22 August 2007

MEMBERSHIP

It gives me great pleasure to announce that we have reached the 100 membership milestone with Balranald Shire Council and Muswellbrook Shire Council joining during November. Balranald Shire Council is within the South West Group of councils and brings membership in that group to 27 out of 31 and Muswellbrook Shire Council is within the Hunter Group of councils and brings membership in that group to 2 out of 6. 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 a copy of each new publication will be distributed gratis such as the O&M Manual for Water Pumping Stations and the Backflow and Cross Connection Prevention Guidelines. Other documents planned for the 2002/2003 financial year are: 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, Standards for Pressure Sewerage Systems, Guidelines for Cutting and Disposal of Asbestos Cement Pipes and a Water Restrictions Best Practice Guidelines (see item below).

BACKFLOW AND CROSS CONNECTION PREVENTION GUIDELINES

This 18 page document plus a 3 ring binder was distributed in the last week of November 2002 to GMs of our member councils. This document is the first in an ongoing set of Technical Guidelines in the loose leaf format that can be stored together in the binders.

WATER RESTRICTION BEST PRACTICE GUIDELINES

The Executive Committee resolved at the last meeting to produce a document that provides technical advice on drought management. While it is hoped that the current drought will ease soon, it is apparent that there is a great need for a document of this nature. We will be seeking extensive local government water industry input from member councils into this document.

OPERATORS’ O&M MANUAL USER GROUP MEETING

Unfortunately this meeting scheduled for Friday, 29 November 2002 has been postponed till approx March next year due to council staffing availability generally related to drought management. I apologise to those member councils that had registered and I will keep you advised of the proposed date in 2003.

AUSTRALIAN DRINKING WATER GUIDELINES

The NHMRC is calling for review submissions on the ADWGs and member councils are urged to provide comments. After release, the Water Directorate will consider the preparation of a summary document to highlight the differences and additions in the latest version.

WSAA CODES

Member councils that ordered the second edition of WSAA’s Water Supply and Sewerage Codes of Australia through the Water Directorate are advised that there is a delay with the supply of the accompanying CDs. Orders will be sent as soon as possible.

SAFETY ALERT

WSAA’s Safety Alert 02-01 advises that investigations of a recent failure of a Milnes gunmetal tapping saddle indicate a faulty batch. WSSA recommends that authorities should investigate their O&M and OH&S policies and procedures. For more details please see the item on our website at http://www.ipwea.org.au/wd/news/wsaa_safety.html or contact WSAA’s National Codes Manager David Cox on 02 8206 6719 or on david.cox@wsaa.asn.au

IPWEA, NSW DIVISION ANNUAL CONFERENCE AT COFFS HARBOUR

The conference was a great success and I am sure that those people who attended would agree that the location was very relaxing and the balance of technical content and social events was thoroughly enjoyable. Congratulations to all involved in the organisation and running of the event. Please put a note in your diary that the next Annual Conference will be held on Sunday, 1 to Tuesday, 4 June 2003 at the Novotel Hotel at Homebush Bay in conjunction with CivEnEx on Tuesday, 4 June and Wednesday, 5 June at the Sydney Showground at Homebush Bay. Please also note that submission of synopses is required by Monday, 3 February 2003 . For details please contact IPWEA's Conference Manager Janice Parker , on 9943 6564, 0411 103 069 or on conference2003@ipwea.org.au

IPWEA EXCELLENCE AWARDS - AWARDS FOR INNOVATION IN WATER SUPPLY AND WASTEWATER

The Water Directorate was pleased to sponsor this major award again for Innovation in Water Supply and Wastewater at the above mentioned conference. On behalf of the Executive Committee who initiated this award three years ago, I congratulate all the nominees and I was delighted to present the winning award to Shoalhaven City Council for their REclaimend Water Management Scheme (REMS) and to present the “Highly Commended” awarded to Hastings Council for the Hastings District Water Supply Augmentation Scheme.

As well as the above mentioned IPWEA Excellence Award, Shoalhaven City Council had an exceptional response to the implementation of the REclaimed water Management Scheme by receiving a further 5 industry awards. On the 11th October at the Institution of Engineers Australia (Sydney Division) Engineering Excellence Awards, Shoalhaven Water (in conjunction with DLWC & DPWS) was awarded with a "Highly Commended" in the Engineering for Regional Communities Category. On the 14th November, Lgov NSW, at its Local Government Excellence in the Environment Awards, recognised Shoalhaven City Council (Shoalhaven Water) by awarding it the winner of both Division and Category for Coastal Management as well as the winner of both Division and Category for Water Efficiency.

NSW HEALTH DRINKING WATER MONITORING PROGRAM

NSW Health will soon be sending out water sample labels for 2003. The new labels should be used from 1 January 2003 and any old labels discarded. Water supply authorities are asked to help by: 1. entering sample site codes into the NSW Drinking Water Database and using these codes on sample labels; 2. using a NSW Health label on all system performance drinking water samples regardless of the laboratory, and ensuring all relevant details are entered on the label; 3. instructing your laboratory to directly enter results of drinking water analysis; and 4. if adding fluoride, entering fluoride data from Form 4 into the Database. NSW Health appreciates the support of water supply authorities for the Program. For further information please contact your local Public Health Unit.

RAINWATER TANKS

The Ministry of Energy and Utilities (MEU) chairs a Rainwater Tank Sub-committee of the Government’s Demand Management Working Group which is charged with developing a strategic policy framework for rainwater tanks by the middle of 2003. The MEU has accepted the Water Directorate ’s offer to participate on the Rainwater Tank Sub-committee and Executive Committee members John Millay and Mervyn Chapman have kindly volunteered to be the Water Directorate’s representative and reserve representative.

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 meeting dates for 2003 are 6 Feb, 14 Mar, 9 May, 3 Jul, 4 Sep and 6 Nov. Committee contact details can be found on our website at http://www.ipwea.org.au/wd/members/list/byexec_index.html.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ELECTIONS

As reported in the last month, the election process is underway for the Executive Committee for the next two years. Letters were sent at the end of November 2002 to GMs of member councils to nominate a representative from their council if they wish and vote if necessary to determine the committee membership. The Executive Committee is presently made up of 17 elected members representing nine IPWEA Groups of councils in regional NSW. 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 letter will be sent to GMs inviting them to vote. It is anticipated that the new Executive Committee will be finalised by mid December 2002 and announced in the December newsletter.

For more information contact: