13 December 2006

WIOA PRACTICAL GUIDES TO WATER TREATMENT

The Water Industry Operators Association (WIOA) has taken the initiative to produce and distribute nationally a set of four practical guides to water treatment specifically aimed at the operator level. The first of the guides titled Practical Guide to the Operation and Optimisation of Media Filters was released in November. The second guide is titled Practical Guide to the Operation and Optimisation of Distribution Systems is nearing completion and will be published in early 2007.

The Water Directorate is one of six other water related associations and organisations from around Australia invited to assist with funding this worthy project. The Water Directorate commends the WIOA’s efforts from a technical and reduction of duplication perspective and we look forward to distributing the first guide to all NSW local water utilities in early December.

WATER LOSS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM UPDATE

In late November a letter was sent out to all regional local water utilities advising that this program is now ready to accept applications for assistance with awareness and identification of water loss issues and also applications for financial assistance with specific projects directly related to water loss. Attached to this letter is a Program Information brochure which explains the workings of the program and further information and application forms are available by visiting www.WaterLoss.lgsa.org.au or from Mirko Sramek , Program Manager on (02) 9242 4127. We look forward to hearing from you or your utility manager to discuss the program and it’s suitability to your individual situation.

2006 NSW GOVERNMENT GREEN GLOBE AWARDS FOR WATER

In November the 2006 NSW Government Energy and Water Green Globe Awards were presented by Minister Tripodi at Parliament House. The Best-Performing Water Utilities Leadership Award acknowledges the top ten performing Local Water Utilities for water supply and sewerage services for 2004/05. I’m pleased to advise that the top ten Local Water Utilities for Water Supply Excellence are Dubbo City Council, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, Shoalhaven City Council, Wyong Council, Albury City Council, Coffs Harbour City Council, Nambucca Shire Council, Riverina Water County Council, Tamworth Regional Council and Yass Valley Council.

I’m also pleased to advise that the top ten Local Water Utilities for Sewerage Excellence are Dubbo City Council, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, Shoalhaven City Council, Wyong Shire Council, Gosford City Council, Lismore City Council, Mid Coast County Council, Orange City Council, Parkes Shire Council and Wingecarribee Shire Council. Congratulations to all the above councils and all staff involved. For more details, see the DEUS website: www.deus.nsw.gov.au

NSW DROUGHT CONDITIONS

NSW drought conditions worsened in November with the Department of Primary Industries declaring that 93.6% of the area of NSW was officially drought affected. The area of NSW classified as marginal was 4.1% and the area classified as satisfactory was only 2.3%.

Member councils are reminded that the Water Directorate produced and distributed Drought Management Guidelines in December 2003 which is a collation of current policies, practices and procedures from councils across NSW. Included in the Drought Management Guidelines is a set of 7 restriction levels which was adopted from the northern group of councils. Member councils should find theses 7 restriction levels useful across the state and if adopted would provide a consistent system in regional NSW.

DESALINATION

In November the Daily Telegraph reported the first Australians began to drink seawater on 19 November after Perth ’s $387 million desalination plant opened. The facility will eventually produce 130 million litres of water a day, started pumping into the city’s supply system. It will supply 17% of Perth ’s water when it reaches full capacity in two months. Courtesy: the Daily Telegraph, 20 November 2006.

FIRST DAM IN 30 YEARS

In November the Sydney Morning Herald reported the state government has announced it intends to build a $342 million dam to provide water for the Hunter and Central Coast . Tillegra Dam, the first in the state for 30 years, will reportedly be built on the upper Williams River near Dungog. Premier Morris Iemma reportedly said the dam, expected to hold 450 billion litres of water, would "help drought-proof the Hunter and Central Coast region for the next 60 years". Minister for Water Utilities David Campbell reportedly indicated that construction of the dam was expected to begin in mid-2008. The site was first proposed for a dam during the 1970s and Hunter Water planned to start building in about 2016 but the Government has decided to expedite that. A small hydro-power generation plant will be part of the project. The Government is also promising to plant 1.5 million trees to produce a water quality buffer zone and a carbon sink to offset the carbon produced by energy consumption from growth in the Lower Hunter and Central Coast for 40 years.

ABS WATER ACCOUNT AUSTRALIA 2004-05

In November the Australian Bureau of Statistics published its Water Account Australia 2004-05, which is produced every 4 years. There are a number of useful statistics about the use of water across the Australian economy and the size of the water supply industry. To view the latest release of the ABS Water Account for 2004-05 go to the ABS website below and if you have any queries about this publication please contact Dr. Michael Vardon on (02) 6252 7348 at the ABS Centre of Environment and Energy Statistics.

http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/

DEC/EPA SEWERAGE TREATMENT SYSTEM LICENSING

Member councils are reminded that the DEC/EPA Pollution Reduction Program (PRP) 100 requires the preparation of a Sewer Overflow Investigations Report by 30 June 07. The Sewer Overflow Investigations Report examines the extent of sewer overflows from the reticulation system and treatment plant. For the EPA’s Licensing Guidelines for Sewage Treatment Systems visit website www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/stslicensingguidelines.pdf

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ELECTION FOR TERM 2007 AND 2008

The Water Directorate Executive Committee ’s two year term ceases at the end of 2006. Elections are being conducted over November and December in which GMs of member councils may nominate a representative from their council if they wish and vote if necessary to determine the committee membership. The Executive Committee is made up of 17 elected members representing nine IPWEA Groups of councils in regional NSW. To ensure that the new Executive Committee is comprised of experienced and capable members that are committed to the local government water industry in NSW, GMs of member councils received a fax on 24 November inviting them to nominate a representative from their council. GMs were requested to fax back their nominations by Friday, 1 December. Where more than the designated number of nominations is received for any IPWEA group of councils, then an election will be necessary and a second fax will be sent to GMs on Wednesday, 6 December inviting them to vote. Thanks to GMs and nominees for your assistance and participation. The new Executive Committee will be finalised on 15 December and announced in the December newsletter.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

In November Carl Peterson, another one of our inaugural Executive Committee members, resigned after serving on the Executive Committee for almost 8 years since December 1998. Carl has resigned from Mid Western Regional Council (formerly Mudgee Shire Council) to take up a role in Sydney Catchment Authority. On behalf of the Executive Committee I congratulate Carl on his appointment to SCA and thank him for his many years of voluntary service to the establishment and success of the Water Directorate. Carl is the only member of the Executive Committee to have attended every one of the first 50 Executive Committee Meetings. Thanks also to Mid Western Regional Council and Mudgee Shire Council for allowing Carl’s participation in our activities. Seven of the 16 inaugural Executive Committee members remain on the committee after nearly eight years of service to the NSW local government water industry.

The Executive Committee meeting dates in 2007 are 1 March, 3 May, 5 July, 6 September and 8 November. Member councils are reminded that they are welcome to forward water issues to me for referral to the Executive Committee meetings. For further information about membership or any water related issue, please contact me on 8267 3010, or gmitchell@waterdirectorate.asn.au

For more information contact: