•

1 x 1500m Rock Shore Crossing for 14” Gas Pipeline in Bass Strait. Using CoeDrill 550 Pipe Thruster.

For more information on the projects, please telephone Coe Drilling on (07) 5500 5222

•

2 x 1000m Rock Shore Crossing for 28” Casing & 18” Casings and installation of Oil Pipelines within in Western Australia.

or contact e.foley@coedrilling.com.au or visit the company web site at ww.coedrilling.com.au

• Oil & Gas • Telecommunications • Water & Waste Water • Environmental Remediation • Power • 50-300 Ton Capacity • 6”- 54” Completed • 100-2040m Crossings Completed

Sydney Water continues its long term association with Kembla Watertech Pty Ltd Sydney Water recently invited tenders for the SRP 2009-12 (Sewer/Stormwater Rehabilitation Program 2009-12) to procure delivery of the rehabilitation work over a threeyear period. The activities involved in this tender include the design, manufacture, supply, installation and testing of structural liner for 150 – 900 mm diameter sewer and stormwater pipes over a three year period at different locations across Sydney Water’s wastewater and stormwater areas. The SRP 2009-12 tender consists of six packages as follows: Packages 1 & 2 Reticulation: Planned and reactive reticulation sewer rehabilitation (150 – 300 mm diameter) in all wastewater areas. Package 3 Carrier: Planned and reactive sewer carrier rehabilitation (375 – 900 mm diameter) in all wastewater Areas. Package 4 Salt Water: Investigation and possible rehabilitation of sewers affected by tidal ingress (150 – 900 mm diameter) in all wastewater areas. Package 5 Stormwater Pipes: Investigation and rehabilitation in all stormwater areas.

Package 6 Oviform: Sewer carrier rehabilitation in all wastewater areas. Kembla Watertech Pty Ltd has been carrying out pipeline rehabilitation for over 15 years using a combination of the following specialised trenchless technologies: ›› Ex method (‘fold and form’) PVC pipe lining: This system involves the expansion of a continuous coil of specially formulated PVC pipe to form a tight fitting liner in the existing host pipe. ›› Enviroliner CIPP (Cured In Place Pipe) system: Renovation of pipelines using resin impregnated felt tubes which are cured in place to form a structural pipe in the host pipe. ›› FexiLiner: A small bore lining system capable of lining house service lines down to 100mm diameter including 90˚ bends. ›› Tiger T: A resin impregnated T section for structural repair and sealing of pipe connections. ›› Tiger Patch: A fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) patch is remotely positioned to structurally repair localised pipe defects.

›› Internal Robotic Repairs and Junction Reinstatement: Robotic cutting equipment is coupled with various CCTV cameras to enable internal repairs and junction reinstatement after lining. ›› Beaver H Expander: An hydraulically powered machine for re-rounding deformed pipe sections remotely from within the pipe. ›› Pipe Bursting: Pipe Bursting employs a high powered hydraulic static force head to crack through existing pipes while pulling into place behind it a new pipe, usually polyethylene. ›› Amex 10 Seals: An internal joint sealing system used for over 25 years for the sealing of leaks in pressure pipes. Sydney Water has completed its detailed tender review process and has awarded a contract to Kembla Watertech for Packages 1, 4 and 6 of the SRP 2009-2012 three year program. These three packages of work represent a major portion of the total contracts awarded worth $83million and continues the long term trusted relationship Kembla has with this major authority.

underground services Australia

The plough process is by far the most productive & cost effective method for installing pipes and cables.

extra cost of grading the top soils before and after the trenching and backfilling takes place.

Underground Services Australia now offers Australia’s energy supply, water and waste water utilities, communications services and the resources sector a revolutionary new trenchless technique for the installation of pipes and cables.

The vibratory pipe and cable ploughing method has significant advantages over the more conventional methods in rural areas as there is minimal livestock disturbance; clearing of bush land, top soil and crops; and no groundwater or acid sulfate issues.

This unique and proven system is capable of laying pipes and cables while also installing sand bedding, padding and warning tape simultaneously if required. The trenchless technology uses a specially designed vibratory plough blade that is pulled through the ground at a preset depth up to two metres, installing cables or pipes up to 355 mm in outside diameter. Cable or pipe is laid immediately behind the ploughing blade with an automatic sanding hopper installing sand under, over and around the cable or conduit as it moves along. The plough produces installation rates of up to 1000 metres per hour, depending on terrain, depth and diameter, and delivers a quality installation with significant reduction in construction costs and time. Underground Services Australia Business Development Manager Peter Rowles says the plough method is ideally suited to a wide range of utility installations including gas, water, irrigation and sewer pressure mains up to 355mm (polythene) outside diameter. It also performs exceptionally well for underground power cables, telecommunications, data and rail signalling cables and salinity drainage. “The plough method operates at its best in low density areas,” Mr Rowles said. “Ideally, plough runs starting at one kilometer and above provide optimal production results and cost effective solutions with rates for ploughing as low as $10 per lineal metre based on runs in excess of five kilometers. The machine has an onboard Global Positioning System (GPS) displaying the proposed route line as well as mapping the depth and positioning of the cable or pipe being installed. There is no dewatering required and minimal disruption to the top soil enabling installation of the cable or pipe without the

Water Management Review 2010

The GPS also significantly reduces survey costs with As-Cons produced at the end of each run if required. “Compared to the alternative open cut installation method, ploughing is extremely safe,” said Mr Rowles. “As there are reduced safety hazards compared to open trench methods with less machinery & on site personnel, the general public and animals can also safely cross the installation immediately the plough has passed through. To discuss what Underground Services Australia can do to make your next project a success, please call us on (08) 9272 0100 or email us at: projects@usa.com.au

Pipe & Cable Ploughing 81

It’s by far the most productive and cost effective method of installation

Key benefits of ploughing technology • Minimal clearing required • Minimal top soil disturbance • No ground water (acid sulphate) issues • Reduced survey time and costs with GPS navigation Key functions of ploughing technology • Installation rates of up to 1,000 metres per hour • Diameter up to 355mm PE = (300PVC) • Depths of up to 2 metres • Ability to install sand bedding and cover • Ability to lay cables, polyethylene and steel pipes

AUSTRALIA

WIDE SERVICE

To discuss your next project’s needs call

Peter Rowles on 0418 927 517 P 08 9272 0100 F 08 9272 9100 E info@usa.com.au W www.usa.com.au

Part of the CFC Group of Companies

TT Asia Pacific Pty Ltd

When Paul Schmidt founded TRACTOTECHNIK in 1962 in the tiny village of Saalhausen in Germany’s beautiful Sauerland region, nobody could imagine that only four decades later the company would be a worldwide leading manufacturer of trenchless products.

a percussive head. More than 40 years and numerous patents and awards later, the fifth generation of GRUNDOMAT moles has reached unmatched levels of reliability and longevity. Tens of thousands of GRUNDOMAT moles have been sold worldwide over the decades.

Today, TRACTO-TECHNIK and her sister companies TT UK (United Kingdom), TTF (France), TT Technologies (USA), TT Asia Pacific (Australia), as well as Prime Drilling (large HDD rigs) and other affiliated companies form the TT Group offering the broadest range of equipment for trenchless laying and replacement of pipes.

In 1980, Paul Schmidt added GRUNDORAM pipe-pushing machines to the TT product range. TRACTO-TECHNIK now offers the broadest range of rammers including the brand new Apollo for pushing steel pipes up to a diameter of 4000mm.

This is by no chance coincidence: TRACTO-TECHNIK – and the entire TT Group – still live by the same goals and objectives that Paul Schmidt once installed into his company: the spirit of Innovation, Customer-focus and Quality. 1970 saw the invention of GRUNDOMAT, the first soil displacement hammer with

The 1990’s saw the large-scale introduction of directional drills. Again, TRACTO-TECHNIK was at the leading edge of technology. GRUNDODRILL became the first directional drill with an integrated percussive hammer, extending the range into difficult soil conditions, where normal fluid-assisted drills reached their limits. Together with Prime Drilling,

Pioneers in Trenchless

TRACTO-TECHNIK now offers a complete range of directional drills, ranging from small mini-rigs for house connections to 400 Tonne plus units. Also in the 1990’s, pipe renewal became an important market segment. TRACTOTECHNIK introduced GRUNDOBURST pipe bursters with the award winning QuickLock rods. Today’s bursters range from the 400G 40-ton machine through to the 2500G 250-ton model.. TRACTO-TECHNIK has received numerous awards for innovative inventions and holds hundreds of patents worldwide. More that 50 employees in 3 separate Research & Development facilities ensure that development of existing and new technologies continues at a fast pace for the benefit of our thousands of customers and the new challenges they are constantly facing.

since 1962

Pipe bursting - The long term solution • Trenchless replacement of pipes up to ND 1000 • patented Quicklock® Rods give a smooth, flexible and threadless connection • 5 machine types • Pulling force from 40 to 250 t • Simple handling • Rigid, reliable quality • Proven, resilient technology • Experienced and competent • Worldwide service and support • The same machine technology can also be applied for re-lining and swagelining tasks • Applied already in China, USA Australia, Russia and even at the Arctic circle

TT Asia Pacific Pty Ltd Mansfield Qld 4122

· Phone: +61 (0) 7 3420 5455 Fax: +61 (0) 7 3420 5855 · Email: info@tt-asiapacific.com · www. tt-asiapacific.com

Water Management Review 2010

45 Years of Experience

Water the change challenge for the City of Onkaparinga

Addressing population, industry and climate change Sustainable Onkaparinga

The City of Onkaparinga in Adelaide’s south is South Australia’s largest Council by population. In 2007 there were around 157,000 residents and this is expected to increase by 40,000 in the next 20 years. With discrete industries and a combination of urban and rural communities, the City is also geographically diverse and expansive, encompassing an area of 518 square kilometres. Water for domestic, irrigation and commercial use has traditionally been supplied through the SA Water mains water supply network. Until relatively recently, the majority of effluent was treated locally and discharged into Gulf St Vincent. As well as being one of the major urban growth areas, there has been significant growth in horticulture and viticulture. The recent effects of drought and the looming impacts of climate change necessitated an innovative approach to sustainable water management within the region – herein lies the challenge. The foundations of a solution Several wastewater management schemes have developed within the City of Onkaparinga’s boundaries to support the economic and social infrastructure of the region. However, these schemes evolved somewhat independently and without a clear single vision or target to maximise re-use. These include: •

SA Water’s Christies Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant, which produces Class B treated wastewater

•

Willunga Basin Water Company, a private sector distributor of treated wastewater from SA Water’s Christies Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant for horticultural and viticultural purposes and

•

City of Onkaparinga’s Community Waste Management Scheme which involves the collection and treatment of effluent in a public private partnership scheme and reuse via an agreement with the Willunga Basin Water Company.

The City of Onkaparinga was formed in 1997 from the amalgamation of the

Happy Valley, Noarlunga and Willunga Councils. It was recognised that the scale of resources and the networks of systems contained entirely within the City meant that a region-wide sustainable water management project was entirely feasible with collaboration from State Government agencies and the private sector. However, the City of Onkaparinga was also aware that to bring these existing schemes together to achieve a sustainable water management solution, would require a vision that was not only bold enough to engage the existing project owners but realistic enough for them to commit resources.

The Vision: Water Proofing the South A City’s vision to harness all sources of water

Water Proofing the South was devised to deliver a localised integrated water resource management strategy entirely delivered within the City of Onkaparinga. It would provide ‘fit-for-purpose’ alternative water sources such as recycled water and stormwater as an alternative to traditional sources such as mains water and groundwater so that over all water use in the region is sustainable; economically, environmentally and socially.

The Action:

Water Proofing the South Stage 1 – reclaimed water Conceived in 2004 and committed to in 2007, the first stage will result in 3.8GL of reuse, which would cover the playing surface of Adelaide’s AAMI Stadium to the top of the goal posts approximately 30 times. This has predominantly been achieved through the enhancement of the reuse potential of reclaimed water. With existing schemes in place, far more extensive infrastructure has been required to deliver the desired increase in the use of recycled water. Therefore, the following works have been necessary: •

•

Upgrades to both the Christies Beach Waste Water Treatment Plant (quality upgrade) and the Aldinga Waste Water Treatment Plant to improve water quality to the standard required for urban use. Up to 70km of pipe consisting of a transfer main from SA Water’s

Christies Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant to the Aldinga Waste Water Treatment Plant, the expansion of the Willunga Basin Water Company’s network and the distribution main for urban reuse from Aldinga Waste Water Treatment Plant to Seaford Meadows •

The construction of a treatment plant to manage trade waste received from the viticultural industry. This produces Class B quality water that is returned to viticulturalists augmenting water supplies for their irrigation.

•

An increase in the amount of winter storage that is available at two locations for a total capacity increase of 1159ML in order to meet summer demands

•

The capture, store and reuse of surplus stormwater in the Christie Creek catchment. This provides environmental benefits by reducing demands on mains water for irrigation, mitigating flood risk and reducing suspended sediments and other pollutant loads discharged to Gulf St Vincent.

Funding and collaboration The City of Onkaparinga, SA Water and the privately owned Willunga Basin Water Company are each investing directly in the project. However, recognising the regional benefits and unique collaborative nature of the project, Stage 1 of Water Proofing the South project has also received $34.5M in funding support from the Commonwealth Government. This is coupled with contributions from Flinders University and the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board, who are contributing to the $185M scheme. Delivery status – nearing completion Since commencing on the 16 September 2007, the collaborating organisations have progressed Stage 1 of Water Proofing the South rapidly toward the scheduled completion date of the end of June 2010. The City of Onkaparinga, (the initiator and driver of Water Proofing the South) is in the last phases of the construction of 170ML of above ground winter storage in Willunga, which underpins reclaimed water reuse in the Willunga basin area.

A $15M catchment wide stormwater harvest and reuse project is under construction in Christie Creek following 18 months of consultation with the local community. Once complete, the scheme will provide 850ML of reclaimed water for reuse, mitigate flooding risk and improve the quality of water flowing into Gulf St. Vincent. Investigations into the use of the Community Waste Management Scheme are complete and detailed designs are being finalised for the construction of a complementary trade waste scheme to service local producers, and reduce the impact on the environment. Finally, together with the Flinders Research Centre for Coastal and Catchment Environments, the City of Onkaparinga has undertaken research into the suitability of using recycled water for environmental flows in the long-suffering lower reaches of the Onkaparinga River. The study is 50% complete and may identify an alternative, environmentally acceptable long-term disposal path option.

The privately owned Willunga Basin Water Company has continued the expansion of its reclaimed water distribution system and has expressions of interest well-in excess of the targeted 1.8GL of additional reuse. The Willunga Basin Water Company network provides a reuse path for treated wastewater received from the Christies Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant and the City of Onkaparinga operated Community Waste Management system. Water is distributed to the local viticultural industry for irrigation purposes, thereby reducing mains and groundwater demands. The key to meeting additional demand is having access to adequate storage. SA Water has recently successfully completed the installation of approximately 35km of pipeline to transfer wastewater from its Christies Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant to its Aldinga facility. The water is further treated in a new plant before being returned to Seaford Meadows for urban reuse through a dual reticulation system. The construction of the necessary storage and the new treatment plant will see the scheme operational toward the end of 2010. Stormwater and the City of Onkaparinga The inability to store winter flows until summer is one of the key factors limiting the reuse of stormwater. Investigations into the potential to harvest and store stormwater identified that the City has approximately 24GL of stormwater entering the Gulf from its nine catchments. With consideration for the preservation of environmental flows, approximately 12-13GL of this water is available for harvesting and reuse. The WPS1 modifications to the Christie Creek catchment will yield approximately 850ML of reuse. The Water Proofing the South stormwater harvesting and options study (Sinclair Knight Merz, 2009) identifies a further 12 potential locations for the creation of Managed Aquifer Recovery (MAR) schemes across the City. However, due to the isolation of each of the sites, only 1.6GL of water can be reused. However, this figure can be greatly increased should the sites be interconnected, relationships forged with other agencies and the foundation elements resulting from Water Proofing the South Stage 1 integrated.

Water Management Review 2010

Water Proofing the South Stage 2 – stormwater reuse in the City of Onkaparinga The focus for Water Proofing the South Stage 2 is the capture, storage, treatment and reuse of stormwater to service reuse opportunities through the creation of an integrated system of Managed Aquifer Recovery (MAR) schemes across the City. The objective is to offset as much as possible of the city’s mainswater demand with fit-for-purpose water. On 23 March 2009 Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, announced the opening of applications to the Rudd Government’s $200M stormwater harvesting and reuse project initiative. The total cost of Water Proofing the South Stage 2 is estimated at $30M. Council has successfully sought and received funding support from the Commonwealth as part of a combined submission from South Australia coordinated by the Office for Water Security. On the 2 November 2009, the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong with the South Australian Premier, the Honourable Mike Rann announced the success of the funding application. Through the combined submission, Council will receive approximately $15M funding from the Commonwealth and $7.5M from the State Government to support the delivery of the $30M Water Proofing the South Stage 2 initiative.

water quality improvement for coastal discharge

The Water Proofing the South 2 concept includes: •

•

the creation of four new wetlands and associated MAR schemes at Aberfoyle Park, Chandlers Hill, Reynella East, Aldinga and Seaford each with capacity to harvest treat and store stormwater from adjacent creeks the creation of an extensive network of pipe transfer infrastructure across the city to efficiently distribute harvested stormwater to service local water demands. This includes reserves, sports fields and ovals in close proximity to where water is harvested

•

harvesting approximately 2.8GL (2.8billion litres) of stormwater from local creeks, which will be stored below ground via MAR schemes for reuse

•

preserving 20% of water injected into the aquifer for environmental purposes. This will occur in accordance with the plans that govern the water allocation areas, Hence, a total volume of 2.2 GL of stormwater will be available for reuse either by direct supply to localised customers or bulk supply to a third party distributor, under a negotiated commercial arrangement.

Related benefits will include: •

local amenity and environmental biodiversity improvements, including

•

positive social outcomes and opportunities linked to public amenity improvement

•

economic development outcomes associated with the opportunities created with the provision of an alternative source of water

•

flood mitigation, in particular Pedler Creek and the upper reaches of the Field River

•

the creation of alternative water supply schemes in the northern and southern areas complementing development patterns and aligning with Council’s planning policy position regarding urban growth. This includes infill/regeneration in northern regions and slow greenfield development in the south.

Due for completion by the end of June 2013, Stage 2 of Water Proofing the South is in its early stages of development. It aims to capitalise on the successes of Stage 1 and create the foundation for future stages of Water Proofing the South. For more information please visit www.onkaparingacity.com/wps or contact Benjamin Hall, Project Leader on 8384 0595 or benhal@onkaparinga.sa.gov.au

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Water Management Review 2010

Panda-monium ‘Rains’ in Adelaide on its way to Becoming a Water Sensitive City By Dr Kylie Hyde, President of the South Australian Branch of the Stormwater Industry Association There was ‘panda-monium’ in Adelaide in late 2009 with the long anticipated arrival of our Giant Pandas (Wang Wang and Funi) from China, the imminent return of Lance Armstrong for the Tour Down Under and the announcement that Adelaide Oval will be redeveloped to become the home of AFL and cricket in South Australia. Amidst this excitement the community may be forgiven for overlooking, or perhaps not realising the significance of, the announcement of South Australia’s successful bid for Commonwealth ‘Water for the Future’ funds (more than $65 million) for stormwater harvesting projects by Federal Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong. The announcement was, however, cause for celebration within the water industry in South Australia. In Adelaide to make the announcement, Senator Wong said “the response from South Australian communities to the special call for stormwater projects was stronger than in any other State, with nearly half the total number of applications coming from South Australia.” Senator Wong continued saying “this demonstrates the admirable support of South Australians for new and innovative ways to secure our water supplies.” Stormwater harvesting and reuse in itself is not new to South Australia with numerous schemes already operated by local governments in metropolitan and rural South Australia. The combination of urban form and hydrogeological characteristics has provided the opportunity to capitalise on cost effective stormwater reuse in the greater Adelaide area. The industry does recognise that innovation is needed to improve our stormwater management solutions, now and into the future. Undertaking research will greatly assist in the development of innovative solutions, either incremental or quantum, and it is encouraging to see that a number of the stormwater harvesting schemes which received funding incorporate a research component. The seven new projects (described

below), along with other committed schemes, will assist South Australia to more than triple the annual stormwater harvest from our current 6 billion litres to over 20 billion litres. The Playford Water for the Future project builds on the success of Water Proofing Northern Adelaide and aims to reduce reliance on the existing Adelaide metropolitan potable water network by a further 1.27 GL via stormwater harvesting and reuse. This will be achieved by capturing and cleansing stormwater using wetlands at two sites, injecting into an aquifer for storage during winter and distributing to a range of end users (for irrigation) via a network of reticulation pipes during periods of demand. An integrated design has been achieved in which the main waterway (Smith Creek) will be developed as a landscaped ‘greenway spine’. This waterway will combine flood routing with a significant urban biodiversity corridor. The Unity Park Biofiltration project is an expansion of the existing scheme in the northern suburbs of Adelaide to harvest an extra 1.3 billion litres of stormwater to supply local industry and school and sport facilities. This project builds on more than a decade of stormwater harvesting and reuse to reduce potable water demand in the City of Salisbury. The project at Unity Park includes research into the optimal operating conditions of a small footprint treatment technology - biofiltration. The application of biofiltration for stormwater treatment is well established, but the optimum configuration of biofiltration cells for large scale harvesting schemes is yet to be demonstrated. Biofiltration is expected to use 5 to 10 times less area for treating stormwater than wetlands, with a potential 3 to 5 times reduction in construction costs. The Barker Inlet Stormwater Reuse Scheme is an SA Water project using the existing Barker Inlet Wetlands to harvest 350 million litres of stormwater to supply industrial and commercial customers in the Regency Park area of Adelaide. Currently the main purpose of the Barker

Inlet Wetlands is to treat stormwater prior to it discharging to Gulf St Vincent. The project involves injecting stormwater from the existing Barker Inlet Wetlands into an aquifer, then extracting and pumping the water via a pipeline distribution network to identified nodes of demand in the area. The vision for Water Proofing the West is to create a region wide system which harvests, treats and stores stormwater in specific locations and then distributes non-potable water throughout the whole of the western Adelaide region. Stage 1 of the scheme will harvest 2.5 billion litres through wetland and managed aquifer recharge (MAR) projects at Cheltenham, Riverside Golf Club and Old Port Road. The majority of stormwater harvested would otherwise drain untreated to West Lakes, Port River, Barker Inlet and the Metropolitan Adelaide coast further degrading seagrass meadows and polluting Gulf St Vincent’s coastal and marine environments. The project supplements irrigation supplies with maximum demands during the summer period, in addition to regular industrial and third pipe demands which form a smaller portion of the overall supply opportunities identified by the project. 23km of distribution pipework is required to distribute the non-potable water to identified users, with treatment trains and supply flexibility. The Adelaide Botanic Gardens project involves harvesting and treating 100 million litres of stormwater to replace drinking water used to irrigate the gardens. The proposed scheme will allow stormwater to be diverted from First Creek, treated through a wetland before being stored in, and subsequently recovered from, an underlying aquifer. The project will ensure that the Adelaide Botanic Garden has access to a secure water supply for irrigation purposes. The Botanic Gardens will provide educational and interpretative opportunities for the community on the wetland environment, associated plant collections and the broader stormwater system. This is expected to increase community awareness and knowledge of water efficiency and water reuse

including at the school level. Currently, around 50,000 students visit the gardens as part of their school program providing significant opportunities for generation change in attitudes to water use. The Adelaide Airport stormwater scheme is an SA Water project which will initially harvest around 400 million litres of stormwater to reduce the draw on mains and groundwater supplies for industrial, commercial and irrigation customers in the vicinity of the Adelaide Airport. The scheme will source stormwater from the Brownhill and Keswick Creek system. The stormwater will be treated using media filtration and/or biofiltration, and supplied either directly to customers or stored in underground aquifers for later recovery and supply to customers. The use of both media- and bio-filtration is planned to enable sensitivity testing of the two treatment methods under a controlled environment. The focus for Water Proofing the South Stage 2 is the capture, storage, treatment and reuse of 2.2 billion litres of stormwater to service reuse opportunities through the creation of an integrated system of aquifer storage and recovery schemes across the City of Onkaparinga. The objective is to offset as much of the City’s mains water demand with fit-for-purpose water as possible. Approximately 20% of the harvested flow will be retained in aquifers to protect and enhance the groundwater system. These aims are to be achieved through the creation of a connected system of four new wetlands and associated aquifer storage and recovery schemes across five separate sites. The secret to South Australia’s successful application for funds for the projects described above is thought to be the strong collaborative approach which was demonstrated throughout the bid development process: State and Local Government worked together with engineering firms to develop the concepts for the stormwater harvesting projects. Strong leadership was also demonstrated by the State

Water Management Review 2010

Left: unity park biofiltration Right: Stormwater harvesting projects

Government, with the Office for Water Security co-ordinating the majority of the submissions. This strong collaborative approach is expected to continue through the delivery of the projects. The successful bid for Commonwealth funding also further confirms the significant contribution stormwater will make to South Australia’s future water security. South Australia’s Water Security Plan Water for Good, was compiled under the direction of the Independent Commissioner for Water Security, Ms Robyn McLeod and released in June 2009. Water for Good identifies the strategic value in harvesting and treating stormwater for fit for purpose use and offsetting potable water demand. Diversity of supply is a cornerstone of the plan. Water for Good sets some challenging targets for stormwater harvesting in South Australia which the industry applauds: that by 2013, 20 GL/ annum will be harvested for non-drinking purposes in Greater Adelaide, 35 GL/ annum by 2035 and 60GL/annum by 2050. The additional stormwater harvesting schemes will go a long way to helping us achieve the ambitious targets and also “support our determination to become a ‘water sensitive’ State” stated South Australian Minister for Water Security Karlene Maywald at the time the funding was announced. A ‘water sensitive’ State can be defined as a State (or city)

which integrates water supply, sewerage, stormwater and the built environment. A city that respects the value of urban waterways and a city whose citizens value water and the role it plays in sustaining the environment and society . And the South Australian water industry is definitely determined. There are many areas where we can make a difference and industry groups in South Australia, such as the Stormwater Industry Association, are ready to take up the challenge to assist our members work towards this goal. Stormwater experts need to work collaboratively with a broad range of expertise (such as landscape architects, planners and community educators) and there is already evidence of this increasingly occurring. However, our beloved Giant Pandas (and probably most of the community) may currently be unaware that landscape architects and engineers united to design and build a ‘water sensitive’ home at the Adelaide Zoo for the pandas. So when you are next in the City of Churches (perhaps soon to be known as the City of Stormwater Harvesting and Reuse Schemes ….) to visit our Giant Pandas, Wang Wang and Funi, remember to spend a moment to admire one of the small steps, amongst the larger harvesting schemes, which are moving us towards achieving our ambition of becoming a ‘water sensitive’ state.

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The Rocla Way – Sustainable, Cost Effective Solutions

Stormwater is now considered a valuable resource in the water supply equation. The industry craves solutions for storage, treatment, reuse and transfer that provide bang for buck and that will last the test of time. Rocla Water Quality combine high performance technologies from carefully chosen industry partners with inhouse expertise in product design, application and maintenance. Rocla has cost effective solutions for a broad spectrum of projects from small, at source treatment to large catchment scale stormwater harvesting schemes.

Sustainable surface filtration

Sustainable water management and water sensitive urban design is best achieved by a combination of underground insystem measures and pre-system surface treatments. Together with their long term history of underground solutions, Rocla now offer the innovative stormwater treatment products from enviss™ for surface treatment applications. The enviss™ Sentinel pits are perfectly suited for at source treatment using the patented enviss™ filter media to pretreat stormwater prior to entering the underground system. enviss™ Sentinel pits are easy to install, easy to maintain and now readily available from any of Rocla’s many locations throughout Australia. The patented envissDT™ software tool will ensure a cost effective and sustainable solution by iterating over a range of sizes and simulating the performance from historical rainfall data. By using the envissDT™ software, Rocla’s engineers will help you determine the amount of water captured by the filter, the percentage of pollutants removed and even the life cycle cost of installing and maintaining the surface filter system.

enviss™ Sentinel pits Case Study

Syndal South Primary School, located in the suburbs of south east Melbourne, was looking for a way to keep their playing fields green during summer and reduce its potable water usage. A stormwater harvesting system with enviss™ surface treatment was installed and now saves 1 megalitre of mains water every year. Before the system was completed in September 2008 the school was facing another hot summer with very little water

Water Management Review 2010

to maintain their sports fields due to continuing dry weather and tough water restrictions. A stormwater harvesting system that would capture and treat stormwater using the patented enviss™ filter technology was the applied solution. The harvesting system was modeled using envissDT™ custom software using 10 years of rainfall data, and took into account the water demands for toilet flushing and irrigation of the sports fields. The model enabled the designers to choose the optimal tank and enviss™ filter sizes to meet demand. As a result, a bank of 60 enviss™ Sentinel filter pits were designed to treat the runoff before it was stored in a 130,000L underground storage installed beneath an existing oval. By using the enviss™ surface filtration and appropriate storage the school was able to capture rainfall runoff from asphalt play areas and car parks in addition to the rainwater from the buildings, giving an 80% increase in the catchment area. This means more water is collected from each storm and greater mains water savings are made. The enviss™ Sentinel surface treatment makes this possible by removing sediments, nutrients, heavy metals and pathogens from the stormwater prior to it entering the system, resulting in a high quality source of water that is safe to be used in a number of applications. Syndal South Primary School now saves 1 megalitre of mains water every year, with the harvesting system able to supply 69% of the annual toilet flushing and irrigation demands.

The advantages of the enviss™ Sentinel system are many:

•

A high pollutant removal performance that can be achieved in a very small footprint. This can be as little as 0.3% of the impervious catchment area in Melbourne, which is about seven times smaller than comparable technologies.

•

Designed to be modular cartridges in order to suit any site and conditions. Cartridges can be combined to create filter areas as small or large as required.

•

Easily designed using the custom simulation software, envissDT™. Similar to the industry standard MUSIC software, envissDT™ software simulates the filter over time to assess performance and optimise the size.

•

Maintenance is predictable and requires no specialist knowledge or training to replace a filter cartridge.

•

Based on passive filtration and requires no chemicals for ongoing use and, in most cases, no energy running costs.

•

Extensive testing by Monash University with peer reviewed methods and results. Designers have greater certainty that the systems will perform when compared with vegetated WSUD systems.

To find out more about the enviss™ Sentinel pits contact your local expert from Rocla Water Quality on 131 004.

MassBloc® walls find a role in water sensitive urban design The increasing popularity of bio-retention basins in water sensitive urban design has created a new role for the MassBloc® earth retention system. A MassBloc® retaining wall was recently deployed in the construction of a bioretention basin on the edge of a new residential development, Fernbrooke, at Redbank Plains south-east of Brisbane.

CDS® Unit - the right choice for big stormwater pollution trap

a future stage. A purposed-designed diversion weir structure, one of the unique features of the CDS® range, allowed an uncompromised fit in the difficult location. An off-take connection was also included, providing for future connection to a proposed stormwater harvesting tank.

Blacktown City Council in western Sydney recently installed the largest CDS® gross pollutant trap yet manufactured by Rocla, as part of its comprehensive stormwater management program.

The CDS® Unit was specified for its flexibility and performance, as well as its cost-effectiveness in construction and maintenance. When completed, it is expected that the twin CDS® units will capture a potential 120 tonnes of litter, sediment and other pollutants a year.

The CDS® P3024 Unit is the largest of six new stormwater quality improvement devices being installed in key locations around the Blacktown local government area. The new devices will complement the existing 130 traps in use around the city. The 3-metre diameter CDS® Unit is one of two being installed in the most significant part of the project, at Goroka Street, Whalan. The installation includes extensive rehabilitation works of the drainage channel at the site, where currently untreated flow from three 1350mm diameter concrete pipes drains into an urban waterway. Designing twin CDS® Units into the project provided the consultants and project managers, Water Conservation Group, with the flexibility to implement the project in stages, with later construction of a diversion weir after downstream rehabilitation works, and installation of the mirror-image CDS® Unit during

After an original plan to use gabion walls was rejected by the council, civil contractors Pensar turned to the MassBloc® system, which provides an attractive and economical earth retention structure that is also easy to transport and quick to install. Pensar project manager, Steve Carter, said the installation went fine “once we worked out the detailed design”. “Because of the sloping site we had to create stepped foundations,” Steve said, “plus there was an outlet pipe running through the wall requiring an in-situ surround that had to fit the shape of the Rocla blocks.” A mix of full and half-blocks were used to create the wall, which varies in height from 1.5 to 4 metres, with some of the full-size blocks half-buried.

For more information, call 131 004 or visit www.rocla.com.au

The MassBloc® system is ideal as a retaining structure for bio-retention basins. The massive blocks (weighing around 1.8 tonnes) are permeable and are simply stacked in place, interlocked by a nib precast into the base.

Far Left: enviss™ Case Study Above: CDS® Unit Case Study Below: MassBloc® WSUD Case study

For more information, call 131 004 or visit www.rocla.com.au

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OzWATER ‘10 TRADE EXHIBITION - FREE ENTRY Ozwater is Australia’s leading event for the water industry. Ozwater’10 in Brisbane will feature Australia’s largest display of products, services and innovations for the water and associated industries. More than 200 comprehensive displays will showcase all that is new and exciting in the industry and will help you keep one step ahead of your competition. The Ozwater’10 Trade Exhibition will be a one-stop shop for all water practitioners with everything under one roof. The exhibition is free to attend however, registration is essential.

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Water Management Review 2010

Principal Sponsors

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Major Sponsor

The South East Queensland Water Grid Securing and efficiently managing SEQ’s water supplies Security

By maximising existing water sources and creating new climate resilient supplies, the SEQ Water Grid maintains the region’s economic prosperity and lifestyle.

Security

Quality

By enhancing monitoring and testing, the SEQ Water Grid is providing greater confidence in the quality of our water supply.

Flexibility

By moving water to where it’s needed most, the SEQ Water Grid secures continuous supply to the region.

Quality

Reliability

By integrating the region’s water resources into one delivery system, the SEQ Water Grid provides a dependable water system for South East Queensland.

Reliability

Transparency

By providing the community with regular water quality information and more detailed billing, the SEQ Water Grid provides customers with greater understanding of their water.

Flexibility

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South East Queensland Water Grid

The South East Queensland Water Grid is Australia’s largest water infrastructure project since the construction of the Snowy Mountain Hydro Scheme. The $9 billion Water Grid is an integrated system that secures and efficiently manages South East Queensland’s water supplies and comprises of an infrastructure network of treatment facilities and two-way pipes that move water from new and existing sources across the region. It provides South East Queensland with more water sources, both climate dependent (dams and rainfall) and climate resilient (desalination and purified recycled water), managed more efficiently with a strong conservation focus. The Water Grid is a Queensland Government initiative designed to provide a guaranteed level of security for the region’s water supply, regardless of the demands of population growth and climate change. It is the first system in the world to source, treat, store and transport drinking water on this scale. The Grid was developed and delivered in the grip of the worst drought on record, when the combined water storage in the region’s three largest dams, Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine, dropped to less than 17 per cent. It is the largest urban water security response in Australia and is unique in terms of the diverse range of projects being implemented, the time in which they are being delivered, and the new management arrangements being established.

produce purified recycled water •

1 desalination plant

•

23 water reservoirs

•

15 bulk water pump stations

•

535 kilometres of potable bulk water mains

•

more than 16 000 kilometres of distribution mains.

The system works like this – Seqwater produces bulk water from dams and weirs, which is treated and transported through Linkwater’s pipe network. WaterSecure’s water recycling plants supply customers directly, while its desalinated water is pumped into the Water Grid via Linkwater’s pipes. The SEQ Water Grid Manager owns the water entitlements and buys water services under contract from these entities and then sells water products to the retail/distribution organisations and for use in power generation and for other industrial uses. The Water Grid Manager also makes strategic decisions about how water should be moved around the region on a month-to-month basis to ensure supply security and efficient operation. Thanks to the flexible and cohesive system now in place, more than 90 per cent of South East Queensland’s drinking water customers have the added security of being supplied from multiple water sources.

The new management arrangements included the amalgamation of 22 separate entities that previously owned and operated the bulk water treatment, storage and transport infrastructure into four bulk water State Government owned Statutory Authorities—the SEQ Water Grid Manager, Seqwater, LinkWater, and WaterSecure—and three new retail/ distribution entities that will be fully operational by 1 July 2010. 12 connected dams

•

10 connected water treatment plants to produce drinking water

•

3 advanced water treatment plants to

Water Management Review 2010

This is a rapid turn-around on the situation just four years ago, when South East Queensland was 95 per cent reliant on rainfall to provide its water supply needs. Now that dependence has been reduced to 75 per cent. Because of the Water Grid’s combination of climate dependent and climate resilient water sources, South East Queensland can be guaranteed of: •

water supplies during periods of drought

•

agreed standards and quality of the water supply, regardless of weather conditions

•

less severe water restrictions, less often.

SEQ Water Grid Statutory Authorities SEQ Water Grid Manager is a governmentowned statutory body, responsible for the strategic operation of the Water Grid. It was established in May 2008 and started operating the grid in July 2008. It owns the urban water entitlements and purchases the services to store, treat, produce and transport bulk water from other State-owned water statutory bodies to sell to grid customers in South East Queensland.

The SEQ Water Grid includes: •

The ability to move water to where it’s needed most ensures a continuous water supply for the region.

Checking the pipeline, connection to the Brisbane main pipeline, Camerons Hill, Laurie Walsh

It sells raw water, drinking water and purified recycled water to ten local councils, two power stations and other industrial and rural businesses.

The Water Grid Manager makes strategic operating decisions based on coordinating the production and transport of water to where it’s needed most, at the lowest possible cost. It operates as a notfor-profit statutory authority, adopting commercial principles where practicable, with an independent Board. The Water Grid Manager’s core business delivers water security to South East Queensland ensuring quality and cost effectiveness. In managing water security for the region, it balances the needs of the community and the environment. Seqwater provides bulk water storage and treatment services to the SEQ Water Grid. Seqwater owns, manages and operates physical assets with an estimated value of $2.43 billion including: •

25 dams and 47 weirs across South East Queensland, including Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine Dams, Hinze Dam on the Gold Coast and Baroon Pocket Dam on the Sunshine Coast.

•

46 operational water treatment plant facilities and 14 groundwater bore fields.

Seqwater also provides irrigation services to around 1,000 rural customers in five water supply schemes. Seqwater is responsible for a range of new water infrastructure projects and initiatives, including an advanced water treatment plant on Ewen Maddock Dam on the Sunshine Coast, a water treatment plant at Wyaralong near Beaudesert, raising the dam wall to increase the capacity of the Hinze Dam on the Gold Coast; and the fluoridation of the region’s drinking water supply. By integrating bulk water supply and catchment management in one organisation, Seqwater harnesses the skills, expertise and knowledge in wholeof-catchment management—supported by the latest science, research and community awareness—to achieve the strategic goals of water supply quality and security, and catchment sustainability. Linkwater, the trading name for the Queensland Bulk Water Transport Authority, is the Queensland Government Statutory Authority responsible for the

management, operation and maintenance of potable bulk water pipelines and related infrastructure throughout South East Queensland. In 2008-09, LinkWater established operational capability for 535km of pipeline infrastructure that forms the backbone of the SEQ Water Grid. In addition to bulk water pipelines, related infrastructure under LinkWater’s control comprises 28 reservoirs/balance tanks, 22 pump stations and six water quality facilities. From its centralised control room, LinkWater is moving an average of 530 megalitres of water per day across the SEQ Water Grid, to where it’s needed most. LinkWater’s expertise also extends to planning and improving the potable bulk water transport network in SEQ. This includes the ongoing refurbishment of acquired infrastructure now under one, comprehensive asset management system. This investment in network performance has positioned LinkWater as a lead agency in planning and optimisation of the SEQ Water Grid. WaterSecure is supplying a new source of pure water to South East Queensland. Through its assets—the Gold Coast Desalination Plant and the Western Corridor Recycled Water (WCRW) Project—WaterSecure provides safe and secure climate resilient water sources. It is responsible for delivering desalinated water to the SEQ Water Grid. Purified recycled water is supplied to Swanbank and Tarong power stations with the potential to supply to industrial and agricultural customers in the future as well as supplement drinking supplies in Wivenhoe Dam should dam levels drop below 40 per cent. WCRW is the largest purified recycled water project in Australia and the third largest in the world. The Gold Coast Desalination Plant is the largest on Australia’s eastern seaboard. The two facilities have won numerous national and international awards including 2009 International Membrane Desalination Plant of the Year and 2009 Water Reuse Project of the Year.

Purified recycled water officially arrived at Tarong Power Station on 28 June

Pump Industry Australia Whilst Australia has a relatively small population compared with many other countries, over recent years Water has become a major issue. Being one of the first countries to experience this critical situation, Australia has developed some World Class solutions in water harvesting, conservation & distribution of this valuable asset. This includes recycling, more efficient irrigation systems and reduced loss due to evaporation. At the heart of most of these applications is the efficient and effective use of pumping equipment. Most of Australia’s key pump suppliers are members of Pump Industry Australia Inc, which is the organisation representing the interests of pump manufacturers, importers, distributors and ancillary equipment suppliers who are actively engaged in the Australian market. With around 50 member companies within PIA, our industry generates annual sales revenue of approximately $1.5 billion and employs over 3000 people. Our members seek to service vital infrastructure and key industry sectors, which depend on a complete support capability to keep plants in operation. It is worth bearing in mind that the initial capital cost of pumping equipment often represents only 15% of the total life cycle cost of that equipment when power consumption and maintenance costs are taken to account.

Water Management Review 2010

PIA is charged with the task of representing members’ interests in a number of key areas:•

Representations to Government and major end-users on procurement policy

•

Reviewing International pump standards and promoting technical specifications for pumping equipment to ensure growth of Australian productive capability.

•

Publishing of Pump technical handbooks and Pipe Friction Tables

•

Organising seminars and workshops to improve the applications know-how of personnel within the industry and key customer groups

•

Providing communication channels for networking among suppliers and customers

•

Providing opportunities for interaction with other Industry Groups with similar aims

One of the key initiatives facing our industry over recent times has been the need to conserve energy and optimise the use of critical resources Power used in pumping is believed to represent around 25% of the total power demand of developed countries. PIA has been

cooperating with Sustainability Victoria in an effort to introduce practical Energy Efficiency Standards for pumps widely used in the Industry. As a first step, we have placed Sustainability Victoria’s best practice guide on the members section of our web site. In addition, PIA is planning to run a seminar on Pump & System Efficiency, planned for the latter half of this year, to bring this subject up for rigorous discussion. The Australian pump industry has played a vital role in the development of many of the production plants currently in operation in Australia and it is important that Industry supports local companies, so that this level of involvement can be maintained or even enhanced. Obviously the initial project cost is an important consideration, but the concept of life cycle costs, which takes into account energy and maintenance costs over the life of the project is now being regarded as a significant factor in the final plant design and equipment selection. A thorough knowledge of local operating conditions is essential if the correct decisions are to be reached at the planning stage. Your local pump supplier has this detailed knowledge on Australian conditions and PIA is there to support all levels of our Industry.

Pumps are a necessity in every Australian’s life, although many would not recognise this fact. Without pumps, we would not have power, water supplies in our homes, food on our tables, desalination plants, sewage treatment, fuel for our vehicles, a relaxing spa bath and keeping the backyard pool clean. Through 2008 – 09 the main growth markets for pumps have been in National Water Initiatives, Rain / Storm Water Harvesting, Water Recycling, Desalination, Waste Water, Irrigation, Pipeline Infrastructure, Mining Industry, in all of which pumping equipment plays a vital role. Many of the individual companies within PIA are actively seeking more effective pumping solutions for these applications in the R&D programs. Major projects have recently been completed by our members using latest pump and system technology. These include the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline and the North South Pipeline in Victoria. There has also been a strong initiative to encourage householders to collect

rainwater for non-potable uses, which has seen rapid growth on the small pressure system market for backyard garden watering systems. Again, PIA members have played a strong role in the development of reliable products for domestic users, to reduce the load on the public water supply system in times of drought. Our Association is a service provider in its own right with our activities including the provision of information to members, end users or anyone who has an interest in the industry. Pump Industry Australia publishes two excellent and internationally well recognized publications, the Australian Pump Technical Handbook and the Pipe Friction Handbook which can be purchased from our website. The handbooks are written in practical, easy to understand language making them ideal text books for anyone wishing to gain a better understanding of pumps and how to apply them in various applications.

Forthcoming Events •

General Meeting in Melbourne – 9th February 2010 and will be held at Davey Water Products in Scoresby.

•

General Meeting in Sydney – Arrangements are well advanced to hold the meeting at Kelair facility in Sydney on 11th May.

•

Fire-pump workshop in Sydney

•

Pump Efficiency Seminar

Please keep your eye on the PIA web site for future updates For further information on the Association activities, members companies, publications, membership, or would like to contribute to the association please contact us at. Pump Industry Australia Incorporated P.O. Box 55, Stuarts Point, NSW 2441 Telephone +61 (2) 6569 0160 Fax +61 (2) 6569 0160 Email: pumpsaustralia@bigpond.com Web: www.pumps.asn.au

Are you

pumping it ?

Stevco Seals & Pumps Victoria Pty Ltd stand behind every product we sell, or service we provide. Our main focus is providing a solution for you, the customer. Whether it be supplying a complete new pumpset, reconditioning the existing unit, or supplying all of your mechanical seal needs, we feel confident we can provide the right service for you. We believe in providing the highest quality product presented in the simplest fashion, demystifying seal & pump selection with installation procedures.

As we are distributors for most leading pump brands it gives us the unbiased flexibility to select and quote the equipment that best suits your needs. We also believe in relationship marketing where we aim to foster a personal relationship with our customers and deliver value above and beyond the actual product. We at Stevco Seals & Pumps Victoria Pty Ltd look forward to the opportunity to meet with you, and together, address the individual needs you may have.

Phone: 03 9408 3875

vicsales@stevco.com.au

www.stevco.com.au

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Dowdens pumping and water treatment

Dowdens Pumping and Water Treatment specialise in industrial pumping and water/waste water treatment systems to meet with Australian Drinking Water and Recycling Guidelines.

RECENT PROJECTS

Our engineers design pumping and water/ wastewater treatment systems for mining camps, pathology laboratories, food process manufacturing, treatment of reuse water for irrigation and many commercial enterprises including carwash water recycling and high purity rinse-water systems for the powder coating industry.

Lake Vermont, Thiess: Raw, Potable, Fire, Waste Water and Sewage Systems , Pumping and Reticulation

manganese removal, organic scavenging, water softening and chemical disinfection.

Dowdens offer the latest water treatment technologies including ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis and desalination, deionisation and ultraviolet disinfection as well as the more traditional treatment methods including sediment media filtration, carbon filtration, iron and

BMA Goonyella Mine : Potable Water Treatment Plant including ultra-filtration, softening, carbon filtration and disinfection

Mapoon (Weipa): Neutralisinig System for potable water for Mapoon Community Sullivan & Nicolaides: High-purity water treatment systems for Queensland and Northern NSW laboratories Qld Aluminium: Deioniser system for final rinse water Based in Brisbane and Mackay, Dowdens have 49 service vehicles on the road supporting all projects undertaken by the company.

QR Jilalan : Waste Water Treatment Plant Clough Curtin JV PNG: 4 x Containerised Water Treatment Plants containing UF, RO, UV and disinfection Carborough Downs: Clarification Water Treatment Plant with filtration and chemical dosing

PumPing and Water treatment

sPecialists s IndustrIal PumPIng solutIons • Air operated double diaphragm pumps • Multistage pumps • Centrifugal pumps • Helical rotor pumps • Water circulator pumps • Peristaltic pumps • Submersible pumps

Custom desIgn Water treatment solutIons • Filtration • Reverse osmosis • Ion exchange • High purity • Ultra-violet • Service programs

PumPing & Water treatment 15/140 Wecker Road Mansfield Brisbane Q.4122 t: 07 3426 1233 f: 07 3422 1829 e: watertreatment@dowdens.com.au www.dowdens.com.au

Universal Pumps and much, much more

ADG Global Supply is probably best known as a mining equipment and consumables supplier but it is much, much more than that – especially since merging with Rainone in 2008 and bringing on the Universal Pumps range. ADG Global Supply is now the exclusive worldwide supplier of the reputable Universal range of pumps and other water products. Universal products offer a combination of affordability and quality that ensures excellent resale margins. The range includes centrifugal and submersible pumps for domestic, industrial and mining applications (including PondMate), innovative grey water systems and a rainwater harvesting device for the home. One particularly successful product is GreyFlow 001, a whole-of-house underground greywater diversion system designed for slab construction in new buildings and developments. GreyFlow 001 won the Grey water Product of the Year and the Water Savings Product of the Year at the 2009 Master Plumbers & Gasfitters Association Excellence Awards. The Universal range is focused on durability because so many competing products on the market seem to break down or cause water pressure problems. Universal uses rigorous wet-testing and quality assurance processes and offers a two year no fuss warranty on all products. Universal’s WaterMark approved water saving products attract government rebates across Australia. ADG Global Supply offers strong sales support for resellers, with on-site training

Water Management Review 2010

and a monthly e-newsletter containing tips on sales, product use and updates on all new products or special deals. They also provide an online shop for streamlined ordering. At first glance, adding the Universal Pump product line to its service offering might seem like an odd fit for ADG Global Supply. However, the company’s goal is to support their clients with a range of products and services to help businesses streamline operations, cut costs and improve productivity. They are also a company that endeavours to deliver environmentally sustainable products and solutions. For example, ADG Global Supply is a distributor for the outstanding and ecologically formulated M-I SWACO line of drilling fluids. The M-I SWACO range is internationally recognised for its drilling solutions, bringing heightened productivity and cost reductions to drilling and mine site operations around the world.M-I SWACO’s HDD products are known to stabilise bores by improving the filtration control in porous zones, to improve the suspension of the drilling fluid to maximise hole cleaning, to provide lubrication and aid in inhibiting troublesome clay zones. Additionally, ADG Global Supply are the exclusive Australian and New Zealand distributors for Universal Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) drill rigs and related trenchless drilling equipment. Universal HDD is the only manufacturer in the industry to offer fully custom built horizontal directional drill rigs with an extensive selection of options, features and upgrades. ADG Global Supply

says that one of Universal HDDs’ main advantages is the extensive range of rig sizes including long-range rigs that have never before been available in Australia. ADG Global Supply also specialises in all mining, drilling and industrial supplies. This unique capability means clients can access a single supplier for all their needs. They also offer independent buying power, meaning they can procure whatever a client requests using their international supplier network. The company understands that having the right equipment and products on site, at the right time, is imperative to maximising productivity and profits. ADG Global Supply aims to maximise value for the customer by streamlining its purchasing. In this time of enhanced fiscal awareness, organisations in the resource industry are substantially reducing costs by utilising one main source for their purchasing needs. Instead of hundreds or even thousands of suppliers, a business can cut down to just one supplier – with one monthly statement. ADG Global Supply says that the saving in administrative resources alone is huge. What ties all of these service offerings together is ADG Global Supply’s commitment to product quality, the environment and to providing clients with total supply solutions. Visit www.adgglobalsupply.com or phone the team on 1300 132 302.

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The natural choice for... From drilling fluids to rigs, water pumps to grey water systems, industrial equipment to earthmover tyres, we have what you need to get the job done. ADG Global Supply maximises value for clients in the resource, commercial, industrial and trenchless industries through streamlined supply of a range of products and services.

water • Water pumps – centrifugal & submersible • Quality assured with a 2 year warranty • An unrivalled affordability/quality combination • Greywater systems – home and business • Rainwater harvesting device – tank to toilet • Award winning

drilling • Australian distributor of M-I Swaco drilling fluids • Proven results – better penetration – cost reductions • Environmentally conscious solutions • Muds, chemicals, equipment & consumables

industrial and mining • Complete range of equipment and products • Global network of alliances and dealers • Formidable negotiating power • The right product and best price, anywhere

Contact ADG today to experience intelligent supply solutions T +61 8 9249 7599 (freecall Australia 1300 132 302) E outsource@adgglobalsupply.com Head Office 17 Oxleigh Drive Malaga Western Australia 6090

www.adgglobalsupply.com

Stauff Pumps Stauff Pumps is the Australian Importer and Distributor for the Watson-Marlow Bredel range of Peristaltic Tube Pumps and Heavy Duty Hose Pumps. The peristaltic principle enables sensitive, abrasive or corrosive fluids to be pumped safely, accurately and without contamination anywhere from biotechnology to chemical and food processing to waste treatment.

Peristaltic Pumps

Peristaltic pumps have no valves, seals or glands, and the fluid contacts only the bore of the hose or tube. Simple to install, easy to use and quick to maintain, provide a low whole live cost, they are the hot new technology, and the world’s fastestgrowing pump type. Supply of quality potable water within current permit levels is paramount, and efficient plant operation is essential in meeting these critical standards. Metering applications, typically with sodium hypochlorite, lime or ferric chloride, often place arduous demands on pumps. These chemicals can cause vapour locking, abrasive wear and pump clogging, leading to poor performance and premature failure of traditional metering pumps. WatsonMarlow Bredel peristaltic pumps are a proven solution and exceed performance expectations. •

high pressure capabilities for chemical injection

•

million:1 flow range and ±0.5% accuracy

•

grit and abrasion have no effect on hose life

•

self-priming, dry running, no vapor locking

•

no ancillary equipment required

•

lowest life cycle cost

Applications include pH control, disinfection, primary and secondary disinfection, accurate sampling, metering and dosing of difficult fluids such as sodium hypochlorite, ferric chloride, sodium bisulphite, alum, fluoride, carbon and lime slurries, polymers, aqueous ammonia, potassium permanganate, caustic, aluminium sulphate, flocculants and lime slurry. Around the world, water and waste treatment plants utilize Watson-Marlow Bredel peristaltic technology to handle a broad range of chemical and sludge applications that destroy PC, lobe and diaphragm pumps. Watson-Marlow Bredel tube pumps provide accurate and reliable chemical metering. The pumps will not vapor lock or clog and handle abrasive or corrosive chemicals with ease, giving you superior potable water quality and greater plant control.

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Irrigation Infrastructure Modernisation The Commonwealth Government’s irrigation infrastructure modernisation policy aims to upgrade or reconfigure the current water delivery systems with a long-term view of efficient water use, reliability and timely delivery. The viability of Australia’s businesses, environment and agricultural production relies heavily on the good management of our available water supplies in the face of climate change.

Why The Need To Modernise?

Many existing irrigation infrastructure mechanisms were built by Australian Diggers after World War I and the systems used to deliver and manage water supplies have advanced significantly since that date but little has been done to improve the efficiency in these systems since the 1960s. Irrigation infrastructure modernisation involves the use of modern scientific technology to improve factors such as water delivery, water management practices, and minimising water losses – all of which are major concerns for many of the irrigation districts. Earlier instruments such as the dethridge wheel have been used to measure the delivery of water. However, these older measuring devices become inaccurate with wear and tear over time often resulting in additional water being used without being recorded can be tampered with. Further, most open channel irrigation systems are manually operated with implements such as drop bars or gate weirs being widely used and meters are read manually through on-farm visits - a process that is inefficient, time consuming and expensive. Modernised infrastructure on the other hand, has fully automated systems which allow for computerised water deliveries and can accurately measure flows during a delivery. This allows those monitoring delivery losses to be better located and also to reduce unauthorised usage and losses which are otherwise difficult to determine. A good example of improved systems for open channels is the mechanised computerised ‘Total Channel Control’. Further, farming equipment has been improved by maximising the impact of the water used, covering larger areas and reducing the amount of water usually taken to irrigate. Moreover, improvements have been made to materials and methods used for drainlining to prevent seepage loss in channels. These improvements maximise the amount of water retained in the channels, and also provides strength and durability

against factors such as deterioration over time and damage from wildlife and the surrounding environment.

What Are The Benefits?

Due to effects of drought and the volatile Australian climate, farming practices have needed to change to make better use of the diminishing water supplies and increase the reliability of delivery. Modernised irrigation infrastructure allows its users to be more productive in that they can manage and prepare for their water usage in a more timely, efficient and reliable fashion. Moreover, users will be better equipped for future events including the maintenance of the system and make preparations for its long term sustainability. Irrigation systems are designed with their irrigators in mind and reflect their needs and specific delivery requirements accordingly. The resulting confidence in a modern and dependable system allows businesses and investments to prosper as well as fuelling regional development.

Current Incentives

Not all irrigation entities, however, have modernised their infrastructure. This can be largely attributed to the obvious expenses involved. There are however current Governmentfunded incentives such as the Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program (PIIOP) in New South Wales to provide funding to modernisation projects that result in water savings. In exchange for this funding, the Government acquires water entitlements which result from the generated water savings. The Australian

Government has implemented this program under the Inter-Governmental Agreement on Murray-Darling Basin Reform which was signed by the Council of Australian Governments on 3 July 2008. Further information regarding this program and eligible projects can be found on the Australian Government – Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts website.

CONTACT Mattila Lawyers has been actively involved in a legal advisory capacity in relation to infrastructure modernisation upgrades and infrastructure configurations for several private and Government owned irrigation entities. Our firm has also worked collaboratively with entities applying for PIIOP applications with an aim to satisfy our client’s needs and requirements with specialised knowledge of the current irrigation systems and practices. Mattila Lawyers provides tailored legal advice regarding irrigation infrastructure modernisation and further information can be found on our website www.mattilalawyers.com.au. Mattila Lawyers Ph (02) 9252 7177 Fax (02) 9386 4055 Level 27, Chifley Tower 2 Chifley Square Sydney, NSW 2000

A skilled irrigation industry Irrigation is crucial to Australia and its economy. Irrigated agricultural production is valued at between $9 billion and $11 billion a year, producing 30% of all agricultural production value on 5% of tilled agricultural land in Australia . There are about 40,000 irrigators across Australia1, and these irrigators are supported by professional irrigation services such as engineers at rural water providers, and irrigation agronomy consultancies, and irrigation design, installation and training services. Clearly irrigated agriculture and the broader professional irrigation service providers are an extremely important industry for Australia.

Irrigation is no less important in urban settings. Without irrigation the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gardens, playing fields and public open space areas would not be as productive or verdant as they are today. Our urban green spaces contribute value in a variety of ways, e.g. providing a cooling effect, providing recreational and health benefits, and contributing to aesthetic and economic values.

Challenges

There are a number of significant challenges confronting the irrigation industry. For agricultural irrigation, there are predictions of less water availability and reliability as a result of climate change, and increased demands and competition for rural water such as Government purchase of entitlements for environmental flows and urban water suppliers entering traditional rural water markets. These challenges come in the context of a likely need to double global food production over

the next forty years to meet increasing population and nutritional expectations. Urban irrigation is confronting a similar challenge of decreasing availability of potable water for irrigation of public space and landscape areas. Related to this are the issues of sourcing alternative supplies of water, such as recycled water, and ensuring that water is used efficiently.

Opportunity for building professionalism

One of the keys to overcoming these challenges will be developing a workforce with a high level of skills and professionalism. A crucial aspect of our being able to take advantage of new technologies and equipment, and being able to get more out of present technology, is the skills and knowledge of the people involved in designing, operating, supplying and installing this technology. Skills shortages in this sector have been identified as an issue by many in the industry.

Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s irrigators are supported by professional irrigation services such as engineers at rural water providers, and irrigation agronomy consultancies, and irrigation design, installation and training services (photo: Merv Jessen, IAL).

Water Management Review 2010

A core task of the IAL is to build the skills and professionalism of the industry to meet these challenges and ensure that irrigation is seen as an attractive professional choice. The industry must be able to show that it operates at best practice standards in the efficiency of its water use and productivity so that the industry is valued and admired by the broader community.

Recognising vocational skills

The IAL sees recognising the professional skills of those involved in the irrigation industry through certification as one key step for the industry to meet these challenges. This is why IAL has placed so much importance on vocational qualifications for the industry. Starting at entry level and progressing through to Diploma level for a manager or owner, these qualifications can be used by all sectors in the irrigation industry. Catering for different sectors provides skills in irrigation that are

107

appropriate to individuals in that sector. The training is offered by registered training organisations (RTOs) and TAFEs throughout Australia and may, depending on the circumstances, be linked to Traineeships and Government funding. A big advantage of these qualifications is that they are recognised nationally making them very portable and allowing people to take their skills to other areas of the country without having to retrain. Irrigation qualifications allow for a great deal of flexibility. They are made up of a number of units of competency which are combined to satisfy the requirements of the qualification. People can choose from a wide range of units and select units which suit their own particular work situation. The flexibility in unit choice helps the qualifications remain relevant across all industry sectors. Attending a training course is not the only way of acquiring recognition of peoples’ skills and knowledge. Using a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process experienced and skilled workers can demonstrate to an assessor that they already have the required skills for particular competency units.

Certification the way ahead

The IAL’s certification program is an

status, each successful applicant will need to show that they have continued to update and upgrade their irrigation skills and knowledge.

important component of vocational education in the industry. Over the years the association has developed a comprehensive certification program for both urban and agricultural sectors. It has a vision that in future all significant irrigation systems, be they urban or rural, will be designed by Certified Irrigation Designers, installed by a Certified Irrigation Installers or Certified Irrigation Contractors, run by Certified Irrigation Operators and Certified Irrigation Managers with advice from Certified Irrigation Retailers and Certified Irrigation Agronomists. Certification is a voluntary program of industry recognition. To become certified a person needs to qualify in three areas: 1. Industry experience. People interested in certification are expected to be actively working in the irrigation industry for three years. 2. Irrigation skills and knowledge. Applicants must also provide evidence that they are competent in a set of irrigation related skills. This is most easily done by gaining the relevant competencies through a registered training provider. 3. Commitment to ongoing professional development. To retain certified

Certification benefits both individuals and the irrigation industry by: •

setting and developing the skills requirements for each occupation in the industry

•

lifting the skills and knowledge of everyone in the industry through continued professional development

•

driving industry involvement in training and qualifications

•

providing job satisfaction, personal recognition and support a career pathway

•

rewarding and recognising those operating at best practice

•

assisting the industry to control its own future

•

ensuring sustainability for the industry by ensuring that irrigation practice is strongly linked to water supply, soils and the environment.

Certification can help natural resource managers to recognise those who can implement best practice in water use and irrigation and minimise the potential environmental impacts of irrigation. The program can be used by natural resource managers to facilitate industry water reform by: •

promoting water use efficiency and resource sustainability

•

providing customer and government confidence

•

driving industry involvement in policy and research

•

promoting credibility with regulators and set a framework for industry self regulation.

The program is already used by local and state governments and statutory authorities when procuring services or offering grants and incentives. The IAL’s Certification also provides great benefit and comfort to irrigation managers to make business decisions based on the best available information, advice and services provided by certified irrigation professionals.

IAL is also working hard to ensure there is adequate quality and accessibility of training and skills assessment services to support those people seeking professional development and IAL Certifications. IAL works with Agrifoods at a national level to ensure the irrigation training qualifications remain relevant to the current industry needs, and also works with Registered Training Organisations (RTO) to ensure training content is up-to-date and useful in meeting the real issues facing the irrigation industry. IAL, as an RTO itself, will be filling training gaps where other RTOs are not able to provide irrigation training services. IAL also recognises that the integrity of IAL Certification needs to be protected, and so we have established an independent Certification Board. The Certification Board will, amongst other things, operate a disputes resolution process, implement a disciplinary and a peer review audit program to uphold the professionalism of IAL Certification holders, and will audit IALâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administration of the Certification program. Governments, customers and Certification holders can then be assured of the robustness of the Certification program, and therefore be comfortable about the quality and professionalism of the irrigation services being provided by Certification holders. Irrigation Australia Limited has established, through the newly formed Professional Development committee, an ongoing process of review of all aspects of the vocational training. The IAL recognises that for the successful professional development of the industry training must keep pace with changing industry requirements, changing technology and the latest training methods. References: 1. Leonardi.S and Roth.G. 2008. Irrigation in Australia: Facts and Figures. National Program for Sustainable Irrigation, ISSN 1449-0250, Product No. PN22088

The IAL has focused on building the skills and professionalism of the industry to ensure that irrigation is seen as an attractive professional choice. The people in this photo have been trained in assessing the performance of landscape irrigation systems as a way of identifying where improvements might be made. (photo: Anne Currey)

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Long-Term Water Quality Monitoring

Aqualab Scientific is pleased to announce the release of the new DataSonde 5X Multiprobe. This new DataSonde platform is designed specifically for customers that want to extend the duration of their sonde deployments. Ideal for “X-tended” deployments. The central cleaning system brushes away fouling and sediment from DO, pH, ISE’s, Chlorophyll a, Blue-Green Algae, Rhodamine WT and Turbidity sensors. The brush fibres are specially designed to retain their effectiveness throughout their life. These fibres will not separate over time. Replacement brush kits are available and easily removed/installed by the customer. One central motor cleans all the sensors, minimising power consumption, and reduces moving parts.

Cleaning Turbidity Sensor offers several benefits for operators, including: ISO 7027 compliance, extended range (3000 NTU) with exceptional resolution, 90° small aperture optics to reduce false readings due to particulates and other debris, fixed parking position to ensure consistent data collection after each cleaning cycle, and excellent performance in low NTU environments due to enhanced noisecanceling technique. For more detailed information please contact Adam Merhab on 02 9894 4511. We can also be reached via e-mail at sales@aqualab.com.au or online at www.aqualab.com.au

Self Cleaning Turbidity, Chlorophyll a, Rhodamine WT and Blue-Green Algae sensors are now available. The new Self-

Salt Water Intrusion Monitoring www.aqualab.com.au

sales@aqualab.com.au

02 9894 4511

Conserve water with Valley™

Valmont Australia is the Australian division of Valmont Industries (USA), the manufacturer of the Valley® brand of centre pivot and linear move irrigation equipment. Servicing 27 irrigation dealers around Australia from a warehousing and distribution center in Brisbane, Valmont Australia has been committed to delivering to the growing needs of irrigators around the country. Fuel prices, input costs, labor shortages and reduced water availability have all lead to the increased importance of increased water use efficiencies coupled with low running and labour costs. This is why the Valley® center pivot has become such a key element to grower success, with the ability to lower water usage compared with other irrigation technologies. With application efficiencies reaching 90% and sprinkler technology increasing irrigation uniformity at times to greater than 90%, water usage compared to traditional irrigation practises can be reduced by up to a half. Valley irrigation dealers in Australia receive full design/installation and service training coupled with local sales and technical support from Australian based Valley® personal, this gives our customers the satisfaction of using machinery that can be quickly serviced and supported in the event of a shutdown or failure. As an irrigation shutdown in the peak crop water use months can be extremely detrimental to yields and returns, having a Valley trained local dealer who stock a wide range of parts to service Valley machinery as well as other brands of pivot irrigators is one way of managing risk during the irrigation season. With advantages such as up to 50% water use reduction and 75% labour reduction compared to flood/furrow irrigation and the added benefits of reduced tillage (no requirement to maintain clean furrow) and the ability to apply “spoon feed” fertilizer as the crop requires it (without using ground rigs), Valley pivots and linears are a sound investment when converting from existing flood irrigation system. When compared to sub-surface drip irrigation, Valley pivots and linears have lower capital cost per hectare, have a lower maintenance cost and approximately twice the life span of a well maintained drip system. Crop rotations

Water Management Review 2010

are easy (no fixed row spacing), sprinklers are visible at all times and there is no need for chemical or herbicide flushing (as required by drip for mineral and root buildup removal). Germination under a pivot is simple, germination on a drip system can be problematic as drip tape is placed below the root zone. Water quality now plays a large part in the design and recommendation of irrigation equipment, with equipment life expectancy being very short if the incorrect pipe material is specified for certain water characteristics. Valley have gathered a large amount of data over 50 years of producing center pivots with relation to water quality and can now model expected lifespan of the various materials used from a water analysis. If a grower has any concerns it is as simple as getting your water tested and Valley can run the results through our model to determine if an alternative material is required. To ensure that corrosion is not an issue Valley can offer a poly-lined galvanised pipeline, with polyethylene being an inert material – it does not matter if you water quality changes over the life of the pivot, hence Valley can offer a 20 year guarantee on our polylined pipe product. Water quality is also causing salinity and salt build issues, sub surface drip accumulates the salt between the irrigated zone and the non irrigated zone in the soil, so that the soil salt levels increase over time. Flood irrigation continually overwaters the irrigated area, continuously leaching salts back into the water table. Pivots and linears can provide a

“controlled” leaching process by applying enough water to flush the salts below the root zone but not leach completely back into the water table. Since 1974, Valmont has built its own gearbox – the only company in the industry to do so – which other pivot systems utilize as a replacement part. Valmont introduced the corner machine in 1975 to assist in irrigation of square, rectangular, and odd-shaped fields. Another development was the linear, which Valley pioneered in 1977. Unlike the centre pivot, the linear travels straight down the field, making it the preferred mechanized machine for long, rectangular fields and heavy soils. It has been particularly successful with the irrigation of grains, forages, fibre crops, vegetables, and vines. Valley equipment is also used in industrial, municipal and agricultural wastewater treatment systems. Valmont’s Water Management Group offers an array of professional services including environmental consulting, soil and water assessment, wastewater management, and feasibility studies for innovative approaches to unique challenges in natural resources management and production agriculture. Valley brand irrigation equipment is now distributed in over 100 countries worldwide. Irrigating over 5 million hectares globally and delivering precious water to croplands, Valley machines enhance food production through efficient applications of water and protect natural resources.

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Conserve Water. Conserve Water. Conserve Water. Conserve Water. Conserve Water. Conserve Water.

Conserve Water with Valley

Valley center pivots and linears make precision irrigation easy with our ability to efficiently manage water. ®

For Precision Irrigation Made Easy, choose Valley . ®

VALMONT AUSTRALIA PO BOX 225 Carole Park QLD 4300 PH 07 3879 3622 Fax 07 3879 3655 www.valleyirrigation.com Request a Full Valley® Product Catalogue

NAME:...................................................................... ADDRESS:............................................................... STATE:......................P/CODE:................................ PHONE:.................................................................... Return by post or email request to: vaus@valmontinternational.com.au

Contact your Local Valley® Dealer: Company Branxton Irrigation Darling Irrigation Independent Irrigation Irritek Pivot Irrigation & Pumping The Irrigation Specialist

Town Branxton Narromine Dubbo Moree Gunnedah Leeton

State NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW

Phone (02) 4938 3060 (02) 6889 1616 (02) 6884 8888 (02) 6752 6766 (02) 6742 6501 (02) 6953 6700

Access Water Systems Cave & Weir Water Services CQ Water Services Dowdens Pump Sales & Service Gary Furlongs Sprayers General Irrigation & Engineering Grays Tractor Service Irritek J & R McCracken Pumping Irrigation and Machinery Pumps and Irrigation Water Dynamics Water Dynamics

Emerald Emerald Rockhampton Mackay Ayr Childers Dalby Goondiwindi Bundaberg Mareeba Maryborough Toowoomba Townsville

QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD

(07) 4987 4834 (07) 4987 4600 (07) 4928 7731 (07) 4969 4949 (07) 4783 1000 (07) 4126 1103 (07) 4662 4155 (07) 4671 1602 (07) 4152 6611 (07) 4092 1622 (07) 4121 4899 (07) 4633 4449 (07) 4775 7622

Daish Irrigation Irrigation Industries Peter Jennings Pumps Strath Irrigation

Murray Bridge Keith Mt Gambier Strathalbyn

SA SA SA SA

(08) 8532 2711 (08) 8725 1965 (08) 8725 0722 (08) 8536 2941

J R Stephenson

Launceston

TAS

(03) 6426 1044

Cobram Irrigation Maffra Poly and Pumps Windmills and Irrigation

Cobram Maffra Colac

VIC VIC VIC

(03) 5871 1699 (03) 5141 1648 (03) 5231 5432

Bunbury Irrigation Water Dynamics Water Dynamics

Bunbury Perth Broome

WA WA WA

(08) 9791 6333 (08) 9362 1288 (08) 9192 3833

Smart WSUD products & solutions from James Hardie®

The smart thinking and use of smart technologies is evident in these product & design innovations available from James Hardie®. There is an ever increasing need for drainage designers and specifiers to manage the water cycle in a more sustainable way. The three core principles guiding designers are Quality, Quantity and Re-use of water through Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD). The objective of WSUD is to ensure the water cycle is preserved through the use of design techniques to maintain the hydrology of an urban environment. When urban development occurs, the natural water cycle is altered to the extent that stormwater runoff increases flow and potential contaminants from residential, industrial and commercial properties into local watercourses. James Hardie® is a leader in the production and innovation of engineered stormwater drainage solutions and building products. Combining high quality and high performance, our product range delivers ‘smart’, cost effective, solutions to our clients. Our stormwater drainage product range provide an adaptable and versatile solution which can act as integral components of your WSUD design. At the forefront of this technology is the groundbreaking range of HardiePipe™ concrete pipes and fittings. As a result of ongoing research and development the HardiePipe™ product range has revolutionised modern construction practices. Light, long, adaptable and strong features enable efficiencies that deliver real design, installation and cost benefits. This smart thinking is equally evident in the product innovations such as the HardieAquifer™ subsoil drainage system which slots straight into your WSUD solution. The HardieAquifer™ subsoil drainage system is the ideal answer to ground dewatering in a variety of applications. Cleverly constructed using the same durable concrete technology as HardiePipe™ concrete pipes, HardieAquifer™ subsoil drainage pipes are slotted to enable water from the surrounding soil to enter. The strength of HardieAquifer™ subsoil drainage

Water Management Review 2010

pipes allow them to withstand greater loads than alternative products, and for years have been proven in railway ballast and permeable road pavement drainage applications. With it’s range of pipes, soakwell and swale pits HardieAquifer™, ideal for bioretention swales, enables seamless integrated into your WSUD application. Also available from James Hardie® is a smart range of stormwater treatment devices. The Q-GUARD™ ULTRA Stormwater Treatment Device delivers proven stormwater drainage treatment technology. This advanced system is made from pre-cast concrete and stainless steel, provides a superior solution for the treatment of stormwater runoff and achieves a premium level of treatment integrity. The smart modular design of the Q-Guard™ ULTRA units enables fast and easy installation at shallow depths, whilst connecting to a variety of pipes with its range of components. The rectangular shape aids good pavement compaction and the hinged dual lids allow for simple inspections from ground level. Q-Guard™ ULTRA provides for the treatment of high flow rates while allowing for the trapping, storing and controlled removal of pollutants from stormwater runoff. These pollutants include free oils, grease, sediment and aggregates, as well as litter and organic matter (ie gross pollutants). These are just some of the innovative products and solutions available from James Hardie®. Smarter design leads to smarter construction. James Hardie® assists designers achieve a sustainable and cost-effective outcome for their projects. From providing tools that make specification easier to supplying the worlds smartest concrete products. Products that deliver higher flow capacities, lighter and longer pipe lengths and systems that provide innovative cost effective solutions. For more information, call 1800 659 850 or visit http://www.jameshardiepipes.com.au

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Copyright July 2009 © JAmes hArdie AustrAliA pty ltd ABN 12 084 635 558 ™ ANd ® deNotes A trAdemArk or registered mArk owNed By JAmes hArdie iNterNAtioNAl FiNANCe BV.

Irrigation alternatives lead to greener pastures By John Geary and Brett Robinson Australian Golf Course Superintendents Association

Many people view the recent 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 15) held in Copenhagen as an abject failure of world leaders to recognise the impacts of global warming. The conference did however, produce the ‘Copenhagen Accord’ which recognises that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of the present and that actions should be taken to keep any temperature increases to below 2°C. For those working in the Australian sports turf industry, climate change has had a dramatic impact on our daily work practices. The facts are the weather patterns across Australia have changed dramatically over the past 10 years. sasdvasdvnxcvzxc kzxcvzxc lzcxv {caption} Rainfall can be highly variable and the national trends indicate that there has been a significant reduction in winter rainfall in south-west Western Australia since the 1970’s, while rainfall on the east coast, particulary in southern and central Victoria, has experienced a sharp decline over the last decade. Scienists also predict that climate change will lead to more frequent extreme weather events such as tropical cyclones, severe storms and bushfires, with rainfall modelling for northern NSW and Queensland indicating the likelihood of rainfall intensity increasing in the coming years. Tragically the events of February 2009 reinforce this with a number of intense bushfires experienced in Victoria and severe flooding in Queensland. The combination of increasing temperatures and reduced rainfall has led to many golf clubs across Australia exploring alternative methods for irrigating their playing surfaces. The following case studies outline some of the innovative methods clubs have adopted.

Pennant Hills Golf Club - Sewer Mining

One of the more groundbreaking projects undertaken in recent times is the installation of a dedicated sewer mining plant by Sydney-based Pennant Hills Golf Club (PHGC). Founded in 1923, PHGC is one of Sydney’s premier private golf clubs, holding both Championship and Group One

Water Management Review 2010

status. The sewer mining project is the result of an exhaustive 10-year process the club has gone through examining various water source options which effectively have ended the club’s reliance on potable water for irrigation. Despite its enviable reputation as a premier club, PHGC had been under serious threat due to its reliance on potable water. This reached a peak between 2003 and 2005 when Sydney dam levels reached record lows with water restrictions heightening the club’s need to find an alternative water supply. Options investigated included continued full or partial use of potable water, off creek storage and the use of groundwater from existing bores. These were all discounted as future access and quality were not guaranteed, with the club opting to utilise water from a 350mm sewer which runs adjacent to nearby Devlin’s Creek. This option not only provided a reliable water supply but the technology to produce high quality recycled water was proven in similar applications. The main disadvantage of mining the sewer was the lack of precedent in Sydney. At the core of the treatment process at PHGC is a membrane bioreactor (MBR). In a MBR the settling stage, required in conventional wastewater treatment, is replaced by a membrane. Water is drawn through the surface of the membrane while solids and pathogens are rejected due to the small pore size (typically ~0.04µm). Table 1 outlines the plant’s performance while approximately 98 per cent of the water extracted from the

sewer is converted to recycled water with the remaining 2 per cent returned to sewer as Waste Activated Sludge. Project Details Key design features of the PHGC sewer mining plant at PHGC include: •

Maximum daily production: 0.65 ML;

•

Minimum daily production: 0 to 0.02 ML;

•

Expected annual production: 110ML;

•

Maximum daily consumption: 1ML (storage used to buffer demand)

•

Average dry weather flow in sewer: 0.7 ML (storage used to buffer diurnal flows)

Parameter

Raw Sewage

Treated Water

BOD5 (mg/L)

220

<2 (i.e. non-detectable)

Suspended Solids (mg/L)

300

<2 (i.e. non-detectable)

Total Nitrogen (mg/L)

<10

Total Phosphorus (mg/L)

>1,000,000

<1 (i.e. non-detectable)

N/A

<0.1

E-coli (cfu/100mL) Turbidity (NTU) Figure 1: Waste Water Quality Results

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and involves three golf courses, namely Glenelg Golf Club, The Grange Golf Club and Royal Adelaide Golf Club. The scheme involves the diversion of urban and polluted stormwater which would normally run into the Gulf of St Vincent, into a series of wetlands which have been constructed at each golfing facility. With the wetlands filtering the water, this pre-treated water is then pumped through bores back into the underground aquifers to be retrieved when needed. It is expected the Metropolitan Adelaide Stormwater Re-use Project will:

An aerial view of the Pennant Hills Golf Club water reclamation plant nestled adjacent to the 10th fairway. The plant taps into a sewer running through the course to provide class A+ water for irrigation which has ended the club’s reliance on potable water.

•

Nutrients: Biological nitrogen removal and chemical phosphorus removal; and Disinfection: Multiple barriers (membrane + UV + Cl)

A major hurdle to the success of the scheme was the maze of regulatory authorities that needed to sign off on the project. In many instances the paperwork or protocols simply did not exist at the time they were required. As a result, key to the success of the project was the need to develop a close working relationship with regulatory authorities such as; •

Sydney Water;

•

NSW Department of Water and Energy;

•

NSW Department of the Environment and Climate Change;

•

NSW Department of Health; and

•

Hornsby Council.

Two of the agreements critical to the success of the project that were negotiated and developed with Sydney Water included; •

Sewer access agreement – provides long-term access to the sewer and protection of the upstream catchment; and

•

Trade waste agreement – enables disposal of Waste Activated Sludge and is based on nett impact on sewer contents.

In total the scheme cost in excess of 3.5 million dollars, with state funding contributing approximately $1 million, federal funding contributing $50,000 and PHGC funding the remainder. Interestingly, Commonwealth Golf Club located in Melbourne’s famed sandbelt is also well down the path of investigating the feasibility of building a sewer mining plant in a quest to drought proof its playing surfaces.

Metropolitan Adelaide Stormwater Re-use Project Aquifer Storage and Recharge Scheme

The sharp and dramatic decline in rainfall across southern and south-eastern Australia over the past 15 years has also led to a number of golf clubs exploring the possibility of diverting stormwater runoff into existing underground aquifers. Once stormwater is diverted, the aim is to use existing aquifers as storage reservoirs, thus avoiding the need to build costly storage dams. One scheme which has pioneered this technology is known as the ‘Metropolitan Adelaide Stormwater Re-use Project’

•

Save 1000 megalitres of water a year by using stormwater to replace water drawn

•

from underground water supplies beneath the city;

•

Reduce the discharge of nutrients by diverting stormwater that would otherwise run into the Gulf St Vincent;

•

Improve the condition of beaches around outfall areas;

•

decrease the salinity of underground water supplies by “refreshing” with filtered stormwater;

•

Provide certainty for irrigation of three internationally-rated and important golf course;

•

Improved quality of irrigation water source, with anticipated salinity levels of approximately 600mg/L, with anticipated turf management advantages and

•

Increase biodiversity.

(Sourced from the Australian Government’s National Water Commission Project Information sheet.)

Kingswood Golf Club - ASR scheme

After observing the success of its South Australian counterparts, 2009 saw Kingswood Golf Club located in Melbourne’s south eastern suburbs progress its investigations of an aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) scheme, with the club succeeding with a new bore penetrating an aquifer 109m below the surface. Kingswood has traditionally relied on an annual supply of irrigation water of about 45 ML of stormwater and 15

ML of groundwater. This is considered insufficient to maintain the existing playing areas in excellent condition. Modelling was undertaken which determined the club needed an additional 35-40 ML in a dry summer scenario. After exploring the options of desalination and recycled water these options were ruled out. As a result, ASR was identified as the lowest cost option for Kingswood, which in effect sees surplus stormwater being injected to an underground aquifer in the winter months and recovering water in the summer months using a single bore. An initial test conducted in 2009 injected 1.9 megalitres of stormwater from the course storages into the aquifer over three days and recovered the same volume in two days of pumping a few days later. Experienced ASR group Australian Groundwater Technologies (AGT) planned and supervised the trial and concluded that an ASR scheme is feasible. AGT has recommended a season of injection and recovery to demonstrate that the system can meet Kingswood’s performance criteria for injection rate and storage capacity. Preparations for this longer term trial are underway and with funding assistance from the Victorian Government’s Smart Water Fund the club ultimately hopes these trials will lead to a licenced operating system by mid-2011.

Eastwood Golf Club - Desalination The use of desalinated water through the use of reserve osmosis plants has also gained prominence in recent years. Golf clubs which have traditionally used potable water to irrigate their playing surfaces have turned to alternative sources such as recycled water or bore water which can often be high in total dissolved salts.

The soluble salt level is a key indicator of the quality of bore, dam, recycled or stormwater used for irrigation. High salinity water causes an increase in soil salts and as soil salinity increases it becomes more difficult for plants to extract water from the soil. As a general rule, salts exceeding 1,000mg/L (about 1.5 dS/m) severely limit water use on turf; however this is dependant on grass species and variety, soil type, thatch level and irrigation and soil management. (AGCSA, 2003)

Water Management Review 2010

One of the first golf clubs to install a dedicated reserve osmosis water treatment plant has been Eastwood Golf Club located at the base of Melbourne’s Dandenong ranges. Having used mains water since the course opened in the early sixties, the club has embarked on an ambitious strategy of collecting as much stormwater runoff as possible. Today, this initiative generates over 70 per cent of the total water available to the club. The remaining water for irrigation comes from saline bore water. In mid 2009, the club installed a reserve osmosis treatment plant which strips the salt content from the water. The plant has the capability to pump 50,000 litres of water a day into the clubs storage dam while it is envisaged they will be able to pump 15 ML per annum from their onsite bore.

The initiative also aims to conduct regular training seminars to upskill and refresh the irrigation knowledge of turf managers. For more information on the AGCSA, please visit http://agcsa.com.au

Other clubs which have recently installed reserve osmosis plants include Torquay G.C., Barwon Heads G.C., Portsea G.C., Metropolitan G.C., Huntingdale G.C. and Royal Melbourne G.C. To meet the ever increasing demands sports turf mangers face, the Australian Golf Course Superintendent’s Association (AGCSA) has also implemented a range of initiatives aimed at promoting the environmental value of Australian golf courses. A key initiative in recent years has been the development of a web portal which can be accessed via the AGCSA’s website, AGCSA Water Management Initiative - AGCSA Water Management which provides a comprehensive webbased water management resource. The web portal also provides an ‘Internet-hub’ whereby golf course personnel can source up to date information on a range of water management issues such as; •

New technology updates.

•

Extensive resources page with links to relevant water management articles.

•

Comprehensive list of water consultants.

•

Updated information on current water restriction levels across each state.

•

Information on how to source water grants.

•

Online water management planning service.

The interior of the treatment room. Behind the concrete wall is the biological reactor which contains both anoxic and aerobic zones and the membranes which filter the water.

  

iNTELLiTROL.. The smart system

Install iNTELLiTROL logging and control board with GSM modem, and connect to existing irrigation controller.

Connect soil moisture sensor to logging board. Can also connect soil temperature, flow, pressure, weather sensors and many others.

Data from the field site can be uploaded remotely, or can be automatically updated, live onto iNTELLiWEB web site.

Soil moisture data, collected hourly, is interpreted, in conjunction with field assessment, in order to establish the optimum moisture levels. Above blue, too wet, and below red, too dry. Green band optimum moisture conditions. Once the upper and lower moisture set points have been programmed into the board, and wired to the controller, iNTELLiTROL will disable or enable the scheduled irrigation based on the soil moisture content. When soil moisture conditions are above the red line, the irrigation events that are scheduled will be disabled. Once the soil moisture reaches the red line, the next scheduled irrigation will be enabled. After the complete irrigation cycle has finished, if the soil moisture level is at, or above the blue line, scheduled irrigation events are disabled, until the soil moisture level falls to, or below the red line. The rate at which this occurs is dependent on the prevailing weather conditions.

A cost effective system that will save you time, money, water and improve turf quality. “Our customers are our best advertisement” MAIT Australia Pty Limited ABN: 69 767 340 869 Trading Address: 26/26 Burgess Road, Bayswater, Vic, 3153 Postal: PO Box 337, Boronia, Vic, 3155 Phone: 1300 739 920 Fax: 1300 739 940 Web: www.mait.com.au E: sales@mait.com.au © All rights reserved MAIT Australia Pty Limited 2008

MAIT Industries soil moisture sensors for monitoring and control of Irrigation in turf.

The Current Situation.

Soil moisture sensors have been around for a long time. Turf managers have used soil moisture monitoring, apparently with limited success. Why has this been the case? There are a number of reasons for this. Incorrect installation, poor site selection, lack of data interpretation, poor technical and agronomic support. Soil moisture sensors are a tool to assist with management decisions. If sensors are installed incorrectly, installed in the wrong locations, not maintained and the data collected can not be understood by managers, the successful use of the technology is limited and unlikely. Industry turf professionals and council turf managers are now beginning to use soil moisture sensors and monitoring in order to achieve real savings and benefits. The philosophies of soil moisture monitoring and its successful implementation in horticultural industries is now being used in turf applications. It’s not just about installing a sensor with the irrigation system and then walking away. There are fundamental steps in the process to ensure that the technology is of real value to users: • •

Selection of the most appropriate sensor. Auditing the entire irrigation system to identify any problems that will affect efficient water delivery.

•

Selection of the most representative location for the sensor; soil type and within the effective wetting area of the irrigation system.

•

Installing the sensor at the correct depth, within the active root zone of the turf.

•

Data interpretation so managers are able to understand the data being collected.

•

Calibration of sensors through in field site inspections and core sampling to ensure the data being collected relates to the actual conditions in the field.

Water Management Review 2010

Presently, most consideration given to the selection of an irrigation control system is based on what amount of control can be exercised without getting off the seat in front of a computer or the ability to control valves from a distant point. The most important consideration is generally an add on of determining the water need of the plant and once that need is reached, how much irrigation is required. Most companies who manufacture controlling systems are promoting the use of weather stations for this purpose and Dr. Bob Carrow’s work from Georgia has highlighted the inherent weaknesses of systems that only rely on weather station data. For more precise and accurate data derived from actual soil moisture, Carrow has found that soil moisture sensors are a valuable instrument. In addition to this, Phil Ford, senior lecturer at NMIT in Melbourne, has conducted measurements on the water use of a number of turfgrass varieties. His work draws serious questions about the crop factors used when weather station data is the determining factor for irrigation scheduling. These crop factors are changing on a daily basis and often these changes are considerable but no allowance is made for this phenomenon within the calculations used.

“At Frankston we have a larger number of sand based grounds where monitoring moisture content is critical. Using the sensors and working to improve our water use has paid dividends in reducing our need to “water to be sure” and has provided indicators to other irrigation system and soil condition related issues to be rectified as well. Visitation to reserves has been reduced except where issues need to be addressed, leaving staff to concentrate on other work. We have relied on the sensors to provide the data for interpretation at the start of the day when work programs are being formulated. The data provided is instantaneous and locally relevant, ie we are not relying on remote data being extrapolated without regard for variations in local conditions and the water use is being reduced without guesswork risking the survival of the playing surfaces”.

So what is the ultimate aim of turf managers when considering irrigation management? •

Consistent good quality turf and playing surfaces?

•

More efficient water management?

•

Reducing labour costs?

•

Accountability to rate payers or club members?

In order to achieve the above results there must be a link between the data collected and the management of the irrigation. An efficient solution is now available that does not require the capital investment for central control systems. The process is simple. Taking the above factors into account with regards to collecting good data is the first step. The next step is providing a simple interface between the data and the control of irrigation, based on the amount of moisture within the root zone of the turf.

An iNTELLiTROL monitoring and control system installed at Frankston. 20 sites are installed, monitoring and automating irrigation events. The soil moisture data is automatically sent to a dedicated web site for the council, where managers are able to view live data, check the status of each site and remotely adjust irrigation set points from any PC with internet access. Alarms are sent via SMS or email when conditions are out of range or there are problems with the irrigation system, such as high or low flow or pressure.

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The method.

It’s not rocket science.

Collection of the data.

The data from the sensor is analysed, in conjunction with field inspections.

Correct installation of the soil moisture sensor.

Establishment of optimum soil moisture levels through data interpretation and in field inspections of the turf and soil. Linking the data to the time based controllers in order to automate irrigation based upon such factors as: •

The soil water holding capacity.

•

The rate of water use by the turf.

•

Prevailing weather conditions.

•

The effectiveness of irrigation events.

•

The effectiveness of rain events.

•

Times when turf can not be irrigated due to sporting or other ground commitments.

Sensors are connected to a data logging and control board.

Upper (full point) and lower (refill point) moisture levels are determined and then programmed into the board, which is located next to the time based irrigation controller. The time based controller is then programmed for irrigation dates and run times. The data logging and control board is then wired to the time based controller. Irrigation events will occur when the soil moisture reaches the dry set point and disabled once the soil moisture has reached the upper, or full point.

“We at Hobsons Bay have found the system to be a cost effective and reliable control system that ensures the irrigation operates only when the turf needs it (ie. irrigation system operates only when the soil moisture level dries out to a predetermined point). We have found the condition of our turf surface has increased dramatically primarily as a result of your system as we are not overwatering or underwatering as had been occurring in the past. Council staff have no need to intervene in the system and it has proven to be almost a set and forget control system that is operating above our expectations”.

Correct soil moisture monitoring is identifying many inadequacies with irrigation management practices. Apart from the uniform application of water, one of the obvious problems is incorrect volumes of water being applied to sufficiently wet the root zone of the turf. In most cases, irrigation durations have been increased from 20 minutes to between 45 minutes and an hour; based upon the soil type. The aim is to apply sufficient water in order to replenish the soil moisture within the root zone of the turf, not just replacing evaporation. The principle is to fill the root zone of the turf and then turn off irrigation until the soil profile has dried to a predetermined point. Small, regular top up irrigation events do not promote healthy turf or strong vigorous, healthy drought tolerant roots. Some council’s have produced significant water savings through the use of this technology during the summer months. Others are tending to use similar volumes of water; however their water use efficiencies have increased. For example, rather than three nights of irrigation with 20 minute cycles, one night with a one hour cycle refills the soil profile, rather than simply replacing evaporation. One council reported savings of approximately 250,000 litres over a 6 week period (on one oval), using soil moisture monitoring combined with the iNTELLiTROL system, while still improving turf quality.

Ipswich City Council Conclusion from Active Playing Surface Pilot Program- Soil Moisture and Turf Performance Geoff Faulkner Water efficiency is becoming more important due to water restrictions continuing at level 6 and will have

permanent restrictions in the long term and the cost of water is set to rise. Ipswich City Council is committed to continuously improve and adapt new water saving techniques and management practices. As part of ICC Water Contingency Plan – a number of water end uses (demand) have been identified in order to establish the various water sources and quality available

Vinidex StormPRO® leads the way for a multitude of sewerage and drainage applications In 2009 over 1.8 Km of StormPRO® was installed in the Northern Access Road project for bridge drainage as part of improvements to access Brisbane airport.

the structured wall design, StormPRO® pipes provide an environmentally sensitive, cost-effective piping system for a multitude drainage applications in sizes ranging from 150mm to 900mm.

The project, managed by Leightons Contractors included a bridge drainage system which required pipe to be installed and suspended 15-20m above ground level as part of the bridge network.

The ease of delivery to site, movement of product around the site when required, combined with ease of installation all added up to lower product and labour costs – a lower total installed cost of the pipeline system.

To fulfil the requirements in PE would have required nearly 200 fabricated junctions to catch the scupper drainage pipes, suspension and welding of the 12m PE pipes at a considerable height above ground level. Instead, 225mm StormPRO® drainage pipe and PROgrommetsTM were incorporated into the project design. Ease of installation, the lightweight nature of the pipes allowing StormPRO® to meet the site OH&S requirements and UV protection were the key features which gave the StormPRO® stormwater pipe the edge. Vinidex StormPRO® pipes are twin-wall, corrugated polypropylene pipes for nonpressure applications. Utilising modern co-extrusion techniques, StormPRO® is manufactured with a smooth bore for optimum hydraulic performance and a corrugated outside wall for high stiffness to weight ratio. By combining the strength and toughness of advanced polypropylene materials with

Water Management Review 2010

The combination of Vinidex StormPRO® stormwater pipes with fabrication by Rodney Industries of PRO bends, PE drainage hopper boxes and PE gutter boxes provided a complete drainage package for the project’s needs. Vinidex was able to provide a cost effective, innovative system which provided the solution which Leightons Contractors needed. Another major project that StormPRO® was used for was the Fimiston Mill Drainage Upgrade in Kalgoorlie. In February 2008 Vinidex StormPRO® was used in the Kalgoorlie gold mines for a triple cell drainage line consisting of one 36m 750mm line and two 36m 600mm lines. Located within the Goldfields of Western Australia KCGM are extremely focussed on strict environmental compliance and are committed to their process of continual improvements to fully meet and uphold the policies on environmental standards.

Within their Fimiston Mill operations which processes ore from The Super Pit an upgrade to their storm-water catchment area has been developed. All storm-water and any unforeseen accidental spills will be captured and conveyed through impermeable open channels and contained within lined last chance ponds. For this water to drain into the ponds a suitable pipe line was required under road ways around the plant. Vinidex StormPRO® drainage pipe was chosen as the most suitable product for this piping application. The main features of StormPRO® such as high stiffness which resist deformation under soil and traffic load, the fully sealed rubber ring jointing system, and being manufactured from polypropylene that has high corrosion and chemical resistance, were some of the key benefits KCGM needed in their drainage pipe. Being lightweight - a highly beneficial OS&H feature, corrugated outer skin with a smooth inner bore combined with a simple but effective jointing system, made installation of StormPRO® relatively easy, while having far less impact on the environment than if other products were utilised and installed with heavier machinery. Having the attribute of a long life product StormPRO® pipe can also be re-used and/ or recycled in the event where the pipe product is no longer utilised or required.

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StormPRO

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P: 13 11 69 F: 13 24 43

W: www.vinidex.com.au E: info@vinidex.com.au

Quality ISO 9001 Lic 570

Irrigation Efficiency at Sydney Water: Best Practice Guidelines for Watering Open Spaces

In 2003 Sydney Water and consultants URS Australia Pty Ltd (URS) developed a Landscape Assessment Program (LAP) to improve the efficiency of water use in domestic gardens. This resulted in the ‘Love Your Garden’ (LYG) program where tailored watering plans are developed by Sydney Water horticulturists. The horticulturalists visit properties and produce individualised reports to help homeowners get the most out of their gardens while being water wise. To date over 20,000 LYG assessments have been completed across Sydney.

The LAP principles have been adapted so they can be applied to urban open spaces in the form of an Irrigation and Landscape Efficiency Assessment (ILEA). URS completed over 150 assessments on open spaces managed by Councils, state governments and sporting clubs to provide data for the program and the soon to be released best practice guidelines for open space turf areas in Sydney. The ILEA investigates turf performance across each open space, and considers other landscape parameters, including: •

location within the six plant growth regions of Sydney

•

plant species and degree of foot traffic

Water Management Review 2010

• • • • • •

soil texture, depth and structure shade density and daily patterns wind protection site solar aspect and slope proximity to a radiation source type and thickness of mulch used.

The irrigation system for the open space is also audited to test uniformity of watering across the field, suitability of sprinkler heads, and operating pressures. Improvements are then identified that will improve turf performance and water requirements. The assessments provide a number of watering schedules for the open space depending on if the improvements are implemented.

Improvements to the open spaces typically include: •

soil depth and texture

•

turf species (either through localised returfing or sprigging)

•

aeration, de-compaction and topdressing

•

irrigation systems

•

pest and disease control

•

turf nutrition.

Once the improvements are outlined the adjusted water requirements for the open space can be determined. Investigating alternative water sources to supplement the water requirements for the open space

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The guidelines will outline a number of key findings from the data, these include how to: 1. rate turf surface quality, this is a combination of: •

top soil depth and texture

•

foot traffic and compaction, and how this varies between different sports

•

annual cycle of growth rates for turf species in relation to sports field use

•

drainage, nutrition, light and the prevalence of pests and diseases

2. determine the optimal amount of water required by turf roots. This is a key element for healthy playing fields. 3. identify the optimal topsoil depth, and recommending regular decompaction. This will maximise the soil’s water storage capacity, encourage deep root growth and produce a hardy turf cover that needs less water. 4. determine when aeration is required, this prevents depressions forming and consequent waterlogging, often a precursor for turf disease. 5. develop timetables for efficient irrigation - delivering the right amount of water at the right time, and in a uniform way for even turf growth. The guidelines also examine a range of scheduling methods suitable for a variety of grades of sports fields, which save significant water. If managers manage turf surface quality appropriately, then savings in water and other resources will naturally follow. Assets will be more robust in the face of increased pressure on water resources. can be investigated. By investigating the alternative water sources with the corrected water requirement alternative water sources have become cost effective solutions to reduce the open spaces reliance on potable water supplies. Sydney Water has collated the data from the 150 assessments and commissioned a panel of industry experts to explore the data and develop a Best Practice Guideline for ‘Improving the Sustainability and Playability of Open Space Turf Areas in Sydney’. The guidelines answer the key question: How much water do sports fields really need?

The Irrigation and Landscape Efficiency Project (ILEP) – funded by the Australian Government through the Hawkesbury Nepean River Recovery Program - was adapted from the irrigation efficiency programs at Sydney Water. The ILEP assesses turfed open spaces that are irrigated with drinking water and provides funding assistance for Sydney Water customers to increase irrigation efficiency, improve water management practices and implement cost-effective water saving measures. The water saved from any irrigation or landscape improvements will contribute directly to increasing environmental flows into the Hawkesbury Nepean catchment. This will help maintain a healthy river system for future generations.

Campbell Scientific Australia

data loggers are designed to operate accurately over a wide temperature range to cope with the most demanding environmental conditions.

Accurate and reliable monitoring of Australia’s water resources has never been more critical. In recent years, a significant amount of effort and resources have been committed, by both government and private entities, to the management of Australia’s natural resources, predominantly water. Discussions of desalination plants and buy-back of irrigation licenses have been hot political topics and the respective federal governments have committed large sums of money to better understand the national water budget and manage its use. Part of this process includes the publication of a list of organizations with a data reporting requirement. These organizations are generally water resource management authorities who monitor and manage water usage in a specific area. Monitoring the natural resources of the country has many hurdles to overcome, one of which is the logistical issues involved in having to monitor sites that are in remote and challenging locations. Ensuring the accuracy of the data that is recorded at these sites is another significant challenge and is one that often can’t easily be corrected if the measurements aren’t done well initially. Site conditions such as temperature extremes, power limitations and telemetry availability all contribute to making the delivery of quality data more difficult. For example a site in a deep valley (where many rivers tend to be) often don’t receive many hours of effective solar panel charging weather in a day. Similarly, these sites are notoriously difficult to get telemetry coverage due to the physical obstructions and the angles at which some antennas must be mounted. Campbell Scientific manufacture a range of rugged data loggers that are designed with these conditions in mind. Their low power design ensures that a site with a limited or no access to power is not a reason to exclude the site from the monitoring scheme. Similarly, the

Water Management Review 2010

The CR800, CR850 and CR1000 data loggers have been widely used in hydrological and hydrographic applications throughout Australia and many other countries throughout the world. Their flexibility and their ability to perform complex tasks with ease provide peace of mind for both system designers and field operators. The ability for these data loggers to be customized and reconfigured allows the same hardware to be used at all sites in a network with a minimal amount of fuss. The same logger can be configured with a radio, a cell phone, a satellite phone, cable connections or combinations of these to suit the application. Looking for a SCADA interface? The Campbell Scientific data loggers support a number of open protocols to provide easy interfacing to PLC’s or SCADA monitoring systems.

The CRBasic programming language provides the tools required to build custom applications or to support special protocols. The Campbell Scientific data loggers support all commonly used sensor types and telemetry options, which can often prove to be a very cost-effective solution when compared to another device such as a PLC with all the various analog measurement cards. Campbell Scientific Australia provide sales and support on these products in Australia. The team can assist in selecting the logger that best suits the needs of the application and can offer suggestions and support in designing all aspects of a monitoring scheme. From data collection platforms, telemetry options, sensor selection and recommendations, program creation, training and code standardization, design of a user friendly field-operator interface to just advice on power supply selection, Campbell Scientific Australia provides industry unrivalled assistance on all data logger related applications.

InfoWorks CS enables large CAPEX savings in Melbourne

Urban Water Solutions has undertaken a review of the Mernda-Doreen sewerage strategy for Yarra Valley Water that has enabled it to opt for intelligent real-time control of pumps and valves. This is to optimise the use of detention storage available within the network rather than an expensive conveyance system upgrade. Yarra Valley Water is one of the three retail water companies serving the city of Melbourne in Australia. The MerndaDoreen wastewater system serves one of its major growth corridors in the northern part of the city. There are currently around 6,000 developed properties in the area, with a further 14,000 to be constructed over the next 20 years.

Sewerage strategy

The original Mernda-Doreen sewerage strategy envisaged a major upsizing of the Doreen pump station from its initial peak capacity of 70 litres/sec up to 300 litres/sec as development progressed. This would in turn necessitate the construction of a duplicate 10km long, 450mm diameter rising main to Eltham at an estimated cost of AUD$10 million ($8.5 million USD). InfoWorks CS modelling revealed that the existing outfall would cater for both dry and wet weather flows through to 2010, but that by 2013 with development up to 53% of build out capacity, while no overflows are predicted to occur, the wet weather flows into the system result in unacceptably long drain- back time from the FCFs (flow control facilities) following wet weather events. This is largely due to dry weather flows taking up 85% of the outfall capacity by this time. Taking into account the time required for planning, approvals, design, construction and commissioning, these results indicated that the authority would need to commence the proposed $10M of upgrade works by 2009.

Another alternative

Familiarity with the adjacent sewerage systems and modelled networks highlighted the proximity of the Mernda South flow control facility and pump station to the top end of the Darebin Creek wastewater system. Significant wet weather problems were documented in the downstream sections of the Darebin system, but examination of

Water Management Review 2010

the Darebin North modelled network illustrated significant additional capacity during dry weather periods. Yarra Valley Water approved further investigation to assess whether the additional dry weather capacity in the Darebin system could be effectively mobilized to defer the major capital works in the Mernda Doreen system. The model was augmented with a new 225mm rising main connecting the Mernda South SPS into the top of the Darebin system. The InfoWorks CS model indicated that pump rate generated by the existing pumps at Mernda South with the new rising main was found to be around 75 litres/sec, roughly equivalent to the additional downstream peak dry weather capacity. The modelling also proved that it would be possible, with the inclusion of some actuated flow control valves and improved real-time control of the network, to manage flows within the system effectively using the existing pumps. If actuated valves were adopted to switch flows between rising mains, the simulations showed it would be possible during dry weather to send all flows to the south, thus also freeing up significant capacity in the existing rising main to Eltham. During wet weather, the Mernda South pumps could be halted enabling the extensive storage in the Mernda South system to be fully mobilized. Results for this configuration under the 2013 scenario proved promising, suggesting that there was considerable

additional capacity available within the system. The additional infrastructure required to implement this option was basically 2.8km of 225mm pipe at a cost of just AUD$1 million (USD$900,000), and was considered worth exploring further to see how many years it could defer the major upgrade works.

Conclusions

By adopting this strategy, Yarra Valley Water has the potential to save AUD$9 million ($5.84 million). The modelling work has also enabled an impartial re-evaluation of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strategy that takes account of significant changes, particularly in the high-growth areas. The fundamental review has also given the company additional confidence in its plans. This article is based on a presentation to the Wallingford Software User Conference in Australia by Neil Moody of Urban Water Solutions

The wastewater network is divided into four main systems.

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THE H2OZ CAMPAIGN:

AN INDUSTRYâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;WIDE RESPONSE TO THE SKILLS SHORTAGE IN THE AUSTRALIAN WATER INDUSTRY Tom Mollenkopf CEO, Australian Water Association Fiona Mackenzie Industry Programs Coordinator, Australian Water Association

Abstract The Australian water industry is facing a significant skills challenge. Research suggests that there could be a shortage of up to 40,000 workers by 2018 if this challenge is not effectively dealt with1. This situation has come about for a number of reasons including an increased demand for skills, an ageing workforce, increased complexity of water management technologies and a general lack of awareness about the career opportunities available in the sector. The critical nature of this issue is augmented by other challenges facing the industry in relation to water supply and climate change. These are issues which demand the attention and expertise of a robust workforce. In late 2006 the Water Industry Capacity

Water Management Review 2010

Development Network, hosted by the Australian Water Association, proposed that a nationwide marketing campaign for water industry careers was necessary to attract the talent needed as part of a broader strategy reduce the extent of the looming skills crisis. After consultation with a range of stakeholders, work began in October 2007 on brand identity, thus cementing H2Oz as a unified water industry response to the skills challenge. This paper looks more closely at the impending skills challenge in the Australian water sector and at the H2Oz careers in water campaign as a major industrywide approach to this challenge. There are a number of important initiatives aimed at combating water sector skill shortages. Various State government initiatives are underway which focus on

the education and training sector and work towards retention and skill development of employees already in the sector. The nationwide National Water Training Package by Government Skills Australia aims to improve training opportunities in the industry, while burgeoning secondment and mentoring programs seek to increase the opportunities available to water sector employees. Though these initiatives are all crucial in thoroughly addressing the looming water sector skills shortage, H2Oz provides something of a case study into how skills initiatives can be ambitious in scope and intention provided the approach is well researched, coordinated and has widespread support. Though Australia faces a particularly high degree of labour shortage, developed economies internationally are also

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affected2. Given international population growth, increased urbanisation and climate change considerations, skills shortages in water sectors around the world are particularly concerning. As a coordinated industry approach, the H2Oz campaign is therefore internationally significant because it provides a concrete example of an innovative and visionary approach to a skills shortage. As such, the paper seeks to explore the emerging skill shortage in Australia, and the range of initiatives designed to respond to this scenario. The bulk of the paper will focus on the H2Oz campaign – on its inception, gestation and deployment, and the extent to which it has been successful as an industry careers awareness and skills attraction program. H2Oz careers in water is a brand designed to market the water industry as a sector providing attractive career options with plenty of opportunities. The objective of the campaign is to raise awareness of the water sector as a potential employer of choice, to attract a variety of skills to the sector and to retain existing employees. The initiative is managed by a project manager at the Australian Water Association and is financially supported by thirty subscribing organisations and by Federal Government funding. The core of the campaign is the website www.h2oz.org.au (see appendix 2), and the call to action underpinning all marketing activity is to encourage people to visit the website. The site contains: information on the Australian water industry itself, a comprehensive list of possible careers within the industry along with information on how to pursue such careers, job vacancies submitted by subscribing members, and a variety of other material such as interviews and videos designed to inform visitors about career opportunities in the water sector. The site is visually engaging, is easy to navigate, and contains a wealth of information about the industry. Combating a looming skills shortage of such magnitude and across an entire

Appendix 1 The H2Oz careers in water website www.h2oz.org.au

industry is no mean feat. The H2Oz campaign was the product of significant research into the sector, a great deal of intra-industry collaboration, and meticulous project management. Though the campaign is in its infancy – having been launched in mid-October 2009 – it has received very positive feedback from the industry and achieved greater media coverage than expected. Though it will be some time before there are concrete indications as to whether it has been instrumental in averting a water sector skills crisis, early signs are positive.

Bibliography International Centre of Excellence in Water Resources Management (ICEWaRM) National Water Skills Audit. June 2008. Zaidi, M. & Cohen, M. ‘Globalization, skill shortages and surpluses in the new economy’, 13th World Congress of the International Industrial Relations Association, Berlin, 2003.

Reference 1

I CEWaRM National Water Skills Audit. June 2008.

Zadi & Cohen, 2003.

Global change increases industry challenge

Water resources in Australia are an integral part of the global hydrologic cycle. Our most valued resource is mutually affected by our nation’s actions and those of the global community.

industry specialists. Operating since 1969, TAD offers vast experience within the water sector, recruiting permanent and contract technical professionals across the following industry divisions:

There is sufficient scientific evidence to prove that humans are changing the climate, and the complex impacts affecting every sector of society, including water resources, now appear unavoidable.

•

Pumping station

•

Sewerage treatment plant

•

Sewerage system

•

Storm water drainage system

As a consequence, water provision has risen significantly on the worldwide agenda. Despite the effect of the recent global economic downturn, the market for water technology is set for considerable growth. Recent skills shortages in the Australian water industry, particularly in engineering and maintenance services, add to the challenges associated with this accelerated expansion.

•

Dam operation

•

Desalination plant

•

Filtration plant

•

Mineral water supply

•

Reservoir

•

Water supply system

•

Catchment management

•

Water quality monitoring and analysis

It is essential to face this change with strong solutions and the support of

TAD have built a reputation for providing reliable, responsible recruitment services.

We deliver highly qualified engineering and technical staff to help organisations meet evolving challenges. Using our “experts to experts” philosophy and vast national network, TAD provides innovative recruitment methodologies to source the most suitably qualified professionals for strategic and operational appointments. These include: •

Engineers

•

Drafters

•

Maintenance personnel

•

Project managers

•

Managers

•

Team leaders

•

Operators

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Water Management Review 2010

Gladstone: 07 4970 1900 Perth: 08 9461 4610

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Indigenous Cadets could help skills shortages in the water Industry The Australian Water Association is encouraging the industry to offer employment opportunities to Indigenous Australians through cadetships, traineeships, apprenticeships and university studies.

indigenous

employment

program

A recent audit into the Australian water industry found up to half of its 80,000-strong workforce will retire in the next 10 years. To keep pace with the workforce turnover, the sector will need to train 40 000 people in the next eight years just to maintain its current workforce. Indigenous employees can help fill the gap.

In an industry led initiative, the Australian Water Association is working with the Australian Government to implement the strategy. As part of this, a pilot program is being developed which will trial training in water management skills for remote and Indigenous communities. This will help equip remote communities with the technical skills needed to operate and maintain the infrastructure and other facilities that will be provided through a separate $50 million allocation from Water for the Future. This initiative supports the COAG Strategy on Water and Wastewater Services in Remote Communities. This pilot project reflects the views in Jeff McMullan’s article “The Custodians” in which he explores the need to reconnect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with land and water management. For employers that offer these opportunities, assistance is available through various Australian Government programs. For example, Indigenous Cadetship Support, part of the Government’s Indigenous Employment Program, can help employers gain access to Indigenous tertiary students who are suited to their business. When cadets complete their studies, employers can gain a work-ready employee who understands their organisation. For more information about Indigenous Cadetship Support or other Government assistance go to www.deewr.gov.au.

Helping employers find tHe rigHt staff Is your organIsatIon facIng a skIlls shortage? Indigenous Australians may be able to meet your needs. If your organisation is looking to offer employment opportunities to Indigenous Australians through cadetships, traineeships or apprenticeships, the Australian Government has a range of assistance available to help employers to find, train and retain employees.

For more information go to www.deewr.gov.au or call the Indigenous Employment Line on 1802 102

A10-0019

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in December 2009 recognised this skills shortage and agreed to intensify its efforts to accelerate the pace of reform under the National Water Initiative (NWI). This included a commitment to develop and implement a national water skills strategy to address skills shortages in the water industry.

The Custodians By Jeff McMullen Late in his life one of the great adventurers of our age, Jacques Cousteau, observed that by around 2025 the global population would reach 8 billion and we would come to a threshold. Some members of the human family would no longer find the fresh water they need each day. Already at least 400 million people face that quest each morning.

resources and coastal environments, value and utilise Indigenous knowledge. We are slowly learning that we will never accomplish the massive community building required in Australia to end Indigenous disadvantage until more Aboriginal people are in charge of their destiny.

After more than 50 years of world wandering I have no doubt that the earth is now undergoing extraordinary changes. Norman Myers, the British earth scientist calculates that since World War II humans have consumed more raw materials than all of our ancestors combined. As the size of the human family surges towards 10 billion by mid century there is only one choice if our species is to survive. We must once more become custodians of the biosphere. Custodianship is of course an ancient Aboriginal concept, one well tested by the oldest continuous culture on earth. For this reason I have always respected the shared concerns of both the animists and earth scientists. Each system of thought gives to their leaders and every individual member of a community a degree of responsibility for the continuity of the interconnected systems on which all life depends. Aboriginal bushmen have taught me so much in the same way that I have learned from Leakey, Lovelock, Flannery or Gore. Working on education projects with Aboriginal people like Ernie Grant, the Tully (Queensland) elder, I marvel at their intricate knowledge of the changes we are now observing in land, animals, rivers and the seasons themselves. It is for these reasons that I strongly support the development of opportunities to reconnect more Aboriginal people with land and water management. Ranger programs, coupled with community incentives to manage water

Water Management Review 2010

The Indigenous Australian Engineering Summer School, pioneered over the past thirteen years, is steadily building a new corps of expertise. As a journalist I have witnessed the success of the first Aboriginal surgeon and the first 100 Indigenous doctors. It is equally marvellous to see that more two dozen Indigenous engineers have emerged from this Summer School and others take the plunge into tertiary education. Engineering Aid Australia, a not for profit venture led by a very determined and generous engineer, Jeff Dobell, started the Summer School at the University of NSW in partnership with Nura Gili Indigenous Programs. Aboriginal students from around the country who are entering Years 11 and 12 apply for the fully funded, week-long program in Sydney. They are selected on the basis of aptitude and interest. The Summer School may whet their appetites by showing off solar car designs, latest in computer science and spatial information systems. Sometimes, though, it is the engineering marvels, the tunnels, water treatment and catchment projects that Aboriginal kids can relate to when they think of their home communities, often struggling under deep disadvantage. The problems of leaking sanitation and sewage, as well as poor water treatment, are disastrous health threats in many of Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thousand or so Indigenous communities. These students have watched the slow death of our river systems and heard the warnings from their elders.

The challenge for The University of New South Wales is to convince them that an engineering degree can be the start of a career in genuine First Nation building. The patron of the Summer School, the Honourable R.J. Hawke, always urges the young people to take their place on the front lines of the struggle to help improve their communities. Back in 2004 I could see that it was a moment of great personal satisfaction for the former Prime Minister (and the whole team) as we celebrated Ben Lange becoming the first Indigenous engineering graduate from UNSW. Ben had attended the original Summer School in 1999 while a year 11 student at Smithfield State High School in Cairns. Working for Energy Australia, Ben has put his knowledge of country to work in the Hunter Valley of NSW. He has also contributed to the growth of the Summer School program by becoming its bighearted mentor, along with Leon Oriti and Courtney Thompson, a biomedical engineering graduate. The role modelling inspires others. As other universities join the challenge the summer school program is helping build the expertise that can be life changing. The University of Newcastle has held the engineering summer school program for three years and in January 2010 Perthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Curtin University of Technology will host its first program. Contact iaess@eng.unsw.edu.au or visit www.eng.unsw.edu.au/iaess Jeff McMullen, journalist and author, is a member of the board of Engineering Aid Australia. See www.engineeringaid.org/

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Encouraging Indigenous engineers Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) Managing Director Dr Jim Mantle said PB has proudly supported the Australian Indigenous Engineering Summer School since its inception. “This is one way we can encourage Indigenous Australians to get involved in infrastructure delivery. PB has seen the value of incorporating Indigenous knowledge in the design of infrastructure in communities across Australia,” said Dr Mantle. For the first time in January 2010 the Summer School ran in Perth and in Sydney. Summer School founder, Jeff Dobell, explained the Curtin University of Technology in Perth joined The University of New South Wales to host the program in Western Australia. “Previously we conducted the School only in New South Wales – but this second School confirms the success of the program.

Parsons Brinckerhoff offers financial support for the Indigenous Summer School, and work experience opportunities for students

“An even more important success measure is the number of Summer School participants who have gone on to study engineering. “Three years after the 2007 Summer School, 65 per cent of the students are at university,” said Dobell. One such student is Mr Leon Oriti who attended the 2007 Summer School and is studying Electrical Engineering/Science at The University of New South Wales. “In 2007 I travelled from Western Australia to participate – this year I went home to mentor the new students as they tour engineering facilities, visit project sites and meet with engineering role models. “The Summer School set me on a positive path and I enjoy sharing my personal experience with others,” said Mr Oriti.

Mr Ben Lange is a Summer School alumnus from 1999, Australia’s first Indigenous person to graduate as an Electrical Engineer and is a role model for young students. With his own successful career, Mr Lange mentors students each year. “For me the Summer School was a turning point in my life,” said Mr Lange. Entry for the Summer Schools is highly sought after and the selection process is based on enthusiasm, community spirit and an academic aptitude for engineering. The students attend without cost to themselves. Government, corporate and private sponsors contribute towards the costs to fund the Schools.

Environmental responsibilities increase demand for training

As Environmental Management Systems (EMS) have now become an essential part of our standard operating procedures and thought processes, it is becoming increasingly necessary for field and operational staff in the industries of engineering, manufacturing, construction, and mining to take on the responsibilities of the supervision of on-site environmental compliance. Phil Abernethy, Managing Director of Absorb Environmental Solutions points out, “Personnel such as OH&S Officers, Quality Assessors, and Production Managers have the appropriate experience and qualifications when it comes to their chosen field, the main issue that exists is how to tackle their new environmental management tasks. Many find they lack the knowledge of how to manage environmental impacts, including how to objectively complete an environmental site audit and to accurately measure the risk associated with each area.” “The objective of an EMS is not only to measure your site’s Environmental Compliance and manage risk, but to continually improve your site’s environmental performance. The successful result is to have confident, suitably trained staff with the right equipment and the correct site procedures to minimise potential harm to themselves, the environment, and the company.” Phil adds. Seeing this demand in the market, Phil responded by creating a Certificate IV in On-Site Environmental Management in 2007. After extensive industry consultation, he decided the best approach was to design a comprehensive nationally recognised course that developed environmental management skills on a practical level, covering the legislation, theory and practice of delivering positive environmental outcomes. Phil adds, “My philosophy has always been to provide practical environmental knowledge that allows participants to immediately apply new environmental awareness to their day to day work.” Significantly, this course has provided attendees with a practical foundation in the policies and principles to create and implement their own Site Environmental Management Plan. The course has now

Water Management Review 2010

been running for over three years with more than 750 participants from a wide range of industries and occupations, with the success of the course leading Phil to establish Absorb Training as a National Registered Training Organisation in early 2009. “I wanted to able to create a training environment where trainers could inspire people and foster a motivation to commit to good environmental governance. Rather than reacting from fear of government penalties, the most powerful motivation to comply with environmental standards should be a sense of personal and professional pride in our standard of conduct, and a desire to meet wider community expectations of us and the organisations we work for.” The result is a course based heavily on class interaction, where trainers and participants share their own knowledge for the benefit of all. Phil, who leads most courses, says, “One of the most beneficial ways of learning is hearing other peoples environmental problems, and discussing the best approach to issues such as Erosion and Sediment Control and Spill Management, where definitive solutions are hard to find.” The definition of “Leading Practice” for Spill Management suffers from similar problems to those encountered with compliance to Dangerous Goods Regulations. The problem is a lack of specific detail on what is required to meet “Leading Practice” and the result is a long list of areas that must be addressed. “Many people ask me what regulations govern the way a spill is dealt with,” Phil says, “All OH&S and Environmental Regulations require liquids spills to be cleaned up, but the frustrating part for the novice is none of them tell you how, however from my experience I can offer them clear guidance in this area.”

Another aspect of the course attendees have found valuable is participating in an Environmental Audit on a working site. Phil continues, “The usual comment I receive while on-site is how hard it is for personnel such as OH&S Officers to take off their “OH&S hat” and purely concentrate on the environmental aspects of a site. This really drives home how hard it can be when you are out in the field to detect possible environmental hazards without the proper training and awareness. Phil has now launched an Advanced Diploma in Environmental Management. Designed for Environmental Managers, this course builds on the Certificate IV course and concentrates on the practical application of environmental management and developing a deeper understanding of the issues which Environmental Managers are required to handle. It is also anticipated that participants will select practical exercises in which they have a particular interest in, such as Storm Water Management, Erosion & Sediment Control, and Energy Audits. The course will be running in early 2010.

Phil Abernethy

Managing Director Absorb Environmental Solutions P M E

1300 554 180 0412 187 575 phil@absorbenviro.com.au

Lisa McLean

Sales & Marketing Co-ordinator Absorb Environmental Solutions P

1300 554 180

0411 467 155

lisa@absorbenviro.com.au

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New Leadership: The Adaptive Management Paradigm We often hear that meeting the challenges of climatic stepchange requires a paradigm shift in water management. Researchers at Monash University’s National Urban Water Governance Program agree that talented leaders are essential to drive this change. Over the course of the 20th century the water industry made great strides towards the provision of safe, reliable and affordable water and sanitation services, building incrementally on a paradigm developed in the previous century. Current leaders developed their solid management and leadership skills in that environment of incremental improvement. However, driving rapid change in an environment of uncertainty requires of our leaders a radically different, new approach. The adaptive management paradigm, spelled out by Heifitz et al. in the Harvard Business Review*provides an alternative model. In his book Leaders Make the Future, the respected futurist Bob Johansen identifies a list of new adaptive leadership qualities required to succeed in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) future. This environment will sound very familiar to water managers, who must operate in the interface between natural and socio-political systems. In a VUCA environment, we need our leaders to thrive in an environment of continual change and disequilibrium, where absolute optimisation is impossible and resilience is the priority. To manage the pace of change, volume of information, and the complexity of new knowledge, leadership is distributed throughout organisations, not retained in a hierarchical structure. The new style of leaders does not let their people become complacent; rather they foster adaptation, evolving new practices by “failing early and failing often”. Most importantly, leaders are creative builders, as it is up to them to make the future. Among Gen Y water professionals many of these qualities occur naturally. We can accelerate their development as leaders by giving them as much responsibility as they can handle, and coaching them through challenges. During this mentoring process, senior managers not only offer experience and knowledge, but also take new skills from their younger reports. Only with such two-way growth can we confidently face the aging of the industry and the leadership gap. *July-August 2009 Andrew Kable Managing Director H2Otalent

H2Otalent is Australia’s water recruitment specialist. We partner with leading water organisations to identify, retain and develop leaders.

H2Oz Annual Report There are currently 30 subscribing organisations that are supporting and taking advantage of this unique industry initiative. Most subscribers signed up from September – December 2008, however in the last 6 months subscriber numbers have increased by 6 organisations, which has contributed an extra $77,000. This brings the total subscribing funds to $323,000 (exc. GST). The non financial 1st year budget was $300,000 and most of the significant establishment tasks have been completed with some significant cost savings. The project is tracking strongly against budget with over 60% of the funding ($196,200) being available for promotion over the next 6 months and potentially into 2010.

Subscribing organisations:

•

ACTEW Corporation

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Barwon Water

•

Central Highlands Water

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Coliban Water

•

East Gippsland Water

•

eWater CRC

•

GHD

•

Gippsland Water

•

Gold Coast Water

•

Goulburn Valley Water

•

Hunter Water Corporation

•

Land and Water Australia

•

Melbourne Water

•

MidCoast Water

•

National Water Commission

•

Parsons Brinckerhoff

•

Queensland Water Commission

•

SA Water

•

SKM

•

South East Water

•

SunWater Limited

•

Sydney Water

•

Townsville City Council

•

Tyco Water

•

United Utilities Australia

•

URS Australia

•

Veolia Water

•

Water Corporation

•

Western Water

•

Yarra Valley Water

Water Management Review 2010

The H2Oz careers in water industry campaign aims to raise awareness and promote careers in the water industry. The industry-wide campaign plays a crucial part in AWA’s strategy to reduce the impact of the imminent skills shortage in the water industry.

The H2Oz Reference Group was formed in January 2009 and the group has held 4 formal meetings and liaised on a regular basis. The current members represent the various areas and entities involved in this campaign and the industry overall. Members include: •

Corinne Cheeseman, AWA (Chairperson)

•

Peter Mills, Sydney Water

•

Nicole Latham, Melbourne Water

•

Fiona Plant, Gippsland Water

•

Carolyn Thorson, Water Corporation

•

Renè Johnson, Parsons Brinckerhoff

•

Kelly Edmunds, URS

•

Erik Olbrei, National Water Commission

•

Alan Milward, Queensland Water Commission

•

Julian Gray, Smart Approved Water Mark

Over the last six months, the project has made exciting and significant progression with the establishment of a new water industry careers brand and the first phase of the website (www.h2oz.org. au) being completed. The most important achievements are listed below: - Initial H2Oz collateral has been designed such as carry bags, postcards and career flyers. We have taken advantage of opportunities to promote H2Oz at conferences, careers fairs and information seminars as well as feature in numerous AWA publications and external newspaper articles. - In May an underwater photo shoot and ‘the making of’ video were completed. This involved the industry’s own staff and showed a more tailored image and greater breadth of the water industry. The images will be used on the website and on collateral whilst the 5 minute footage will be on the H2Oz website and YouTube. - The custom designed recruitment system will be completed in June and will be actively used by organisations and candidates from July.

In the next 6 months of the new 2009-2010 financial year the H2Oz project focus will be on developing the website and initiating agreed marketing plan activities. The H2Oz website will feature a: recruitment system, water industry information, job profiles, education and training information, perspectives via interviews, case studies etc as well as news and events. The fundamental H2Oz website will culminate with an official Minister launch during National Water Week (19th - 24th October). The comprehensive marketing plan includes online and print options, attendance at careers fairs and more specific mediums such as trade magazines and social networking sites. Promotion will generate public awareness of the brand and the industry as well as directing visitors from job seekers to career advisors to the H2Oz website. It is hoped that thousands of site visits and return visits will be generated over the next financial year.

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PROSPECTUS H 2Oz CAREERS In WATER CAMPAIgn Attracting people to the water industry through an industry-wide employment recruitment campaign is an important part of a strategy to attract people to water industry careers. The Australian Water Association is seeking interest and investment from organisations for a national recruitment campaign, which has been developed in partnership with Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) and water industry representatives. Pooling funds through a coordinated national recruitment campaign, and positioning the water industry as a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sector of choiceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, will have long-term benefits for the industry nationally. This program has been endorsed by the Water Industry Skills Taskforce. Australian Water Association March 2009

T R U S T E D L E A D E R S H I P I n S U S TA I n A B L E WAT E R M A n A g E M E n T

High Performing Wetlands Demand Wastewater Rethink

Advances in constructed wetland technology have set new benchmarks for treatment performance, costeffectiveness and sustainability for wastewater treatment. Three large-scale world class constructed wetlands at West Byron, Lismore and Casino now have wastewater quality that regularly approaches ANZECC water quality guidelines. “These systems are the best performing in Australia and overseas.” said David Pont, head wetland designer for the Water and Carbon Group. Each system is different reflecting the versatility of wetland systems. The West Byron wetland system serves primarily to polish water treated by a modern Biological Nutrient Removal Plant (BNR). It also buffers storm and tourist surges that the BNR cannot cope with. The constructed wetland provides backup treatment to ensure no EPA

compliance violations when the BNR is temporarily offline. In Lismore NSW, wastewater enters South Lismore wetlands following primary treatment via a 1930’s trickling filter and pond system. The wetland provides outstanding performance comparable with the modern East Lismore BNR system. These systems were established about 10 years ago and have been improving with time. The wetland designs are based on best practise science from extensive international and local research to adapt the systems to Australian conditions. “Adaptive management was required to tailor the systems to local conditions” David said. “Outstanding long-term results verified by independent water quality monitoring has provided confidence in the science. The systems work because we have successfully integrated the engineering with the ecology”. The

table below summarises the treatment performances of West Byron and South Lismore Sewage Treatment Plants. Ongoing research in Australia and overseas where thousands of constructed wetlands are in operation is furthering the business case for constructed wetland technology. Wetlands offer substantial savings to build and operate, requiring very little energy and chemical inputs. They also cater for variable flows, provide high quality habitat for a range of wetland species and greatly enhance the amenity of wastewater treatment systems. Wetlands produce water that is close in composition to natural water hence it can be reused or discharged with less impact upon aquatic life.

Below: South Lismore Wetland system fed by 1930’s trickling filter

Above: Innovative reuse melaleuca forest, West Byron Sewage Treatment System. Initially planted to evapotranspire excess water, this forest is rapidly sequestering carbon. Its above ground components sequester up to 25tCO2e/ha/yr and its peat soils are estimated to store >1000tCO2e per hectare (Water and Carbon Group data, 2009).

West Byron

South Lismore

Average Total Nitrogen (mg/L)

Average Total Phosphorus (mg/L)

Influent (from BNR)

2.83

0.26

Effluent (from wetland)

0.81

0.13

% Reduction

71%

50%

Influent (from trickle filter)

10.1

3.5

Effluent (from wetland)

2.43

0.58

% Reduction

85%

83%

Table 1: Treatment Efficiency, West Byron and South Lismore Constructed Wetlands

Water Management Review 2010

Treatment Volume

Treatment Area

3 ML/day

6 ha (total is 17 ha)

3.5 ML/day

3.5 ha

139

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Water Management Review 2010

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Wide Bay Water Corp delivers WetSide park

Wide Bay Water Corporation has delivered WetSide Water Education Park to the seaside city of Hervey Bay, Queensland. WetSide is the first of its kind blending water education with outdoor fun through a zero-depth park that spurts with hundreds of fountains supplied with recycled stormwater treated on site. It’s fun, it’s free and it’s a phenomenal success for the water authority which supplies water services to the Hervey Bay and Maryborough region. Wide Bay Water CEO Tim Waldron said: “WetSide is the name of our new park and it really has been Wide Bay Water’s baby. “When we opened on December 6 it was literally nine months since the main construction contract was awarded. People from our organisation, as well as hundreds of local contractors, laboured long and hard during those months to deliver the project and their efforts were certainly worthwhile.” When asked about the name of the park, Mr Waldron said it was chosen because it’s short, to-the-point and a bit of fun. “Our slogans urge people to wet themselves and we generally are a bit cheeky with that,” he said. “But that’s part of the hybrid we’re creating between recreation and education. ‘Water Education Park’ describes the intellectual aspect of the park so we wanted its general tag, ‘WetSide’, to be informal and fun.”

Opening Day at WetSide... WBWC CEO Tim Waldron (left) with Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and Wayne Ahrens from PBS Property Group, the principal construction company.

He said Wide Bay Water conceived the project out of a desire to deliver change on Australia’s most pressing issue – the delivery of safe, reliable water supplies on what is the world’s driest inhabited continent. “We’re always interested in innovation,” said Mr Waldron. “So what we’re doing here is creating ‘infotainment’ so that people can learn about sustainable water use while enjoying themselves in a fun environment. We hope that making education fun will get the messages across more effectively than through traditional dry formats – if you’ll excuse the pun.” WetSide Water Education Park is located on a hectare of foreshore land between Seafront Oval and the Pialba Caravan Park. It has a main circular play area filled with 310 jets in a spiral formation which are used for interactive play as well as spectator displays. The park includes learning displays, water-spouting play equipment, a special TotSide area for under 5s and a FlipSide BoardRider where patrons can surf a static wave. There’s also a giant water screen and an onsite coffee shop.

WetSide sparkles by night.

“It’s important to remember that a key feature of WetSide is the recycled rainwater that flows through it. We’re harvesting Pialba’s stormwater network and treating that water on site,” said Mr Waldron. “In addition this park is

zero-depth. This is another innovation in water recreation and helps reduce water use and, critically, improve safety.” He added: “And while people are enjoying themselves WetSide should give them a sense of the value of clean, safe water and how important it is to our way of life. And how essential it is that we invest in the future of our country’s water supply. “Hundreds of water messages are placed subtly all around WetSide and the learning is intended to mimic osmosis. We hope just by walking around WetSide people will go away with a higher concentration of water awareness. Now that’s learning made fun.” • WetSide takes the science of water into the sunshine. It is in Hervey Bay, Queensland. • Visitors can get wet under hundreds of jets and spouts in its main play area which operates both in gentle play mode and high-powered show mode when the fountains dance to music. • The park is filled with water messages, delivered in short, dripfeed style. • The park is supplied with stormwater which is harvested into a 500,000 litre tank beneath an adjacent carpark. The water is treated on site through the continuous microfiltration plant which visitors can see in operation.

Building a new hydrological modelling platform for Australia Water use in Australia is undergoing a revolutionary transformation, with public concern about water security and river health decline driving generational change in policy and management, according to Professor Gary Jones, Chief Executive of eWater Cooperative Research Centre. ‘More than any time in our history, it is fundamental that water is used more wisely and more efficiently, for both human and environmental purposes,’ Professor Jones said. ‘To achieve this requires the ability to understand the myriad physical, environmental and socioeconomic interactions influencing modern water resource management as well as the capacity to repeatedly, transparently and efficiently analyse different water management and climatic scenarios.’ Professor Jones said that water systems modelling has become a mission critical tool to support these objectives. ‘The planning and options analysis that must be undertaken by water managers – daily, seasonal and long-term – is just too complex to do without models.’

Linking science, industry and government

eWater Cooperative Research Centre which is led by Professor Jones, was established in 2005 with the mission to develop a new generation of integrated water resources modelling system that could be used by all governments and sectors. Professor Jones said that eWater is developing different modelling applications for different users through eWater Source, an integrated water modelling platform. ‘eWater Source provides the platform for organisations in the water industry to collect, organise, manage and analyse complex information from a range of disciplines and fields of knowledge. ‘For example, our tools, River Manager, River Operator, Watercast, and Urban Regional are all model configurations which are being built on, and from, the Source platform. ‘This will enable faster, more consistent, more transparent and more extensive decision making, whether the focus is climate change, water reform, securing

Water Management Review 2010

water supply for rural and urban use, or protecting catchments and river health.’ Professor Jones said that eWater would also continue to provide utility products to help those involved in land and water management or related research and development through the eWater Toolkit (www.toolkit.net.au). ‘The eWater Toolkit is a web-based distribution point for hydrological, ecological and catchment management models and databases such as the popular tools RAP, RRL, Aquacycle, CLASS and SedNet,’ he said. ‘eWater Toolkit continues to go from strength to strength with more than 10,000 members, including more than 3,500 overseas.’

‘Our focus catchment program, which started last year, is ensuring that we will develop a national modelling system that is adaptable to meet the needs of Australian governments for at least the next decade, as well as generating significant on-ground benefits for partners. ‘We are gaining critical insights from the work which are being used to refine and improve our software. More importantly, our models are helping partners to clarify problems and develop integrated water and land use solutions from Cape York in Queensland to the Mount Lofty Ranges in South Australia. For more information, contact info@ewatercrc.com.au.

eWater Source in the real world

Professor Jones said that the development of eWater Source had reach the stage where model prototypes and beta versions have been delivered to partner organisations, and work is beginning to test and trial many components in real-world situations.

eWater model, Watercast, is being used to model land use and effects of changes in land management on runoff and water quality into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. Photo: Cameron Dougall

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eWater Source will provide access to better information, sooner, when making critical water management decisions. eWater is building its products to enable organisations in the water industry to collect, organise, manage and analyse complex information from a range of disciplines and fields of knowledge. This seamless information flow is designed to allow managers to make timely decisions based on the best available information, as well as enabling these decisions to be supported by evidence based on the latest science and effectively communicated to others.

eWaterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new-generation water management modelling system will provide an integrated, supported and stable national system for Australia. One that is adaptable to meet the hydrological modelling needs of Australian agencies and authorities for the next decade and beyond. eWater Source is designed to be configured to an organisationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s specific needs, whether the focus is climate change, water reform, securing water supply for rural and urban use, or protecting catchments and river health.

BMT WBM is one of Australia’s premier environmental consultancies. With over 30 years experience, and a team of more than 60 well qualified and highly personable staff, we offer considerable resources and vast expertise in a range of specialist disciplines: • Catchment and stormwater management • Water quality modelling and assessment • Integrated Water Cycle Management • Environmental impact assessment studies and plans • Marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecology • Coastal, estuary and river processes and management

• Hydrology and floodplain management • Water efficiency and auditing • Integrated GIS and mapping solutions • Climate change planning and risk assessment • Field data collection and analysis • TUFLOW, flood and tide simulation software www.tuflow.com

www.bmtwbm.com.au

BMT WBM Partnering to build the next generation of water management tools Few discussions on water management in Australia are made without reference to our continent’s highly variable climate, which by global standards is significant. Climatic variability, however, is not the sole challenge facing water managers across the country. Australia’s high per capita water use, widely distributed and growing population, ageing infrastructure, water entitlements and environmental flows, pricing and regulatory reform, and the degraded condition of catchments are all key challenges. Dr Matthew Hardy, a senior environmental engineer with BMT WBM in Melbourne and Urban Product Leader with the eWater CRC said that in order to facilitate the exploration, understanding and adoption of integrated and multi-disciplinary strategies to address these issues, water sector practitioners require new modelling tools capable of dealing with the complexities of integrated management strategies. ‘These tools are required to support the broader decision frameworks in which

Water Management Review 2010

policy and legislation are developed and implemented,’ Dr Hardy said. ‘For this reason, BMT WBM is proud to be at the forefront of the development of the next generation of water management tools through its partnership with eWater CRC. ’The eWater product portfolio includes tools to support such practices as operating river systems to optimise environmental and economic outcomes, integrating systems for efficient urban water management, managing catchments under varying climate and land-use scenarios as well as tools for developing monitoring programs and decision support systems for guiding investment in river and catchment restoration. ‘Not only is BMT WBM at the cutting edge of model development but we are also pleased to be partnering with eWater in the trial application of its tools.’ Dr Hardy said that one such application is exploring the use of integrated urban water management as a potential

means for achieving sustainable water supply management in the Australian Capital Territory. ‘Using a combination of software decision-support tools and decisionscience research, the ‘focus catchment’ trial is helping ACT water managers investigate optimal use of water sources while minimising the region’s urban ecological footprint.’ He said the focus catchment trial is one of eight eWater trials underway in Australia, directly applying eWater’s next-generation software and local research to urban water management issues in selected locations across the country. ‘The trials will ensure there is a close alignment between user needs and the development of software as well as fostering best practice modelling approaches throughout Australia.’

145

New water demand management programs at Sydney Water Sydney Water’s annual water conservation report showed once again that for 2008-09 it’s customers continued to use water efficiently. In fact water efficiency programs are now saving 85,848 million litres (ML) a year compared to last year’s figure of 76,163 ML

Sydney Water first developed a water conservation strategy in 1995 to reduce demand and meet targets set in the 1995 Operating Licence. The strategy was significantly expanded in late 1999. Sydney Water’s program relies on an adaptive management process and learning from experience, involving a planning, delivery, evaluation and review cycle. Sydney Water has implemented a range of specific and successful demand management programs through the Every Drop Counts (EDC) Business Program. They include one to one partnerships with Sydney’s biggest water-using customers and this highly successful program established in 2001 is saving 42ML/d. In order to ensure that the EDC Business programs remain effective Sydney Water

Water Management Review 2010

has always been responsive to changing business needs.

New approaches and projects include: 1. EDC Online website Lack of information about water consumption, water costs and opportunities for water savings are often barriers to improved management of water. To help customers access water use records and determine savings opportunities, Sydney Water established the EDC Online website in late 2008. It was developed in consultation with business customers, and promotes sustainable water management by improving business access to water management data.

147

EDC Online allows users to monitor their water use Key Performance Indicators against industry benchmarks online, it also allows access to continuous online water monitoring data. This reduces barriers to accessing and analysing water monitoring information and improves the use of monitoring as a management tool.

2. Top 100 monitoring program The Top 100 Monitoring Program helps Sydney Waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest water using customers improve water management by funding the installation of data loggers and two years of continuous online water use monitoring. This service gives customers online, real time access to consumption data from main meters and sub meters. This will help companies respond to leaks and equipment malfunctions more quickly, saving water and money.

3. Working with small and medium water users A significant shift for the EDC program in recent years has been the development of strategies for small and medium water using businesses. This has been driven by customer demand and the potential for water efficiencies in these businesses. The hospitality sector is characterised by a large number of small food and beverage outlets. Social research confirmed that barriers to improved water efficiency in these businesses include lack of information about water use, lack of time to engage with demand management programs, and difficulty accessing capital for efficiency improvements. Industry sector research also identified that many businesses were using water intensive and inefficient pre rinse spray valves. Sydney Water offered to replace existing old style pre-rinse spray valves with WELS 6-star rated Smart Rinse valves free of charge. So far the EDC Business Program has replaced more than 3000 prerinse spray valves with Smart Rinse valves, saving over 800 ML of water.

4. Strategic partnerships targeting different business sectors. The EDC Business Program is overcoming barriers to engaging new customers by working with strategic partners, such as local governments and industry organisations. The Council Partnership Pilot Program (CPPP) is an example of the EDC Business Program working strategically to assist SMWU businesses to implement practical and cost-effective measures to reduce water use. The CPPP is co-funding ten Water Project Officers with 12 local councils to work with SMWU businesses in their local government area. The officers are being trained by Sydney Water, and will deliver the CPPP to 500 SMWU business customers. The project officers will assess each business to identify water and wastewater efficiencies, and they will also review the businessesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; energy use, waste generation and other environmental factors.

5. The future and Holistic water cycle management for business. Since its establishment in 2001, the EDC Business Programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drive to remain effective has been key to engaging with business and meeting demand

management targets. The program has been very successful at achieving cost effective water savings and improving business water efficiency. Over time the focus of the EDC Business Program has shifted from demand management, to enabling business water efficiency. The links between water efficiency and trade waste management, and customer service preferences emphasise the need for Sydney Water to help customers achieve sustainable and holistic water cycle management. Sydney Water will be combining the functions of water efficiency and businesses wastewater source management control to help businesses achieve this. By taking this next step we are ensuring water demand management programs remain relevant flexible and effective by adopting the principles of holistic water cycle management for businesses.

Absorb Environmental Solutions

AJ Lucas Group Ltd

Branch Offices: Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne

Head Office: 394 Lane Cove Rd, Macquarie Park 2113

Telephone: 1300 554 180 Facsimile: 1300 139 886 Email: aes@absorbenviro.com.au Web: www.absorbenviro.com.au Number of Employees: 20+ Services: Our Certificate IV in On-Site Environmental Management (30657QLD) is the only one of its kind in Australia and provides you with a Nationally Recognised standard in practical environmental skills and management, Legislation, and Environmental Duty of Care. This comprehensive five day course covers all you need to know for day-to-day measures that help you ensure that your site is Environmentally Compliant. When you graduate, you will be well equipped to identify and implement critical aspects of an Environmental Management System for your site. This course has been running for over three years with more than 750 participants from a wide range of industries and occupations. To get the most from your expertise of your trainers, class numbers are strictly limited. Courses are running in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Townsville, Perth, Canberra, Adelaide, and Darwin. Our Advanced Diploma in Environmental Management has now been launched and will be running in early 2010. Designed for Environmental Managers, this course builds on the Certificate IV course and concentrates on the practical application of environmental management and developing a deeper understanding of the issues which Environmental Managers are required to handle. See our advertisement on the back page for more details, or contact us now on 1300 554 180!

Branch Offices: Melbourne: Level 8, 160 Queen Street Brisbane: Level 10, Waterfront Place, 1 Eagle St Perth: Level 4, 1060 Hay St (8 Offices in Australia) Telephone: (02) 9490 4000 Facsimile: (02) 9490 4200 Email: mail@lucas.com.au Web: www.lucas.com.au Number of Employees: 1,200 Infrastructure Engineer Contact: CEO: Allan Campbell GM Water: Michael Arbon BDM: Jason Freund GM Pipelines & HDD: Kevin Lester Director Major Projects: David Dick-Smith GM Construction & Civil: Ian Redfern Services: Pipelines – Oil & Gas, Water & Waste Water, Trenchless Technology, Building Construction, Civil Engineering, Telco cable installation

Aqualab Scientific Pty Ltd

AVK AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Head Office: 36/10 Gladstone Road Castle Hill NSW 2154

Head Office: 559A GRAND JUNCTION ROAD, WINGFIELD, SA 5013

Telephone: (02) 9894 4511 Facsimile: (02) 9894 4522 Email: sales@aqualab.com.au Web: www.aqualab.com.au Number of Employees: 8 Importer Contact: CEO: Adam Merhab Products: Brands that you have known and trusted for years. HYDROLAB Water Quality Multiprobes measure and store temp, pH, conductivity, LDO dissolved oxygen, self-cleaning turbidity, chlorophyll a, blue-green algae, redox, depth etc.. in one rugged multiprobe. Used for monitoring lakes, rivers, estuaries, oceans, groundwater and wastewater. DIVER Temperature/Level and optional Conductivity Data Loggers for groundwater monitoring. TURNER DESIGNS Fluorometers for chlorophyll a, blue-green algae and dye trace studies OTT Level Sensors & Data Loggers Services: Aqualab Scientific is an industry leader in the supply and service of water quality and level monitoring instruments. With over 18 years experience, put us to the test and see why the biggest users of water quality multiprobes in Australia prefer working with Aqualab Scientific, your environmental water quality instrument specialist.

Water Management Review 2010

Telephone: (08) 8368 0900 Facsimile: 08 8368 0970 Email: info@avkvalves.com.au Web: www.avkvalves.com.au Number of Employees: 50-100 Contact: Managing Director: Karsten Pedersen General Manager Sales & Marketing: Darren Gibbons Business Development Managers: QLD & NT: John McTavish NSW, VIC & TAS: Ian Simpson WA: Jim Atkinson Technical Support & Projects: Dale Ormond Customer Service: Diane Younger Products: With an extensive network coverage throughout Australia and New Zealand, AVK is committed to continued supply of: • VALVES; Gate, Check, Butterfly, Air Release, Service Connection and Knife Gate • HYDRANTS; Underground Fire Hydrant, Spring Hydrant and Isolation Valves • COUPLINGS; Straight, Stepped, Flange Adaptors & End Caps • DISMANTLING JOINTS; Thrust restrained type • SURFACE BOXES; Plastic types

149

Bintech Systems

Black & Veatch

Head Office: Melbourne

Head Office: Level 32, 100 Miller Street, North Point, North Sydney, NSW 2060

Telephone: (03) 9467 7300

Branch Offices: Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth

Facsimile: (03) 9467 7900

Telephone: (02) 9019 0600

Email: sales@bintech.com.au

Facsimile: (02) 9019 0610

Web: www.bintech.com.au

Email: KellyE@bv.com

Number of Employees: 10

Web: www.bv.com

Contact: CEO: Michael Bindon General Manager: Michael Bindon State Manager: George Benca Sales Manager: George Benca Product Manager: George Benca

Products: Flow Meters – Ultrasonic Transit Time and Doppler Flow meters, Magnetic Flow Meters, Open Channel Flow Meters, Custom Spool Pieces. Line sizes from 3mm to 6000mm Analytical Meters – Portable and Online meters measuring pH/ORP, Residual Chlorine, Turbidity, Suspended Solids, Dissolved Ozone, Dissolved Oxygen, Conductivity, Fluoride, Ammonia and Chlorine leak detection. Level – Ultrasonic Level Transmitters and Controllers, Magnetic Level Gauges, Point Level Switches, Sludge Level Systems, Wireless Systems

Number of Employees: 9,000+ globally Contact: Managing Director, South Asia Pacific: Eamonn Kelly Services: Black & Veatch is a leading global engineering, consulting and construction company specializing in infrastructure development in energy, water, telecommunications, management consulting, federal and environmental markets. Founded in 1915, Black & Veatch develops tailored infrastructure solutions that meet clients’ needs and provide sustainable benefits. Solutions are provided from the broad line of service expertise available within Black & Veatch, including conceptual and preliminary engineering services, engineering design, procurement, construction, financial management, asset management, program management, construction management, environmental, security design and consulting, management consulting and infrastructure planning. With $3.2 billion in revenue, the employee-owned company has more than 100 offices worldwide and has completed projects in more than 100 countries on six continents. Black & Veatch’s global water business provides innovative, technology-based solutions to utilities, governments and industries worldwide. Local project teams work with multinational water and wastewater treatment process experts to address site-specific challenges through a broad range of consulting, study, planning, design, design-build and construction management services

Services: Field service and technical support, engineering for custom solutions. Operator training services.

BMT WBM Pty BMT WBM is Ltd one of Australia’s premier environmental consultancies.

Campbell Scientific Australia

With over Brisbane, 30 years Queensland experience, and a team of more than 60 well qualified and highly personable Head Office: staff, we offer considerable resources and vast expertise in a range of specialist disciplines: Branch Offices: Newcastle, Melbourne, Sydney, Ballina, Mackay, Perth

• Catchment management Telephone: (07) and 3831stormwater 6744 • Water(07) quality modelling and assessment Facsimile: 3832 3627

• Integrated Water Cycle Management • Environmental impact assessment studies and plans Web: www.wbmpl.com.au www.bmtwbm.com.au • Marine, freshwater and or terrestrial ecology Number of Employees: 165 • Coastal, estuary and river processes and management Email: wbm@wbmpl.com.au or wbm@bmtwbm.com.au

Contact: CEO and Managing Director: Anthony McAlister Business Development Manager: Greg Fisk

Head Office: Townsville Telephone: +61 7 4772 0444

• Hydrology and floodplain management Facsimile: +61 7 4772 0555 • Water efficiency and auditing Email: info@campbellsci.com.au • Integrated GIS and mapping solutions Web: www.campbellsci.com.au • Climate change planning and risk assessment Contact: • Field data collection and analysis Managing Director: Steve Bailey • TUFLOW, flood and tide simulation software Technical Sales & Support: Simon Leeds www.tuflow.com

Manager - Product Development: Alex Thomas

Products: TUFLOW: The TUFLOW brand offers a range of numerical modelling software relating to water and environment. The products are scientifically and commercially proven, and are used by hundreds of organisations around the world. Our products include:

•

TUFLOW HD: A 1D/2D finite difference hydrodynamic flood modelling tool. TUFLOW HD is widely applied, with user interfaces available through a GIS environment and 3rd party interfaces (SMS, XP-Software).

•

TUFLOW FV: A 2D finite volume (flexible mesh) hydrodynamic modelling tool, primarily for coastal modelling applications.

• • •

TUFLOW AD: An advection dispersion modelling add-on.

Products: Data loggers, Sensors, Communications, Measurement & Control Peripherals, Software, Tripods & Towers, Weather Stations, Eddy Covariance, Time-Domain Reflectometry Applications Services: Training, Calibration, Repairs

www.bmtwbm.com.au

TUFLOW ST: A cohesive sediment transport modelling add-on. TUFLOW MORPH: A sediment transport and morphological modelling add-on.

Services: Consulting services include: floodplain management; hydrology and flood hydraulics; waterway management; estuarine and river hydraulics and sedimentation; water quality; catchment and stormwater management; integrated urban cycle water management; marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecology; coastal engineering and oceanography; environmental planning and impact assessment studies; climate risk assessment and planning; water efficiency auditing; GIS and data management; and field data collection.

City of Onkaparinga

Coe Drilling Pty Ltd

Head Office: Ramsay Place, PO Box 1 Noarlunga Centre SA 5168

Head Office: 11-13 Gibbs Street, Labrador, Queensland 4215

Branch Offices: The Hub, Aberfoyle Park SA 5159 St Peters Tce, Willunga SA 5172

Telephone: (07) 5500 5222 • Facsimile: (07) 5500 6444

Braches: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Telephone: (08) 8384 0666

Email: e.foley@coedrilling.com.au • Web: www.coedrilling.com.au Number of Employees: 30

Facsimile: (08) 8382 8744

Contact: CEO: Stephen Coe General Manager: Eamon Foley State Manager: Jim Blakeney

Web: www.onkaparingacity.com Contact: CEO: Jeff Tate

Products: HDD, Microtunnelling, Pipelines

Services: Local government organisation

Services: Coe Drilling Pty Ltd is a medium sized utility installations company, which was established in 1998 to offer clients, cost effective Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) services for the Australasian/ Oceania markets. We are an innovative company that specializes in the Design and Construction of Horizontal Directionally Drilled Crossings throughout the Pipeline, Communications, Water & Sewer Industries. The company has available highly mobile and cost effective drilling spreads capable of Installations from. • 8” diameter over 300m with its Mini Rigs. • 16” diameter over 1500m with the Midi Rig. • 36” diameter in excess of 1800m with the Maxi Rigs. • 30” diameter in excess of 1800m with the Maxi Pipe Pusher. We have a proven track record in all aspects of the industry from: Oil & Gas, Telecommunications, Water & Wastewater

COMPANY PROFILE

Coe’s senior management have been involved in the trenchless and drilling industries for over 20 years and all have worked for major international HDD companies prior to working at Coe Drilling. Our Directional drillers and site staff have travelled far a field working with many of the worlds leading HDD companies gaining valuable experience which Coe Drilling puts to use on its projects both here in Australia and overseas.

CUBIC SOLUTIONS

800,000 L Water Harvesting tank at Windy Hill, Home of “The Bombers”, Essendon Football Club.

COMPANY NAME: Culligan Water www.cubicsolutions.com.au 1300-4-CUBIC Cubic Solutions Pty Ltd

Culligan Water

CompanyHead head office : 1 FarrDrive, Street, Marrickville, NSW 2204 Office: 13 Carrington Sunshine VIC Head Office: 1 Farr Street, Marrickville, NSW 2204 Branch offices: Sydney, Brisbane, Perth

Branch Offices: NSW – Stacey Trip Mobile – 0412 069 800 VIC - Elizabeth Dimoulas Mobile - 0420 976 336 QLD - Gail Ring Mobile - 0417 613 948

Telephone: 0431 581 901 Branch Offices: Facsimile: (03) 9363 6641

Environmentally Sustainable Solutions

Email: david.knight@cubicsolutions.com.au NSW – Stacey Trip Telephone: (02) 9335 2800 Web:Harvesting www.cubicsolutions.com.au Water Stormwater Detention Stormwater Pipe069 Geosynthetics Grates and Pits Energy Saving Lighting staceytrip@culligan.com.au Mobile – 0412 800 Facsimile: (02) 9560 1944 Contact: CEO: Trevor Loffel Elizabeth GM: DavidDimoulas Knight

Wind Turbines

Email: info@culligan.com.au

VIC Web: www.culliganwater.com.au edimoulas@culligan.com.au Mobile - 0420 976 336 Number of Employees: 45

Products: Stormtech underground water storage chambers, QLD - Gail Ring ADS HDPE stormwater pipe, Nyloplast pits, Swift wind generators, Solar PV panels. gring@culligan.com.au Mobile - 0417 613 948

Phone: 02 9335 2800

Manufacturer, Importer, Exporter Contact: General Manager: Timothy Gordon Sales Manager: Richard Garlick

Fax: 02 9560 1944 Products:

Full range of water treatment solutions & products for industry, Laboratory, Potable Water, Waste Water Reuse or Process water use.

Email: info@culligan.com.au

Website:

www.culliganwater.com.au

Commercial Water Softeners, Commercial Chloride Anion Exchangers (Dealkinalizers), Commercial Water Filters, Commercial Reverse Osmosis, Commercial Deionization, Public access water stations to provide high quality filtered water to residents and visitors

Number of Employees: 45

Manufacturer: Y Importer: Y Exporter: Y

CONTACTS

Services: Culligan Water has a history of over 70 years servicing all industries that benefit from the advantages of quality water. With Culligan Water, industry can be confident of the quality of the services they need. Operating in 100 countries around the globe, you can be sure you are dealing with the people who know water. We design treatment programs to fit all needs of industry; that way, we reduce labour costs, increase equipment life span, and lower operating, maintenance, and repair costs. Our expertise in water treatment enables us to provide economic, efficient solutions to your requirements,Timothy from a few Gordon litres of ultra high purity water a day, through to systems that will treat and Manager: re-use millions of litres per day.

CEO: NA

General

State Manager: NA

Sales Manager: Richard Garlick

Product Manager: NA Water Management Review 2010

Services:

151

Custom Built Stainless

indigenous

Head Office: Griffith NSW 2680

Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

Telephone: (02) 6962 3666

Head Office: 16-18 Mort St, CANBERRA ACT 2600

Facsimile: (02) 6962 3699

The Department has offices located in all States and Territories

Email: chill@cbstainless.com.au Web: www.cbstainless.com.au Number of Employees: 15 Manufacturer & Importer Contact: General Manager: Craig Hill Operations manager: Travis Millis Products: Custom Built Stainless is an Australian owned company, located in the heart of the Riverina – Griffith NSW.CBS prides itself on specialising in: irrigation design, stainless steel fabrication, design engineering, pipe work, pump filtration, mainline fittings ....with emphasis on stainless steel within the water transfer industry. Services: Custom Built Stainless offers a complete range of engineering services to meet our customer’s requirements. Support and advice. Provide drawings used for design concept, through to installation, depending upon customer requirements. Deliver competitive pricing and quotations for all size of projects in a timely manner, to ensure your tender meets deadlines with minimal fuss. Project management - clients are contacted regularly to be advised of project status or any unexpected delays, so their projects can run as smoothly as possible. Dispatch and deliver quality components on time, on budget and to the highest expectations of workmanship and presentation, through our in house QA system. Feedback is vital to CBS as it strives to be the best it can to achieve exceptional results for its clients. Manufacturing: Manufacturing Mainline fittings, Pump/filtrations, Pipe work, Manifolds, Stainless Steel Welding, Mild Steel Welding/Galvanising, Intricate Components.

Degrémont

employment

program

Telephone: (General) 1300 363 079 (Switchboard) 13 33 97 Web: www.deewr.gov.au

Number of Employees: 6000 - working across Australia and overseas Contact: Secretary: Lisa Paul, PSM Associate Secretary: Robert Griew Services: The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations is the lead government agency providing national leadership in education and workplace training, transition to work and conditions and values in the workplace.

Helping employers find tHe rigHt staff

Is your organIsatIon facIng a skIlls shortage?

We work in collaboration with the states and territories and have offices and agencies throughout Australia and overseas allowing an active, national and client-focused approach to how we work with you.

Indigenous Australians may be able to

We are committed to providing easy and meet your needs. If your organisation is support informative access to our services and programs directly with our clients and looking to and offerwork employment opportunities stakeholders to ensure expectations are met.

to Indigenous Australians through cadetships, traineeships or apprenticeships, the Australian Government has a range of assistance available to help employers to find, train and retain employees.

For more information go to www.deewr.gov.au or call Department of the Environment, the Indigenous Employment Line Water, Heritage and the Arts on 1802 102

Head Office: PO Box 3246, Rhodes, NSW 2138 Level 7. 5 Rider Boulevard, Rhodes, NSW 2138

Telephone: 1800 218 478

Telephone: (02) 8759 7900

Web: www.environment.gov.au/water

Email: contact.us@degremont.com Web: www.degremont.com.au Services: Degrémont is a World Water Treatment Specialist and a key player in sustainable water development. We work with local authorities and industry participants to design, build, operate and maintain facilities for drinking water production, desalination, wastewater treatment, industrial and mining water solutions and sludge processing. As a subsidiary of the Suez Ennvironnement group, Degrémont is an international organization with more than 4,500 employees in more than 70 countries around the world. Degrémont offers an extensive range of turnkey solutions tailored to our customer’s needs. We provide a full range of services from ad hoc technical assistance to long-term operation of complete facilities. Through Degrémont Technologies we provide a comprehensive range of water treatment products such as Aquasource Ultrafiltration Membranes, Innoplana Dryers and UV or Ozone Water Disinfection by Ozonia. Underpinning Degrémont’s growth are corporate values such as our commitment to rigorous business ethics and our unreserved respect for our customers, shareholders, staff, suppliers, subsidiaries, local communities and the environment.

Services: The Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts is delivering Water for the Future, the Government’s 10-year, $12.9 billion initiative to prepare Australia for a future with less water. A10-0019

Facsimile: (02) 9332 6882

The Department develops and implements national policy, programs and legislation to protect and conserve Australia’s environment and heritage, and to promote Australian arts and culture.

• Multistage pumps • Centrifugal pumps • Helical rotor pumps • Water circulator pumps • Peristaltic pumps • Submersible pumps

• Reverse osmosis • Ion exchange • High purity • Ultra-violet • Service programs

PumPing & Water treatment

DELTAwater solutions

15/140 Wecker Road Mansfield Brisbane Q.4122 t: 07 3426 1233 f: 07 3422 1829 e: watertreatment@dowdens.com.au www.dowdens.com.au

Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment

Head Office: Unit 6/5 Friesian Close, Sandgate, NSW, 2304, Australia. (also manufacturing plant and water testing laboratory)

Head Office: Dowdens Pumping Sales & Services P/L Mackay

Branch Offices: More than 60 selling agents in Australia, Vanuatu and South Africa

Branch Offices: 15/140 Wecker Road, Mansfield Brisbane QLD 4122

Telephone: 1800 283 600 Facsimile: (02) 4960 9877 Email: info@deltawater.com.au

Telephone: (07) 3426 1233 Facsimile: (07) 3422 1829

Web: www.deltawater.com.au

Email: chris.orr@dowdens.com.au

Contact: Sales Manager: Dianne Panov Product Manager: Alex Panov

Web: www.dowdensbrisbane.com.au Contact: Branch Manager: Chris Orr

Services and Products: DELTA Magnetic Water Conditioners are 100% Australian owned and manufactured. The conditioners, which treat water through powerful magnetic fields, are proving a mighty weapon against mineral and salinity problems in water supplies and soils across Australia and overseas.

Products: Wilden double diaphragm pumps and most other pump brands, Purion & Matten Water Teatment Products

A magnetic field created by the DELTA conditioners reduces water surface tension and increases its ability to retain oxygen. The changes allow minerals to crystallize in the water instead of surfaces such as the inside of pipes, and reduce the impact of salt molecules on plants and soil.

1. Industrial Pumping Solutions 2. Water Treatment for Industrial

Magnetically treated water allows soaps, cleaning chemicals and fertilisers to work better and is particularly good for recirculation systems such as air-conditioners and swimming pools. Also, for something like stock-watering systems, once a pipe is clean it stays clean, as long as water continues flowing.

Services:

& Commercial enterprises

Diston Sewage Purification

eWater Cooperative Research Centre

Head Office: 2/29 Hightech Pl, Lilydale Vic 3140 Australia

Head Office: Innovation Centre, University of Canberra, ACT 2601

Telephone: +61 3 9735 0122 Facsimile: +61 3 9735 0133 Email: matt@distonsewage.com.au

Telephone: +61 2 6201 5168 Facsimile: +61 2 6201 5038

Web: www.distonsewage.com.au

Email: info@ewatercrc.com.au

Services: Diston Sewage Purification is deeply concerned with the current environment challenges in today’s society. Water saving, energy efficiency and environmental engineering are all areas we focus on.

Contact: CEO: Professor Gary Jones Sales Manager: Tim Blackburn

Problem Solving Solutions to challenging problems are made easier with a knowledge-base spanning 40 years in the waste water industry, plus a consortium of other proven consultants to call upon. Specialisation We specialize in environmental improvement plans, EPA works approval and water harvesting. We are known to the EPA for a proven track record of solving difficult environmental problems. Confidence With any large investment in infrastructure confidence in ongoing support is a must. We have mastery over all technology used in this industry, and pride ourselves on having excellent customer service standards. Cradle to Grave Our products have proven to be strong, stable and life long water management systems, and best of all requiring very little maintenance. Trouble Shooting Prior to completion of the project our installation team will brief you on any possible hazards and any signs of required maintenance. Call Out In case of emergency we can assist over the phone or, if a call out is required, be on site within 24 hours.

Water Management Review 2010

Web: www.ewatercrc.com.au

Products: Decision-support tools for the water management industry. eWater Source eWater Toolkit, www.toolkit.net.au River Manager River Operator Watercast Eco Modeller Urban Developer Urban Regional music eFlow Predictor Catchment Planner

153

GE Sensing & Inspection

GWMWater

H2Otalent

Email: gesi@ge.com

Head Office: 11 McLachlan Street, Horsham 3400

Head Office: Level 3, 50 York St., Sydney NSW 2000

Web: www.gesensinginspection.com

Telephone: 1300 659 961

Telephone: (02) 8003 4784

Number of Employees:

Email: info@gwmwater.org.au

Email: info@h2otalent.com

Contact: State Manager: Hong-Hwei Ng Product Manager: Ivan Tew

Web: www.gwmwater.org.au

Web: www.h2otalent.com

Number of Employees: 240

Number of Employees: <10

Contact: Managing Director : Jeff Rigby

Contact: CEO: Andrew Kable

Services: Provision of water and sewerage services for urban, rural and business customers in the Wimmera Mallee region of Victoria

Products: Contingent and retained search and selection, retention consulting, leadership training

Services: About GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies is a leading innovator in advanced measurement, sensor-based and inspection solutions that deliver accuracy, productivity and safety to customers in a wide range of industries, including oil & gas, power generation, aerospace, transportation and healthcare. The business is part of GE Enterprise Solutions and has more than 40 facilities in 25 countries worldwide.

Services: H2Otalent is Australia’s water recruitment specialist. We partner with leading water organisations and business units to identify, retain and develop leaders

Hatch

Hydro Tasmania Consulting

Head Office: Brisbane

Head Office: 89 Cambridge Park Drive, Cambridge, Tasmania 7170

Telephone: + 61 7 3166 7777 Web: www.hatch.com.au

Branch Offices: Level 25, 500 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Level 1, 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101 8 Greenhill Road, Wayville, South Australia, 5034

Number of Employees: 8,000 Globally

Telephone: (03) 6245 4500

Contact: Trevor Clarke: Senior Water Engineer. +61 2 4968 6811 Richard Thew: Technical Director, Water Asia Pacific. +61 7 3166 6322 Neil Wende: Business Development Manager – Water. +61 8 9428 5670

Facsimile: (03) 6245 4550

Facsimile: +61 7 3368 3754

Services: Hatch is among the world’s largest engineering consultancy firms, delivering safe and high quality projects to the mining, metals infrastructure and energy sectors. Hatch has a global reputation for innovative problem solving, multidiscipline engineering and project and construction management, derived from successful projects undertaken in more than 150 countries. Hatch Water provides investigations, planning design and delivery of water infrastructure projects. Our global outlook and ability to work collaboratively with clients, affiliated companies and partners is what sets us apart.

Email: consulting@hydro.com.au Web: www.hydrotasmaniaconsulting.com.au Number of Employees: 380 Contact: CEO: Vince Hawksworth General Manager: Scott Baddiley Sales and Product Managers: Power & Energy: David Apted Water & Environment: Tammy Chu Products: Ajenti: Ajenti is a new water management system that collects, transmits and presents water flow data, allowing clients to readily report, analyse and adjust water usage in real time using the internet. Services: Hydro Tasmania Consulting provides expert consulting services nationally and internationally. We can tailor an individual solution for your project in any of the following areas: • Renewable Energy • Power Engineering • Hydro power • Water management • Water infrastructure • Environmental management and planning • Climate change and sustainability

technology that can desalinate up to 97% of the feed water. By incorporating accurate pre-treatment and reverse osmosis, we’ve created an economical system with virtually zero reject stream.

Now there’s a solution to a problem.

For further information please go to our website: www.impulsehydro.com or call us on:

t. (07) 3283 1197

Hydro Innovations Pty Ltd

Impulse Hydro Pty Ltd

Head Office: 1/26 Day Street North, Silverwater, NSW 2128

Head Office: 9 Oasis Court (PO Box 3275) Clontarf QLD 4019

Telephone: (02) 9647 2700

Telephone: +61 7 3283 1197

Facsimile: 02 9647 2709

Facsimile: +61 7 3889 5255

Email: ggrant@hydroinnovations.com.au

Email: info@impulsehydro.com

Web: www.hydroinnovations.com.au

Web: www.impulsehydro.com

Number of Employees: 5

Number of Employees: 50

Importer

Manufacturer, Importer, Exporter

Contact: General Manager: Garry Grant

Contact: CEO: Earle Roberts Operations Manager: Suren Moodley

Products: • Gorman-Rupp self priming waste water and sewage pumps.

Products: Specialised pre-treatment, Ozone Foam Fractionator Columns, Reverse Osmosis plants, MVC Brine Concentrator (97% recovery rates), all available in relocatable or fixed plant configurations.

• Gorman-Rupp Packaged Pump Stations • Gorman-Rupp mobile sewage bypass pumps • Gorman-Rupp emergency standby pumps

Services: Specialised 3-stage water treatment to the Coal Seam Gas Industry and Industry/Municipals in general, consisting of tailor made pre-treatment, Reverse Osmosis and our unique licensed post treatment (Brine Concentration) technology.

Services: • Supplier of Pumps and Pump Packages to Municipal and Industrial Clients.

• Pump system design • Supplier of dewatering Pump units to the Mining and Quarrying Industry

• Supplier of Sewage bypass Pumps

ITT Our Water & Wastewater Products (Australia &isNew ITT’s history one ofZealand) pioneering achievement in product dev

submersible, motor Unit driven, pump. Since 1948, w Head Office: Sydney, 2, 2wastewater Capicure Drive, Eastern Creek, NSW 2766 • Submersible wastewater pumps Branch Office: • Solids handling submersibles • Slurry pumps Australia Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Devonport, • Propeller pumps Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Mt Isa,pumps • Mixers, aeratorsMelbourne, and recirculation Newcastle, Orange, Perth, Sydney, • Hydro turbine pumps Townsville Telephone: 13 19 14 Our Applications

Facsimile: +61 2 9832 6493 ITT Water & Wastewater is involved in a broad spectrum of a Email: enquiry.au@itt.com pumping, mixing, aeration, UV and Ozone applications. Web: www.ittwww.com Across Australia and New Zealand, we supply over 100,000 u New Zealand Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington • Municipal, industrial, commercial and domestic wastewa • Sewage treatment Telephone: 0800 33 19 14plants and storm water systems • Industrial processes Facsimile: +64 9 415 8687 • enquiriesnz@itt.com Dewatering and drainage Email: • Mining, tunnelling, quarrying, land reclamation Web: www.ittwww.com • Power Industry • Construction • Agriculture, aquaculture and irrigation • Raw water supply and treatment • Flood control • Energy conservation • Transfer, handling or treatment of waste and storm wate • Ultraviolet • Ozone

ITT Water & Wastewater is involved in a broad spectrum of a companies improve sewage handling, flood control, energy c

Our products are used extensively in mining as well as indust

What can ITT Water & Wastewater do f

Email: mail@icewarm.com.au

Integrated solutions for fluid handling are offered by ITT Wa James Hardie Pipes of wastewater. We provide a complete range of water, waste biological products Head Office:treatment, James Hardie Pipesfor filtration and disinfection, policies, this is done in the most efficient and environmental Branch Offices: Meeandah – 46 Randle Road 4008 Australia New Zealand Telephone: Ph: 13 191800 14 659 850 Ph: 0800 33 19 14 Email: enquiry.au@itt.com Email: enquiriesnz@itt.com Facsimile: 1800 639 908

Web: www.icewarm.com.au

Email: pipes@jameshardie.com.au

Number of Employees: <20

Web: www.jameshardiepipes.com.au

Contact: CEO: Mr. Richard Hopkins

Contact: State Manager: Jesper Jensen

International Centre of Excellence in Water Resources Management (ICE WaRM) Head Office: Level 4, 33 King William St, Adelaide SA 5000 GPO Box 860, Adelaide, SA 5001 Telephone: +61 8 8236 5200 Facsimile: +61 8 8236 5236

Postgraduate education in Water Resources Management Products and Services:

ICE WaRM provides a national focus and an international gateway for Australian expertise in water. ICE WaRM is a facilitator and broker of collaborative partnerships in water-related education, training and research. Education services include the award-winning, multi-university nested Master of Water Resources Management, incorporating Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate ter Mas options. Tailored training solutions can be delivered as intensive short courses (with that ) tersassessment (3 Semes with other needs could count towards an award qualification), technical study tours, or packaged ICEProfessional WaRM’s award-winning nested Master of as Development Programmes. ICE WaRM also facilitates trans-boundary, collaborative Water Resources Management adds breadth research programmes between multiple sector players. Set up in 2004 as an Australian Government and depth of knowledge and application of initiative, ICE WaRM is a consortium of Australian universities, with national and international research . Dip. Gradbodies skills in water resources organisations, watermanagement. management agencies, water industry ters)and enterprises in the public (2 Semes and private sectors. Research,

Water Planning

Funded by the National Water Commission, the new Water Planning stream is also offered externally, enabling students all over Australia to undertake studies at their convenience.

industry or k coursewor

t Grad. Cer r) te

(1 Semes

Select ion specialisat stream*

Domestic scholarships for Water Planning are available to remote and disadvantaged students for tuition fees. ICE Warm scholarships for tuition fees are also available for international students.

Please visit

Water Management Review 2010

www.icewarm.com.au for information on eligibility

4 core courses

Select ion specialisat stream* 4 core courses

*Specialisation streams: 1- Ecosystem & Catchment Management 2- Management of Water Infrastructure 3- Water Quality and treatment 4- Groundwater Hydrology/ Hydrogeology

Products: Concrete Piping, Drainage Solutions, Headwalls Services: Delivering Concrete Pipes solutions to Government and Civil Industries

A4 corporate ad.indd 1

155

Kembla Watertech Pty Ltd

MAIT Industries

Head Office: PO Box 170 Belfield NSW 2136

Head Office: 26/26 Burgess Road Bayswater 3155

Branch Offices: Strathfield NSW, (02) 8732 2222 Southern Division, Altona North, VIC (03) 9399 5456 Northern Division, Loganholme, QLD (07) 5546 3177

Branch Offices: Sheparton

Telephone: Toll free: 1800 803 861

Email: info@mait.com.au

Facsimile: (02) 9521 3058

Web: www.mait.com.au

Email: brianc@kemblawatertech.com.au

Number of Employees: 5

Web: www.kemblawatertech.com.au

Manufacturer, Importer, Exporter

Number of Employees: 150

Contact: CEO: Andrew Brown

Pipeline Rehabilitation Contractor Contact: CEO: Chris Meredith, Founder and Managing Director Chief Estimator: Brian Campion Business Development: Chris Frangos Products: Concrete Piping, Drainage Solutions, Headwalls

Telephone: 1300 739 920 Facsimile: 1300 739 940

Products: iNTELLiTROL, EnviroPro, Mini MAIT, Handy MAIT Services: Monitoring and Control Solutions for Agriculture, Turf and the Environment

Services: Kembla Watertech P/L is a specialised pipeline rehabilitation contractor and one of the few companies offering a fully integrated service inclusive of design, analysis, engineering reports, trenchless technology solutions and traditional construction methods. The company is Quality Accredited to ISO9001:2000 , OHS&R accredited to AS/NZS 4801:2001 and Environmental accredited AS/NZS ISO 14001:2004, and readily accepts its responsibility to work in partnership with all of its clients in order to provide a quality product in a safe and healthy workplace while at all times protecting the environment. Kembla has been active in the pipeline rehabilitation market since 1993 and now has a team of over 150 experienced and trained personnel who employ local and overseas state of the art technologies. Numerous projects have been completed for major authorities and other clients throughout Australia and the total length of gravity linings installed by the company now exceeds 1,500 kms.

Moving water to where it’s needed most

LinkWater

Maloney Field Services

Head Office: 200 Creek St. Spring Hill 4004

Head Office: Adelaide

Telephone: (07) 3270 4000

Branch offices: Melbourne, Newcastle, Brisbane, Darwin

Facsimile: (07) 3270 4020 Email: reception@linkwater.com.au Web: www.linkwater.com.au

Telephone: (08) 8333 2722 Facsimile: (08) 8333 2755

Number of Employees: 150

Email: info@maloney.com.au

Contact: CEO: Peter McManamon

Web: www.maloney.com.au Number of Employees: 40

Services: The Queensland Bulk Water Transport Authority, trading as LinkWater, is the Queensland Government Statutory Authority responsible for the management, operation and maintenance of potable bulk water pipelines and related infrastructure throughout South East Queensland (SEQ).

Contact: General Manager: Peta Mantzarapis

In 2008-2009, LinkWater established operational control for 535km of potable bulk water pipelines and related infrastructure that forms the backbone of the SEQ Water Grid. This infrastructure is made up of existing assets acquired from councils under the SEQ Water (Restructuring) Act 2007, three new reverse-flow pipelines constructed by LinkWater Projects and two connected pipelines constructed by other alliances. In addition to bulk water pipelines, related infrastructure under LinkWater’s control comprises 28 reservoirs/balance tanks, 22 pump stations and six water quality facilities. From its centralised control room, LinkWater is moving an average of 600 megalitres of water per day across the SEQ Water Grid, to where it’s needed most. LinkWater Projects is working on two more Water Grid pipelines in various stages of planning and construction. Once completed, this will bring the total kilometres of potable bulk water pipelines under LinkWater’s control to just over 600km. LinkWater’s expertise also extends to planning and improving the potable bulk water transport network in SEQ. This includes the ongoing refurbishment of acquired infrastructure now under one, comprehensive asset management system. This investment in network performance has positioned LinkWater as a lead agency in planning and optimisation of the SEQ Water Grid.

Services: Valuation/Assessments of Compensation, Land Access, Landholder Negotiations and Liaison, Document Preparation, Compulsory Acquisition

MWH Australia

MEX

Head Office: Sydney (Level 2, 39-41 Chandos Street, St Leonards NSW 2065)

Head Office: Brisbane

Branch Offices: Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Moreton Bay

Branch Offices: Agents in China, Malaysia and Indonesia

Telephone: (02) 9493 9700 Facsimile: (02) 9493 9799 Email: marketing@mwhglobal.com Web: www.mwhglobal.com Number of Employees: 7,000 worldwide; 500 Australia Contact: Managing Director, Asia Pacific: Marshall Davert Managing Director, Australia: Peter Williams Head of Environment and Sustainability: Peter Fagan Head of Business Consulting Services: Geoff Price Head of Transportation: David Bell Head of Energy and Industry: Jim Campbell Head of Water: Wayne Middleton Products: Water and wastewater treatment, Urban water planning, Environmental and sustainability services, Engineering and technical services, Management consulting, Program management, Transportation, Natural resources, Rural water services, Coal seam gas

Telephone: (07) 3392 4777 Facsimile: (07) 3392 4888 Email: Jessica.mincher@mex.com.au Web: www.mex.com.au Number of Employees: 30 Contact: CEO: Director: Steve Ninnes Operations Manager: Rod Sprenger Sales Executive: Matt Ward Products: MEX, FleetMEX, MEXOps, MEX Mobile Services: Training, Consulting & Support, Data hosting

Services: Headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, MWH is a private, employee-owned firm that provides water, wastewater, energy, natural resource, program management, consulting and construction services to industrial, municipal and government clients in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, India, Asia and the Pacific Rim.

MWH Soft

Head Office: Level 20, Darling Park Tower 2, 201 Sussex Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 Telephone: +61 2 9006 1603 Facsimile: +61 2 9006 1010 Email: sales-asiapac@mwhsoft.com Web: www.mwhsoft.com Contact: CEO: Paul F. Boulos, Ph.D., Hon.D.WRE, F.ASCE, President of MWH Soft Operations Director, Asia Pacific Region: Paul Banfield Business Development Director, Asia Pacific: Justin Hanson Products: Products include unrivalled choice in hydraulic modelling with the multi-user workgroup management (InfoWorks, FloodWorks), stand-alone (H2OMAP), ArcGIS-based (InfoWater, InfoSewer, InfoSWMM), AutoCAD-based (H2ONET) software tools for Water Distribution, Sewer and Drainage, Stormwater Management, River Systems and Flood Forecasting; and advanced Asset, Data, and Capital Planning management platforms (InfoNET, InfoNET Mobile, and CapPlan). Services: MWH Soft is a leading global provider of wet infrastructure engineering modelling, simulation and management software and professional solutions designed to meet the technological needs of water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities, government agencies, engineering organisations and academic institutions worldwide. With offices in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, MWH Soft product lines empower thousands of engineers to competitively plan, manage, design, protect, maintain and operate highly efficient and reliable infrastructure systems.

Water Management Review 2010

Mitchell Water Australia Pty Ltd Head Office: 473 King Street, West Melbourne, Victoria, 3003 Branch Offices: Level 18, 123 Eagle Street, Brisbane, QLD, 4000 Telephone: (03) 9254 6200 Facsimile: (03) 9329 7426 Email: info@mitchellaust.com Web: www.mitchellaust.com Number of Employees: 85 Manufacturer Contact: Managing Director: Wayne Mitchell General Manager: Rob Shelton Commercial Manager: Roger de Maid Business Development Manager: Ross Bennetta Engineering Manager: Lee Briggs Services: Mitchell Water is Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest dedicated water pipeline contractor, and has the capacity to perform the design, survey, environmental and cultural management as well as the construction of the pipelines, water storages, pump stations, controls and communications.

157

tion, visit the Commission’s website - www.nwc.gov.au. National Water Commission

NORMA Pacific Pty. Ltd

Head Office: 95 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra ACT 2600

Head Office: 85 Merrindale Drive, Croydon South, Victoria 3136

Telephone: (02) 6102 6000

Telephone: +61 (03) 9761 4416

Facsimile: (02) 6102 6006

Branch Offices: Sydney & Brisbane Facsimile: +61 (03) 9761 4030

Email: enquiries@nwc.gov.au

Email: sales.au@normagroup.com

Web: www.nwc.gov.au

Web: www.normagroup.com, www.normapacific.com

Number of Employees: 50

Number of Employees: 46

Contact: CEO: Ken Matthews

Manufacturer

Services: The National Water Commission is responsible for driving progress towards the sustainable management and use of Australia’s water resources under our blueprint for water reform the National Water Initiative. Established under the National Water Commission Act 2004, the Commission advises COAG and the Australian Government on national water issues and the progress of the National Water Initiative.

Contact: CEO: Werner Deggim General Manager: Paul Davey Sales & Marketing Manager: Geoff Griffiths Products: The NORMA Group offers a wide product range that meets all requirements of our customers, whether it comes to connecting, clamping, fixing, strapping or retaining. As market leaders for hose and pipe sealing and clamping technology, we have developed, produced and delivered a unique range of products which are suitable for multiple applications in various industries. Our product portfolio includes worm-drive and heavy duty clamps, fixing and retaining products, tool clips, plastic connectors and pipe couplings. Services: Our strength lies in our broad, high-quality and innovative product portfolio and we will always find the optimal solution to your requirement - be it an individual component or a complex, multi-material system. NORMA has the capability to design and manufacture individual formed tubes and assemblies to give you more flexibility within design parameters. Flexible design shapes, tailored pipe connectors, and the optional incorporation of Norma Quick Connectors for fast positive fitting, are just a few of the benefits that’ll make sure you get what you’re looking for.

Nubian Water Systems

OLAER Group

Head Office: Unit 3 Gateway Business Park, 63-79 Parramatta Road, Silverwater NSW 2128

Head Office: 13 Boola Place, Cromer NSW 2099

Telephone: (02) 9647 2633

Facsimile: (02) 9981 6144

Facsimile: (02) 9647 2977 Email: enquiries@nubian.com.au

Email: Charlie@olaer.com.au

Olaer BC 0707.indd 11

Web: www.nubian.com.au Number of Employees: >20 Manufacturer, Importer, Exporter Contact: CEO: Krishnan Nair Technical Director: Phil Krasnostein Sales Manager: Mike Esveld Products: Domestic and Commercial Greywater Treatment Systems

1. 2. 3. 4.

Telephone: (02) 9981 6888

Irrigation Water Purifiers Diagnostic Systems

Services: A water solutions company specializing in greywater, stormwater and rainwater recycling.

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Web: www.olaer.com.au Number of Employees: 20 Manufacturer: Charlatte Importer: OLAER Contact: Managing Director: Marijn Machielsen Product and Sales Manager: Charlie Daoud Products: • WEKA Magnetic Level Gauges to suit Charlatte Bladder Vessels • MAHLE – Industrial Filtration • BUHLER – Level / Temperature probes Services: OLAER has over 70 years experience in selling high pressure (up to 700 bar) small volume bladder type pressure vessels used for Storage, Valve Closure and emergency standby applications. In our range, we also supply larger volume (100L to 120,000L) bladder pressure vessels for low pressure surge applications (from 5 to 80bar). This type of low pressure units are designed for water applications such as potable water, treated water, raw water and waste water. Some of OLAER services include: • Specialising in the supply of bladder surge vessels for clear and waste water applications • Specialising in the supply of storage pressure vessels to assist pump regulation • Commissioning bladder surge vessels on-site • Assisting in system design and application sizing

Parsons Brinckerhoff

Branch Offices: Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Singleton, Sunshine Coast, Sydney Email: auwebsite@pb.com.au Web: www.pb.com.au Number of Employees: More than 2,500 Contact: Clients and Markets Leader: Wayne Tobin, wtobin@pb.com.au General Manager Water: Tom Mosquera, tmosquera@pb.com.au Services: Strategic consulting, environmental studies, design engineering, construction management, project and program management

Remote Water Services PTY LTD Head Office: Unit/54 Discovery Drive, Bibralake WA 6163 Telephone: (08) 9434 4122 Facsimile: (08) 9434 4244 Email: owen@remotewaterservice.com Web: www.remotewaterservices.com Number of Employees: 12 Contact: CEO: Owen O’Shaughnessy Gerneral Manager: Nathan Beel State Manager: Leigh Roberts Sales/Product Manager: Keith Thomas Products: Design, supply, manufacture, installation of portable water pressure skids; chlorination unit; ultra-violet sterilisation units; sewerage pumping stations; sewerage treatment units; fire systems; All types of water tanks. Services: Complete water and waste water services based around the mining sector. Hydraulic services for camps and villages.

Rocla Water Quality

savewater!® Alliance Inc

Head Office: Level 11, Tower B, Zenith Centre, 821 Pacific Hwy, Chatswood NSW 2067

Head Office: Suite 2, Ground Floor, 615 Dandenong Rd, Armadale Victoria 3143

Branch Offices: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Dubbo, Glen Innes, Mackay, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Toowoomba, Wodonga

Telephone: (03) 8508 6888

Telephone: 131 004

Facsimile: (03) 8508 6899

Facsimile: (02) 8986 0901

Email: info@savewater.com.au

Email: solutions@rocla.com.au

Web: www.savewater.com.au

Web: www.rocla.com.au

Services: The savewater!® Alliance is a not-for-profit organization that works with member water businesses, government agencies and product companies to deliver water conservation programs throughout Australia. savewater!® offers a combination of web resources and practical programs to help all Australians change the way they use water.

Number of Employees: 890 Contact: General Manager: Stephen T. Baker Marketing Manager: Karen Thompson Market Manager, Water Quality: Mark Wiltshire Product Application Design Manager: Stephen D. Baker Products: Rocla’s water quality products include the market leading CDS® and CleansAll® gross pollutant traps, First Defense® vortex separator, Downstream Defender® oil and sediment removal device, ecoSep™ oil and water separator, ecoHarvest™ stormwater harvesting system, ecoRain® rainwater utilisation system, Plastream® in-ground storage & detention system, Plastream® slotted pipe, and more. Services: Rocla Water Quality offers the most comprehensive range of stormwater treatment, storage, reuse and transfer products in Australia. Applying award winning technologies, our team of specialists assist with the development of innovative, economical solutions for projects of all sizes. Contact us today, to specify a solution.

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Seqwater

SMEC

Head Office: 240 Margaret St Brisbane Qld 4000

Head Office: Melbourne, Australia

Branch Offices: Seqwater has a presence in several regional locations including Mt Crosby; Wivenhoe Dam, west of Brisbane; North Pine Dam, north of Brisbane; Landers Shute on the Sunshine Coast; and Molendinar on the Gold Coast.

Branch Offices: Australia, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific

Telephone: (07) 3035 5500 Facsimile: (07) 3229 7926 Email: corpcommunications@seqwater.com.au Web: www.seqwater.com.au Number of Employees: 380+ CEO: Mr Peter Borrows Services: Seqwater is responsible for the catchment management, storage and treatment of bulk drinking water to the South East Queensland (SEQ) Water Grid. Seqwater owns, manages and operate physical assets worth an estimated value of $2.43 billion including:

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25 dams and 47 weirs across South East Queensland, including Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine Dams, Hinze Dam on the Gold Coast and Baroon Pocket Dam on the Sunshine Coast.

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46 operational water treatment plants (WTP) facilities and 14 groundwater bore fields.

Telephone: +61 3 9514 1500 Facsimile: +61 3 9514 1502 Web: www.smec.com Contact: CEO: Ross Hit Services: Consultancy services in the following areas:

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Transport Water Mining and Underground Services Natural Resources and Environment Building and Urban Development Energy and Renewables Social Development

Seqwater also provides irrigation services to around 1,000 rural customers in five water supply schemes. Seqwater is responsible for a range of new water infrastructure projects and initiatives, including an advanced WTP on Ewen Maddock Dam on the Sunshine Coast, raising the dam wall to increase the capacity of the Hinze Dam, and the fluoridation of the region’s drinking water supply.

SEQ Water Grid Manager

Stevco Seals and Pumps Victoria

Head Office: Level 15, 53 Albert Street, Brisbane QLD 4000

Head Office: Unit 8, 53 Gateway Blvd. Epping Business Park, Epping, Vic, 3076

Telephone: (07) 3033 0786 Facsimile: (07) 3405 0373 Email: admin@seqwgm.qld.gov.au Web: www.seqwgm.qld.gov.au Number of Employees: 20 Contact: CEO: Barry Dennien A/Director Operations: Scott Denner Director Finance & Corporate Services: Susan Middleditch Services: The SEQ Water Grid Manager is a Government-owned statutory body responsible for managing the strategic operation of the SEQ Water Grid (Water Grid). Delivering water security to South East Queensland is our core business. Our role is to manage the Water Grid to maintain water security and quality for the region cost effectively, while balancing the needs of the community and the environment. To do this, we purchase the services to store, treat, produce and transport bulk water from Seqwater, WaterSecure and LinkWater to sell to Grid Customers – local councils, power stations and other businesses. To manage the operations of the Water Grid and maintain water security, we make daily decisions about water demand, and based on those projections supply treated water to the Water Grid to meet the needs of communities and businesses. To effectively manage the operation of the Water Grid we also:

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manage water quality by monitoring the compliance and taking into account water security requirements and the needs of the community and businesses with contractual water quality specifications

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manage our financial transitions, balance sheet and debt profile optimise and manage the Water Grid’s debt profile implement a risk management framework in partnership with other Grid Participants foster and implement a number of whole-of-Grid improvement projects in partnership with Grid Participants.

Telephone: (03) 9408 3875 Facsimile: (03) 9408 4827 Email: rwiemann@stevco.com.au Web: www.stevco.com.au Number of Employees: 8 Contact: Victorian Manager: Rainer Wiemann Area Manager: Steve Russell Technical Manager: Bruce Ellis Products: hygienic pumps, centrifugal pumps, air diapragm pumps, submersible pumps, helical rotor pumps, dosing pumps, vacuum pumps, gear pumps, inpro bearing isolators and airmizer product seals, Stevco mechanical seals, gland packing Services: sales, service and installation of new and used pumping systems, reconditioning and upgrading of pumps, repair of mechanical seals

Stauff Pumps

TAD

Head Office: 27b Davis Road, Wetherill Park NSW 2154

Head Office: Adecco Melbourne - Southbank

Branch Offices: Wollongong, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and a Perth Distributor

Telephone: Melbourne: 03 8640 4300 Gladstone: (07) 4970 1900 Adelaide: (08) 8306 8255 Brisbane: (07) 3287 8155 Perth: (08) 9461 4610 Sydney: (02) 8031 6201

Telephone: (02) 8787 1400 Facsimile: (02) 9725 2744 Email: pumps@stauff.com.au Web: www.stauffpumps.com

Web: tad.com.au

Number of Employees: 104 Contact: CEO: Peter Krohn General Manager: Wayne Barnett State/Sales/Product Manager: Hugh Savage

Contact: CEO: Jeff Doyle General Managers: Faiyaz Devjee, Gillian Hart, Beatrice Kelly, Brian Cooper, Robert Chapple

Products: Bredel Hose Pumps B.V.; Heavy Duty Industrial Peristaltic Pumps up to16 bar; Watson-Marlow Bredel Pumps Ltd; Precision dosing and dispensing Peristaltic Pumps; Netzsch Mohnopumpen GmbH; Progressive Cavity Pumps & Industrial Lobe Pumps; Putzmeister AG: High Pressure Hydraulically Driven Piston Slurry Pumps; Tacmina Corporation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Japan; Precision Metering Pumps Fluid Metering P/L; Valveless Piston Metering Pumps Bienlich Pumpen GmbH; Specialist Gear pumps Kracht GmbH; Transfer Gear Pumps

Products: Services: recruitment for clients and candidates in following sectors: Water, Oil and Gas, Energy, Infrastructure, Building Construction, Mining

Services: Stauff Pumps is a supplier of specialist positive displacement (PD) pumps to a range of industries. As well as delivering a range of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading PD pump products, we also provide the knowledge and expertise to select and supply the specific solution for your pumping applications. Using the latest software we identify, model and develop the right solutions for your pumping requirements. Our knowledge is further enhanced through close working relationships with your key personnel. In this environment our Pump Team with their technical knowledge and expertise can develop a precise understanding of your business together with your pumping applications. It is a highly effective service that ensures our solutions deliver greater flexibility, control and performance. Plus, with our network of pump specialists based in all the major centres throughout Australia and New Zealand, you are never far from a technical support specialist.

TT Asia Pacific Pty Ltd

Underground Services Australia

Valmont Industries Inc.

Head Office: 6 Devlan Street, Mansfield, Qld 4122

Head Office: 245-253 Collier Road Bayswater, WA 6053

Head Office: 1 Valmont Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska 68154-5215, USA

Telephone: +61 7 3420 5455

Telephone: (08) 9272 0100

Facsimile: +61 7 3420 5855

Facsimile: (08) 9272 9100

Branch Offices: Valmont Australia Pty Ltd, 123 Cobalt Street, Carole Park QLD

Email: info@tt-asiapacific.com

Email: usa@usa.com.au

Web: www.tt-asiapacific.com

Web: www.usa.com.au

Facsimile: (07) 3879 3655

Number of Employees: 6

Contact: Business Development Manager: Peter Rowles

Email: vaus@valmontinternational.com.au Web: www.valleyirrigation.com

Services: Underground Services Australia is a world class infrastructure company specialising in the design, construction & maintenance of underground utilities.

Number of Employees: 5000

Contact: CEO/ General Manager: Tom Hughes

Our expertise covers the Energy, Gas, Water, Waste Water & Telecoms sectors and our customers are from a diverse range covering Mining, Engineering, Land Development, Government and Major Contracting. Core Competencies include: > Water, Slurry & Gas Pipelines > Underground Power Networks & Transmission Lines > Fibre Optic Cable Networks and Cross Country Links > Rail Signalling > Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) > Sewerage Pipelines & Pump Stations > Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) > Rock Trenching > Pipe & Cable Plowing Technology

Water Management Review 2010

Telephone: (07) 3879 3622

Contact: CEO: Morgens C Bay General Manager: Phillip Meagher (Australia) Products: Mechanised irrigation equipment including a range of centre pivot irrigators and lateral move irrigators. Equipment manufactured is predominantly galvanised steel but is also available in poly lined pipe and corrosion resistant materials. Lateral move irrigators are either ditch or hose feed systems. Services: Centre pivot irrigator repairs & service and supply of spare parts for centre pivots and lateral move irrigators. Also supply of spare parts for a range of different manufacturers of centre pivot irrigators.

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Virotec Global Solutions Pty Ltd

Vinidex

Head Office: Coomera Waters – Queensland

Head Office: 19-21 Loyalty Road, North Rocks, NSW 2151

Branch Offices: Virotec is a privately owned company based in Queensland, Australia. Virotec’s head office is located on the Gold Coast and a laboratory test is based in Lismore. Trough our strategic alliance partners, clients can now access a range of advisory services in North and South America, Europe, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand. Telephone: +61 7 5573 3353 Facsimile: +61 7 5573 3346 Email: dblair@virotec.com Web: www.virotec.com Number of Employees: 20 Manufacturer, Exporter Contact: General Manager: Daniel Blair Products: > ViroFlow™ Technology provides a total solution for industrial wastewater and solids treatment > ViroMine™ Technology provides a total solution for the mining waste treatment and site remediation > ViroSewage™ Technology provides a total solution for municipal wastewater and biosolids treatment > ViroSoil™ Technology provides a total solution for contaminated site remediation and soil treatment Services: Virotec’s expertise in the treatment of contaminated wastewater, soils and solids through the use of its patented and innovative technologies allow companies to meet strict guidelines for waste management and disposal. In the last decade Virotec has delivered state-of-the art technologies to more than 17 different industries, leading us to expand our portfolio of services to include “Value Added Services”, which includes contaminated land auditing, environmental and site assessment. Contact our team of professionals today for a total solution for your environmental issues.

Telephone: 13 11 69 • Facsimile: 13 24 43 Email: info@vinidex.com.au Web: www.vinidex.com.au Contact: CEO: Russell Eggers Vinidex is a leading manufacturer and distributor of thermoplastic pipes and fitting systems for the infrastructure, agriculture, mining and building markets. Celebrating 50 years of operation Vinidex has developed production and distribution plants throughout Australia and the Asia-Pacific Region. From humble beginnings in 1960, Vinidex has grown significantly to become a national employer with more than 750 staff working for the company across all departments from manufacturing, product development, research and testing to sales, customer service, distribution and administration. Vinidex’s continued success is based on decades of on-going innovation in products, service and manufacturing techniques, as well as sustained investment in key technologies. Our strategic application of high technology, sound investment, meticulous quality control and the inherent qualities of the materials used has established Vinidex as a leading authority in the thermoplastics industry. Vinidex pipe and fittings systems are used in a broad cross-section of markets such as plumbing, electrical, water supply, sewerage, drainage, mining, industrial, irrigation, gas, power and telecommunications.

WaterSecure

Wide Bay Water Corporation

Head Office: Level 2, Quay Central, 95 North Quay Brisbane Qld 4000

Head Office: 29-31 Ellengowan Street, Urangan QLD 4655

Branch Offices: B3-B5 Airport Central, Terminal Drive, Coolangatta QLD 4225 Telephone: (07) 3015 9700 Facsimile: (07) 3015 9799 Email: info@watersecure.com.au Web: www.watersecure.com.au Number of Employees: 52 Contact: CEO: Mr Keith Davies Services: WaterSecure is a Queensland statutory body supplying a new source of pure water to South East Queensland. Through its assets — the Gold Coast Desalination Plant and the Western Corridor Recycled Water— WaterSecure provides safe and secure climate resilient water sources. It is responsible for delivering desalinated water to the South East Queensland Water Grid. Purified water is supplied to Swanbank and Tarong power stations with the potential to supply to industrial and agricultural customers in the future as well as supplement drinking supplies in Wivenhoe Dam once the 40 per cent trigger is reached. Combined, the facilities are worth $3.7 billion and have the capacity to supply up to 365 megalitres per day of desalinated and purified water to South East Queensland. Infrastructure includes:

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Three Advanced Water Treatment Plants located at Bundamba, Gibson Island and Luggage Point More than 200 kilometres of large-diameter underground pipeline 12 pumping stations 9 balance tanks Desalination plant

Branch Offices: Maryborough, Brisbane, Canberra Telephone: 1300 808 888 Facsimile: (07) 4125 5118 Email: wbw@widebaywater.qld.gov.au Web: www.widebaywater.qld.gov.au Number of Employees: 200 Contact: CEO: Tim Waldron Services: Water and wastewater services