Water - project details
Projects completed in 2007
UTS Challenge Grant: Trans-disciplinary Catchment Management
Lifting the bar on water and energy infrastructure in Canberra greenfield developments
Urban Planning Impacts - UTS Challenge Grant
Projects completed in 2006
Demonstration of Innovative Community Based Water Cycle Management System
Blue Mountains least cost planning study on reducing wastewater
Ballarat Demand Management Implementation Program
Integrated Supply Demand Planning (iSDP) model advice
Barwon Water - End use and demand management training workshop
Projects completed in 2005
Sustainability training for building professionals
Innovation in Management Resource for Local Government Wastewater Management
Agility Management Pty Ltd: Research, Advice & Review
Weighing the Balance: a sustainability assessment framework
Projects completed in 2004
Independent review of waterless urinals in Australia
Government buildings: feasibility study for a policy on water in government operations
Projects completed in 2003
Gold Coast Least Cost Planning Study
Projects completed in 2002
Development of the State Water Conservation Strategy for Western Australia
Projects completed in 2007
UTS Challenge Grant: Trans-disciplinary Catchment Management
University of Technology, Sydney
Sustainable resource management is a challenge that cannot be met by disciplines working alone or in simple aggregation; a transdisciplinary approach is crucial. During 2006, a a transdisciplinary team of UTS researchers with interests in sustainable resource management received funding from the UTS Challenge Grant program to derive a new approach to integrated catchment management. The collaboration involved UTS researchers from ISF, the Institute for Water and Environmental Resource Management (IWERM) and the School of Design. Through a series of fortnightly workshops over the course of a year, the researchers developed a theoretical and methodological framework for approaching problems like catchment management in a trans-disciplinary way. The framework was tested with the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority. It has proven to be a valuable framework for approaching trans-disciplinary research and is the subject of ongoing research at ISF.
Lifting the bar on water and energy infrastructure in Canberra greenfield developments
Land Development Agency
The Institute was commissioned by the ACT's Land Development Agency to assist in creating guidelines for potential joint venture participants for the latest greenfield development at the northern ACT suburb of Crace. Like other State Government land developers, LDA's role encompasses industry leadership. LDA's vision for Crace is that it should set a new standard in sustainability initiatives in the ACT, so LDA has high expectations for water and energy demand and supply. ISF reviewed the opportunities for Crace, and specified targets that align with LDA's intentions, and are qualitatively different from current thinking what is best practice. The notional targets set significant water and energy use reductions for the residential land release. They are strong targets, relative to current best practice, with a focus on efficiency first (e.g. efficient appliances for water, high level passive solar design for energy, then source substitution for water (e.g. raintanks, greywater reuse, sewer mining) and low emission and/or renewables for energy (e.g. solar hot water and efficient gas heating provisions).
Urban Planning Impacts - UTS Challenge Grant
University of Technology, Sydney
We aim to foster innovative, sustainable approaches to city planning through an interdisciplinary collaboration, that addresses the current disconnect between urban planning and environmental impacts. This project will review existing planning models for transport, population and land use, and develop a modelling framework that links these components. This integrated framework will enable environmental impacts (e.g. greenhouse emissions, energy and water consumption) of future city planning configurations to be assessed. A Sydney based case-study will demonstrate the approach, inform policy and assist in facilitating applications for external funding. This project has the potential to significantly improve decision-making for urban planning.
Projects completed in 2006
Demonstration of Innovative Community Based Water Cycle Management SystemSydney Water Corporation
Developed and applied a sustainability screening and evaluation tool for community-based wastewater systems for Sydney Water Corporation. Aim of the tool is to recommend a sustainable and appropriate technology option for specific sites in the SWC Priority Sewage Program (PSP). The sustainability screening and evaluation tool was developed to address key sustainability objectives. A star rating system was developed, by which technologies (and technology options) for a specific site could be ranked and compared to determine the most sustainable and appropriate for a site.
Blue Mountains least cost planning study on reducing wastewater
Sydney Water Corporation
Potential benefits of a program include a reduction in community consumption of water, delaying the need for augmentation of the water supply and making more water available for environmental flows. The study revealed that demand management initiatives such as installation of water efficient equipment in new and existing houses, regulating for minimum levels of water efficiency in new and renovated buildings and providing financial incentives at point of sale for purchase of front loading washing machines, may provide benefits for the Upper Blue Mountains community.
Ballarat Demand Management Implementation Program
Central Highlands Regional Water Authority
The City of Ballarat in Victoria was facing severe water shortages in 2006 and wished to develop an implementation plan for demand management initiatives that would reduce the demand for water. This project identified and reviewed demand management options for Central Highlands Water in terms of unit cost, demonstrated savings in other areas and relative ease to implement. ISF calculated the conservation potential (total water that could be saved) and unit costs ($/kL saved or supplied) of the options proposed through preliminary modelling of participation rates, water savings and program costs (e.g. administration, project management, marketing and advertising, specialist labour, efficient appliances, ongoing operational costs) which lead to an implementation plan for Central Highlands Water to use in setting targets and meeting future supply-demand balance. Following this project, Central Highlands Water received support from its Board to actively implement a range of demand management programs.
Central Highlands Water http://www.chw.net.au/ Department of Sustainability and Environment http://www.dse.vic.gov.au
Integrated Supply Demand Planning (iSDP) model advice
ISF and CSIRO worked together to assist the Water Corporation of WA to develop a demand forecasting and options model based on the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) Integrated Supply Demand Planning (iSDP) model. The majority of the work was undertaken by Water Corporation staff in the development of the model. ISF and CSIRO provided advice and a review role on the end use demand forecasting model and potential options through the use of a series of workshops.
Barwon Water - End use and demand management training workshop
Barwon Region Water Authority
In early 2006 the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) provided a one day training session for both Barwon Water (BW) and Central Highlands Water (CHW) in Victoria. The one day training session was based on the training material developed by ISF for the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA). The workshop provided training on the internationally recognised best practice approach of Integrated Resources Planning for urban water planning dealing with issues around detailed water demand forecasting, options assessment and evaluation. The training session provided both BW and CHW with the foundation knowledge to progress their strategic water management plans and implementation of demand management programs.
Projects completed in 2005
Sustainability training for building professionals
Sydney Building Information Centre
In 2005, Institute staff provided expert advice and technical training in aspects of applied sustainability for building professionals on behalf of the Association of Building Sustainability Assessors at the Sydney Building Information Centre. Stuart White delivered the 'water' module and Cynthia Mitchell delivered the 'wastewater' module in collaboration with Joe Whitehead of Joe Whitehead and Associates, Newcastle.
Innovation in Management Resource for Local Government Wastewater Management
Municipal Association of Victoria
This project is a significant component of the Municipal Association of Victoria's Smart Septics program, a program aimed at providing a number of management tools and resources for local government. The program will lead to improved local government management practices through assisting councils to better manage stormwater impacts associated with domestic wastewater systems. The project resulted in a resource that provides a range of practical management solutions for local government to access and consider adopting in the performance of their statutory domestic wastewater management duties. The project built upon existing innovative management practices within Victorian local government and incorporated innovative /current best practice solutions in other Australian States and internationally.
Agility Management Pty Ltd: Research, Advice & Review
Research undertaken for Agility regarding assumptions for water savings calculations as input to a final submission to the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal. Issues covered included: Water Efficiency in Existing Housing Stock - Sydney, Housing Stock Sales - Sydney, Hot water savings from water efficient devices
Weighing the Balance: a sustainability assessment framework
ACTEW Corporation Limited
This project developed a methodology for triple bottom line or "sustainability assessment" of water options being considered by ACTEW as part of the ongoing ACT Water Resources Strategy. The methodology provides a 2 part process to assess supply options available to ACTEW and the ACT region. Firstly, the project looked at sustainability criteria and development of a procedure for appropriate measurement and weighting of criteria associated with economic, social, environmental and feasibility/risk factors. Then workshops were undertaken with various ACTEW staff involved in the development of supply options to go through the criteria, weighting and assessment process for each option.
Projects completed in 2004
Independent review of waterless urinals in AustraliaWater Services Association of Australia
The Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) commissioned the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) to undertake an independent review of waterless urinals in Australia, outlining issues associated with their installation and use as well as the opportunities for water conservation and reduced water and wastewater charges. The resulting report is intended for use as a guide to aid potential installers of waterless urinal systems in making decisions about the suitability and type of system to install on their premises.
Government buildings: feasibility study for a policy on water in government operations
Department of Environment and Heritage
ISF was engaged by the Department of Environment and Heritage (DEH) to undertake an assessment of the total water use in all Australian Government Operations. The Institute also calculated the potential for water savings and the financial costs and benefits associated with achieving them. Site assessments of seven different Government sites, including offices, laboratories, a university and a Defence base were made. An analysis of the applicability of a water use policy and recommendations on the required administration, accountability, reporting, water use targets, guidelines, and the potential mixture of voluntary and mandatory requirements in such a policy were provided to the Department. This was the only government wide assessment on resource use to date.
Projects completed in 2003
Gold Coast Least Cost Planning Study
Gold Coast Water
Research into the demand and potential savings in the GCW region of operations enabled ISF to make recommendations to Gold Coast Water (GCW) on how to build on its demand management program in order to meet the region's future water needs. The Institute is acknowledged as a leader in Least Cost Planning not only as a method which helps define suitable and effective demand management programs, but also as an integrated resource planning method for planning and managing both supply and demand.
Projects completed in 2002
Development of the State Water Conservation Strategy for Western AustraliaWater and Rivers Commission
The Western Australian Water Conservation Strategy made recommendations to the Water and Rivers Commission on matters associated with water efficiency and water resource allocation. The objective of the Strategy is to determine ways to reduce the barriers to investment in water efficiency in Western Australia. The strategy focuses on the need for a framework in which the total costs and benefits of water efficiency options can be compared to the costs and benefits of supplying water and developing new sources. The Strategy also makes recommendations addressing regulatory measures, economic instruments, research and development and methods of engaging with the community.
