EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER 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 September 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
I am very pleased to welcome Griffith City Council and Murrumbidgee Shire Council as new members. Both councils are within the South West Group and bring membership in that group to 25 out of 31 and bring membership in NSW to 94 out of 121. Eloise Stanley or myself 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 very small number of member councils are still unfinancial and are reminded that membership fees are overdue 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 and it is preferable to make your cheques payable to IPWEA - Water Directorate. Thanks to the majority of member councils that have rejoined and for your continued support.

OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE MANUALS
As mentioned in last month's newsletter, the Executive Committee is considering the production of further manuals for other relevant infrastructure. The initial series of seven 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 Executive Committee would like to know what the needs of the member councils are and invite you to please advise me before 7 November of suggestions for additional manuals on garymi@bigpond.com or on 8267 3010. The Executive Committee will consider all suggestions at the next meeting.

OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE MANUALS OPERATORS' USER GROUP
Following on from the O&M Manual Training Workshops, the Executive Committee resolved to establish an Operators' O&M Manual User Group and invite member councils and other purchasers to attend on a six monthly basis. The purpose of the user group is to provide a forum to share information and to discuss any relevant issues or problems with using the manuals as well as a forum to address legislative changes and other updates for the benefit of all users of the O&M Manuals.

I invite member councils and purchasers to please advise me by 15 October of expressions of interest in an Operators' O&M Manual User Group on garymi@bigpond.com or on 8267 3010. Depending on your level of interest and responses, it may be possible to hold the first user group meeting before the end of the year.

STANDARDS FOR PRESSURE SEWERAGE SYSTEMS
The protocols developed by Wagga Wagga City Council from the Seminar earlier this year have been further refined and the document was distributed to member councils in late September 2002. A feedback form is included on the last page and your comments are welcomed and will be included if possible in a final version.

Lgov NSW 2002 WATER MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE
Congratulations to Lgov's Pat Brassil, David Hale and Stephanie Smith and all others from the Water Management Committee who successfully held their annual Water Management Conference recently in Batemans Bay. The Water Directorate was very pleased to participate in the conference again this year to highlight the Water Directorate's and Lgov 's complementary technical and policy advisory roles and to showcase the Water Directorate's achievements over the past 12 months. Congratulations again to David who has left the Senior Water Policy Officer position to take up the Executive Projects Officer position and I thank him for his assistance over the past three years as an appointed member of the Water Directorate Executive Committee. Thanks also to Eurobodalla Shire council for their hospitality.

WSAA WATER SUPPLY AND SEWERAGE CODES
The Water Directorate is an associate member of the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) and I am pleased to advise that WSAA has offered to sell its latest updated Water Supply Code of Australia and Sewerage Code of Australia to our 94 member councils at an attractive price that is much less than the retail price. The codes will include a CD and are expected to be available in October. The Water Directorate will place a one off bulk order with WSAA on behalf of individual member councils at the end of October. For orders please contact me on garymi@bigpond.com or on 8267 3010 before 31 October.

AWA NSW BRANCH REGIONAL CONFERENCE, 18 - 20 OCTOBER AT SEASCAPE MANOR, GERRINGONG
This year's NSW Branch Regional Conference will be held at the Seascape Manor, Gerringong and will focus on the public/private participation project for water and wastewater services for the township of Gerringong - Gerroa. The main conference is on Saturday, 19 October with a tour of the scheme on Sunday, 20 October. Most delegates arrive on Friday, 18 October to take advantage of the networking activities that include golf, abseiling and kayaking. For more details please contact Colin Storey on 02 9548 3222.

BLACK PARTICLES IN DRINKING WATER
On 6 September 2002, I sent out an email request to member councils for assistance to WSAA regarding reports of black particles in drinking water in Townsville, Noosa, Hunter region, Sydney, Broken Hill and Central Highlands region in Victoria. WSAA is actively investigating the source(s) and has advised that the floating particles in question are brittle, degraded plastic and are possibly from the water meter or the hot water service. Please report any occurrences of black particles (with samples if possible) to Dr David Nicholas who is coordinating this investigation on behalf of the WSAA Materials Network. David's contact details are PO Box 317, HRMC 2310 or phone 02 4935 0503 or 0409 818 529 at Hunter Water.

NSW HEALTH GUIDELINES FOR WATER CARTERS
Due to the dry conditions, the demand for water carting has increased dramatically recently. NSW Health and the regional Public Health Units are receiving many calls from the public and councils regarding water carting and water quality. In response, NSW Health has developed draft guidelines to protect public health and the council's reticulated supply. The guidelines have been based on what many councils already require and in part on the old Ordinance No. 45A - Water-Carting. The draft guidelines have been sent via email to all local councils asking for comment by the 14 October 2002. If you have any comments on the guidelines or would like to obtain a copy could you please contact Paul Byleveld in the Health Department's Water Unit on pbyle@doh.health.nsw.gov.au or phone 98160537.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
For further information about membership or any water related issue, please contact Gary Mitchell on 02 8267 3010, or garymi@bigpond. 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 date for 2002 is 7 November. Executive Committee Contact details..

Farewell to Emma Vickery who leaves the IPWEA and the Water Directorate in early October 2002. I thank Emma for her assistance over the past 3 years and wish her well on a working holiday in Japan.

Gary Mitchell
Executive Officer

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