EVENTS IN AUGUST 2002
The Water Directorate is a voluntary association of councils and county councils that operate water and/or sewer businesses in regional NSW. Our monthly newsletter seeks to inform member councils and all sectors of the NSW Local Government Water Industry of the developments that have taken place regarding technical issues and networking during August 2002 and of coming events. This newsletter is mailed out to General Managers and to Water and Sewer Managers in 121 regional councils in NSW and also to approximately 100 contacts in government departments, councils and private industry across Australia. We hope you enjoy this newsletter.

MEMBERSHIP
It is a very positive and pleasing start to the new financial year to welcome Uralla Shire Council and Guyra Shire Council as new members. Both councils are within the New England Group and bring membership in that group to 14 out of 18 and bring membership in NSW to 92 out of 121. the Water Directorate would be very happy to send membership kits to potential new member councils. All new members should be aware that past publications can be purchased at the reduced member rate and that one copy of each new document will be distributed gratis. The documents planned for the 2002/2003 financial year are: O&M Manual for Water Pumping Stations, Protocols for Reuse of Sludge and Return Backwash Water from Water Treatment Plants, Procurement Manual for Routine Service of Mechanical and Electrical Infrastructure, Manual for Management of Air Valves, Backflow and Cross Connection Prevention Policies, Standards for Pressure Sewerage Systems and Guidelines for Cutting and Disposal of Asbestos Cement Pipes.

A small number of member councils are unfinancial and are reminded that membership fees are due for the 12 month period from 1/7/02 to 30/6/03. Invoices were sent out at the beginning of July to the General Manager. It is preferable to make your cheques payable to IPWEA - Water Directorate and it would be appreciated if you can bring this to the attention of your accounts payable section. Thanks to the majority of member councils that have rejoined and for your continued support.

O&M MANUAL FOR WATER PUMPING STATIONS
The latest O&M Manual for Water Pumping Stations was mailed out to the General Managers of our 92 member councils in August 2002. This manual completes the series of seven manuals produced over the past 20 months and the series was delivered at the rate of one manual every three to four months. It is estimated that nearly 800 manuals have been distributed in that time including approximately 150 additional manuals purchased by members and non-members around Australia. This is quite a feat since all manuals are assembled by hand in the office. The manuals have been very well accepted and the Executive Committee will consider the possibility of producing further manuals for other relevant infrastructure. This series of manuals covers Submersible Sewage Pumping Stations, Chlorination Installations, Sewerage Reticulation, Water Reticulation, Wet and Dry Well Sewage Pumping Stations, Water Supply Service Reservoirs and Water Pumping Stations (Including River Offtakes, Bores and Inline Booster Installations).

The manuals have been a team effort between the Water Directorate and Albury Water and a number of people have been involved in different aspects of the project such as managing, writing, reviewing, printing and compiling. I thank Eloise Stanley, Emma Vickery, Lisa Ferris, Colin Johnson, Daryl McGregor, Stewart McLeod, Simon Thorn, Carl Peterson and John Millay for contributing to the successful creation of these valuable resources. We hope that all members can make good use of the manuals.

O&M MANUALS, TRAINING WORKSHOPS AND WORK METHOD STATEMENTS
Work Method Statements are a key component of the O&M Manuals and all should be aware that Workcover's requirement for Work Method Statements will take effect from 1 September 2002. The Water Directorate was pleased to provide timely advice on how to prepare Work Method Statements through its training workshops on how to use the manuals.

The fifth workshop for O&M Manuals was held on 23 August in Sydney, bringing the total number of attendees to just over 100. The presenters, staff and myself enjoyed the opportunity to meet all attendees and I thank you for supporting the workshops, contributing to the Work Method Statement exercises and providing practical feedback. Thanks to councils that sent multiple attendees such as 7 from Shoalhaven; 5 each from Bellingen, Hastings and Orange; and 4 each from Goulburn, Lismore, Riverina and Tweed. Thanks also to all those involved and to the councillors and staff from Wagga Wagga, Dubbo, Coffs Harbour and Tamworth City Councils who assisted us.

LIAISON WITH DIRECTOR GENERAL OF DLWC
Daryl McGregor has initiated regular quarterly meetings between the DLWC Director General and the Water Directorate Chair and Executive Officer. The introductory meeting with Bob Smith was held in July with subsequent meetings this year scheduled for dates in September and December. We appreciate these valuable opportunities to personally convey issues of genuine concern from the Executive Committee and member councils.

NEW CODE OF PRACTICE FOR FLUORIDATION
The new Code of Practice for the Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies (issued under the Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Act, 1957) will take effect from 1 September 2002 and was published in the NSW Government Gazette on 30 August 2002. The NSW Department of Health will send copies to all local councils. There are no substantial changes for councils.

The NSW Department of Health will soon be writing to all water supply authorities on the Drinking Water Monitoring Program for 2003, regarding sample collection and sample numbers in particular. This will provide an opportunity for water supply authorities to review and update the information contained in the NSW Drinking Water Database.

STANDARDS FOR PRESSURE SEWERAGE SYSTEMS UPDATE
The protocols developed by Wagga Wagga City Council from the Seminar earlier this year have been further refined and it is expected that a document will be distributed in late September 2002. Your feedback is welcomed and will be included in a final version.

BACKFLOW AND CROSS CONNECTION PREVENTION POLICY DOCUMENT
A draft best practice policy for prevention of backflow and cross connection has been produced and is currently being reviewed by the Water Sub-committee. It is still expected that a final document will be produced in October 2002.

WATER TREATMENT ALLIANCE
In 1999, two Water Directorate member councils nominated and finally one member council participated in the Water Treatment Alliance pilot study. The Water Treatment Alliance is managed by Bob Dorrat from the CRC for Water Quality and Treatment for the purpose of producing excellent quality drinking water from water filtration plants. Turbidity data is collected and a self-assessment process is used to identify areas for improvement. Any local government water utility interested in taking part should contact Bob Dorrat on bdorrat@yvw.com.au

Lgov NSW 2002 WATER MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, 11 - 13 SEPTEMER 2002
The Water Management Committee of Lgov, formerly the LGSA, will hold its annual Water Management Conference on 11 to 13 September in Batemans Bay, hosted by Eurobodalla Shire Council. The Water Directorate and Lgov have complementary technical and policy advisory roles and Lgov's Water Policy Officer, Stephanie Smith and the Chair of the Water Management Committee, Pat Brassil are appointed members to the Water Directorate Executive Committee.

The Water Directorate is very pleased to participate in the conference again this year. Daryl McGregor will give a presentation on the Current & Future Directions for the Water Industry in Regional NSW on 12 September and I will give a Status Report on the Water Directorate on 13 September. The majority of then 17 elected Water Directorate Executive Committee members will attend Lgov's Water Management Conference and the Water Directorate will hold its September Executive Committee meeting in Batemans Bay on 11 September to coincide with the Conference.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
For further information about membership or any water related issue, please contact Gary Mitchell on 02 8267 3010, or garymi@bigpond.com or visit the website at http://wd.ipwea.org.au. If you would like any issue to be discussed by the Executive Committee, please contact your local representative or refer it to me. The remaining meeting dates for 2002 are 11 September and 7 November. Executive Committee contact details can also be found on our website website.

Gary Mitchell
Executive Officer

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