Urban Water Security Research Alliance …...2008/03/11 · SEQ Urban Water Security Research...

SEQ Urban Water Security Research Alliance STAKEHOLDER FORUM

Tuesday, 11 March 2008 1:00pm – 6.30pm

Venue: Large Seminar Room 3.142, Building 80

CSIRO, Qld Bioscience Precinct, 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia

PROGRAM

Time Program Presenter

1:00pm Welcome and Introductions Mr Chris Davis, Chairman

1:10pm Presentation Session 1

1:10pm Overview of Alliance and its activities and programs Mr Don Begbie, Director

1:30pm Project presentation 1 - Purified Recycled Water Dr Simon Toze, CSIRO

1:45pm Project presentation 2 - Stormwater and Aquifers Dr Shiroma Maheepala, CSIRO

2:00pm Project presentation 3 - Decentralised Systems Dr Ashok Sharma, CSIRO

2:15pm Project presentation 4 – Systematic Social Analysis Ms Blair Nancarrow, CSIRO

2:30pm Project presentation 5 – Enhancing Institutional Capabilities Professor Brian Head, UQ

2:45pm Project presentation 6 – Climate and Water Dr Wenju Cai, CSIRO

3:00pm Afternoon Tea

3:30pm Presentation Session 2

3:30pm Project presentation 7 - Life Cycle Analysis and Integrated Modelling

Mr Steven Kenway, CSIRO

3:45pm Project presentation 8 – Water Quality Information Management

Professor Huijun Zhao, GU

4:00pm Project presentation 9 - Water Loss Dr Stewart Burn, CSIRO

4:15pm Project presentation 10 - Enhanced Treatment Professor Jurg Keller, UQ

4:30pm Project presentation 11 – NDMA Potential Professor Jurg Keller, UQ

4:45pm Open discussion forum

• Questions and answers • Feedback on Alliance program and projects

Chris Davis

5:30pm 6:30pm

Close Informal drinks and nibbles with stakeholders

6.30pm Finish

Urban Water Security Research Alliance

Overview

Alliance Overview

Alliance Research Overview

Stakeholder Engagement

Don BegbieDirector

11 March 2008

SEQ ChallengesRapid pace of change in SEQ

• population growth, climate change• reduced water security

South-east Queensland Regional Water Supply Strategy (SEQRWSS)

Institutional reform agenda• supply owners, water utilities, local councils

New sources of water• Multidirectional water ‘grid’ – interconnecting pipelines, inter-basin transfer• Additional sources – desalination, potable reuse, stormwater, rainwater, etc

Unaware, uneducated community• legacy of successful historical supply of high quality water

Minimal local ‘urban water’ research capacity• stronger ‘ecological water’ capacity

Alliance Overview

Cooperative funding and research alliance between the State Government, CSIRO, University of Queensland and Griffith University

Inform and support SEQ Regional Water Supply Strategy (RWSS) implementation

Research and Development Focus

Building research capacity in SEQ

5 year life (with 2 year extension option)

Budget - $10m / year ($5m State + $5m Research Partners)

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

Investment Breakdown

$ (1

000)

Research - Contestable

Research - Core

Operational Costs

Alliance Budget

Research Partners

Alliance Governance

Stakeholder Coordination & Engagement

UQ State Govt

Griffith CSIRO

State & CSIRO

Alliance Management Board

Alliance Management Team

Research Advisory Committee + Experts

Alliance Research Program Goals

• Closing the loop– Build reliability and safety in recycled water systems– Deliver water security by recycling wastewater and stormwater through

aquifers

• Informed Decision Making– Advise and inform the community engagement process– Build community confidence in the organisational capacity to deliver

water supply security

• Managing our Future Water Supply– Build scientific knowledge to ensure the management of health and

safety risks in the future water supply system– Improve public safety and sustainability of new water supply systems

Alliance Research Program and Projects• Closing the Loop

– Purified Recycled Water (PRW) – Simon Toze (CSIRO)– Stormwater / Aquifer – Shiroma Maheepala (CSIRO)– Decentralised Systems – Ashok Sharma (CSIRO)

• Informed Decision Making– Systematic Social Analysis – Blair Nancarrow (CSIRO)– Enhancing Institutional Capacities – Brian Head (UQ)

• Managing our Future Water Supply– Climate and Water – Wenju Cai (CSIRO)– Life Cycle Analysis and Integrated Modelling – Steven Kenway (CSIRO)– Water Quality Information Management – Huijun Zhao (GU)– Water Loss – Stewart Burn (CSIRO)– Enhanced Treatment – Jurg Keller (UQ)– NDMA Potential – Jurg Keller (UQ)

Program 1 – Closing the Loop

• Risk Assessment, Management & Monitoring– Integrated Human / Ecological Risk in PRW - risk assessment for all barriers in PRW– AWT source water control (eg. trade waste & STP enhancement)– AWT product water monitoring & evaluation (eg. limnological and water quality impacts

through PRW re-charge of Wivenhoe)– Monitoring tool development / application for health risk detection – focus on microbial

detection, bioanalytical tool interpretation and development (NWC project support)

Purified Recycled Water (PRW) – Simon Toze (CSIRO)

• Options for innovative capture, storage, delivery of NEW waters through stormwater and / or Managed Aquifer Recovery – link to existing pilot schemes

• Inform Lockyer supplementary supply scheme – g/water modelling, hydro-geological domains

Stormwater / Aquifer – Shiroma Maheepala (CSIRO)

• Evaluation methodologies for assessing black/grey water package plants – links to SEQ trials• Design codes for implementation (and operation)• Impact of recycle systems on water cycle water availability/infrastructure requirements

Decentralised Systems – Ashok Sharma (CSIRO)

Program 2 – Informed Decision Making

• Identifying attitudes / beliefs / behaviours / values / drivers & risk understanding, and how they influence practices (PRW & other new sources is the focus in early research)

• Options to influence community response (including Demand Management)

Systematic Social Analysis – Blair Nancarrow (CSIRO)

• Investigating the multiple outcomes and benefits arising from the new institutional arrangements

– Case studies on IWQM implementation, water use efficiency policies, SEQ Urban Water Alliance

• Training and education needs for water treatment operators and managers

Enhancing Institutional Capabilities – Brian Head (UQ)

Program 3 – Managing our Future Water Supply

• Downscaling on climate forecasts for SEQ – climate change at 20km2 scale – links to State Climate Centre

• Implications of downscaling outputs on LCA, Hydrological Modelling etc

Climate and Water – Wenju Cai (CSIRO)

• Develop an integrated modelling framework (focus on water and contaminant balance)• Evaluate impacts of existing strategies on water energy nutrient balance in SEQ - (incl. what

tools do we use to assess future strategies)• Evaluate appropriate trading (trade off) regimes in future whole of water cycle

management

Life Cycle Analysis and Integrated Modelling – Steven Kenway (CSIRO)

• Enhance sensor application and technology• Framework for data collection, collation, management and feedback for PRW (later for whole

of water cycle)• Inform Phase II of the SEQ Water Accounting Framework (WQ data require and

transformations of most value)

Water Quality Information Management – Huijun Zhao (GU)

Managing our Future Water Supply (con’t)

• Reducing evaporative loss from reservoirs – links to NRW / QWC pilot trials• Reducing and evaluating leakage in potable and sewerage reticulations systems

Water Loss – Stewart Burn (CSIRO)

NDMA Potential – Jurg Keller (UQ)• Establish method to detect NDMA formation potential• Identify possible problem source streams or operating conditions leading to NDMA

formation• Component groups potentially present and correlated with NDMA formation potential

• Evaluation of existing (small/medium) treatment plant capacity and performance• Evaluation of technology options for enhanced treatment capacity (to achieve potable

quality) – links to existing CabWater treatment facilities• Evaluation of risks associated with small to medium treatment plant upgrades

Enhanced Treatment – Jurg Keller (UQ)

Urban Water Security Research Alliance

• Alliance websitehttp://www.urbanwateralliance.org.au/

• Publications can be found on:http://www.urbanwateralliance.org.au/publications.html

SEQ Urban Water Security Research Alliance

PURIFIED RECYCLED WATER

Simon TozeProject Leader

11 March 2008

PRW Project Overview

AimTo examine the health and ecological risks associated with PRW

Research ComponentsSource ControlReservoirsAdvanced Monitoring TechniquesRisk Assessment

Barrier 1Source

Barrier 2WWTP

Barrier 3MF

Barrier 4RO

Barrier 5Advanced Ox

Barrier 6Reservoirs

Barrier 7Drinking Water

Source

Reservoir

Bioanalytical Tools

Risk Assessment

Staff Allocation to Research Areas

Project AreasResearch Areas

RiskAssessment

Advanced MonitoringTechniques

Source Control Reservoirs

Effort and Budget Allocation(Year 1 only)

10 20 50 20

Senior Staff involved

Jane Blackmore Jochen Mueller Jurg Keller Michelle Burford

Tony Priestly Rai Kookana Simon Toze Rai Kookana

Declan Page Heather Chapman Jochen Mueller Helen Stratton

Glen Shaw Simon Toze Rai Kookana Simon Toze

Heather Chapman Helen Stratton Jochen Mueller

Bronwyn Harch

Progress To Date

• Project plan is completed and has been amended to reflect shift of effort to Source Control component.

• Meeting with appropriate stakeholders and external projects is underway.

• Draft report has been done on interpretation of results from bioanalytical tools.

• Discussions on the agreement between the PRW project and the NWC Entox project is underway.

• A literature review on microbial molecular tools and methodologies is nearing completion.

Proposed Activities next 6 -12 monthsThe way Forward

• Sampling the WWTPs for removal of pathogens and selected chemicals.

– Done in collaboration with existing Brisbane Water work.

• Develop greater links with other external projects.

• Commence research on the partitioning of selected target chemicals and microbial pathogens between the soluble and insoluble phases of wastewater.

• Start to gather data from councils on trade waste discharge.

• Testing of performance of passive samplers in raw and treated sewage.

• Selecting and testing appropriate methods for the detection of pathogens in water.

Proposed Activities next 6 -12 monthsThe way Forward

• Start pathogen decay studies in the reservoirs.

• Develop methodologies to study fate of trace organics in reservoirs.

• Develop a collaborative project with SEQWater and Shane Snyder (Southern Nevada Water Authority).

• Work up initial risk assessment criteria based on findings by Dan Deere.

• Produce reports, presentations and position papers on initial research findings.

Challenges

• Building a team environment and coordinating across partners.

• Achieving coordination with external projects.– Please give any information on other projects

• Obtain a better understanding of the research needs for risk assessment and ensuring that other research components cover the data needs for risk research.

• Connection with the appropriate people in councils and water treatment authorities in time of large organisational change.


STORMWATER AND AQUIFERS PROJECT

Dr Shiroma MaheepalaProject Leader

11 March 2008

Project Overview

• Stormwater Harvesting– Identification of regional and cluster scale

stormwater harvesting opportunities in SEQ– 90% funding in Year 1

• Aquifers– Examination of biophysical consequences of

the proposed recycled water use scheme in Lockyer Valley

– 10% funding in Year 1 for project scoping

Stormwater Harvesting – resource availability and key challenge

• Theoretically, high potential to use stormwater

• Key Challenge -capturing seasonal rainfall to provide a reliable supply

SEQ Water Balance

480 GL

1 GL

16 GL500 GL

230 GL

1200 mm

Stormwater Harvesting – Problem• Preliminary assessment

– conducted in Oct 2006 – As part of SEQRWSS– Outcomes

• Currently only few schemes with storage in lakes/ponds mainly for irrigation

• ~$2.80/KL based on direct financial costs & pond option

• Preliminary assessment did not consider– Other storage options: feasibility not known, e.g. MAR,

possible storage in sewer mains– Possible industrial and commercial uses: Not explored– True cost – not known

• Need for internalisation of externalities – Regulation/legislation aspects to enable

implementation: not fully understood

Purpose of this study

Stormwater Harvesting - Objectives

• Identification of regional and cluster level stormwater harvesting opportunities in SEQ, by considering– All possible harvesting options and end uses– System-wide TBL implications, e.g. supply-side,

receiving waters, flooding, habitat values, energy, etc.• Identification of regulatory and legislation

barriers and solutions for implementation• Pilot scheme demonstrations in collaboration

with key stakeholders

Study Area

Local Government Areas that constitute the Council of Mayors SEQ

Map shows • Current LGAs• New LGAs

Aquifer Component – Problem• Focus: Lockyer Valley • Groundwater extraction

significantly exceeds estimated sustainable yield

• Compounded by drought

• Proposal to use recycled water, but implications not fully understood– Social– Economic– Bio Physical

Aquifer Component - Objectives• Contribute to

quantify biophysical consequences of recycled water use to enable conjunctive use of groundwater and recycled water– Groundwater quality– Surface water quality– Groundwater-surface

water interaction– Contaminant

(including salinity and nutrients) mobilisation

Outputs: First 2 years• Project scoping for Lockyer Valley

recycled scheme (Mar 08)• Review of stormwater harvesting

(Apr 08)– International and national

experiences– Current status in SEQ– Knowledge gaps & research

needs

• Map of Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) potential in SEQ (similar to Melbourne) (Jun 08)

• Master Plan of stormwater harvesting options by considering different storage options including MAR and sewer mains (Dec 08)

• Engage with key stakeholders for pilot project demonstrations (Jun 09)

Thank You!

• Contact DetailsDr Shiroma MaheepalaPrinciple Research ScientistStream Leader: Integrated Water Systems, Water for a Healthy Country

National Research FlagshipCSIRO Land and WaterE-mail: [email protected]: 03 9252 6072; 0419 346 784

mailto:[email protected]


DECENTRALISED SYSTEMS

Ashok SharmaProject Leader

11 March 2008

Decentralised Systems

Background• Conventional urban water systems are implemented as separate systems.• Increased urbanisation and industrialisation - population increase, shortage of

water, waste disposal, system upgrade, water quality, technology upgrade –sustainability ?

• IUWM and decentralised systems approaches for future urban water systems• Decentralised systems for water, wastewater and stormwater services• All scales from household to sub-division• Provide alternative approaches for urban water servicing

Current status• Planning, design, implementation, reliability, verification, sustainability, environmental and

health impacts…,…,.. ----yet to be explored• Retrofitting existing systems for the transition towards more sustainable systems• No clear and robust guidelines for implementation decentralised systems• Contaminants characteristic in urban water cycle• Resource recovery and impact on existing systems especially sewer network

System complexity

Bran

ch S

ewer

W

ater

Mai

n

Complexity in

Planning, design, implementation, technology selection, operation and maintenance, understanding health, environmental, social and economic aspects

Conventional systems Wastewater reuse Greywater reuse

Rainwater & greywater reuse

Previous work

NWC – ICON WSU developments projects to understand knowledge gaps, impediments, constraints and barriers

Greenfield developments – addressed to some extent

High density/ high-rise residential commercial – not addressed/ limited

Project scope

• Understanding of total water and contaminant cycle• Data and information on technologies and infrastructure appropriate for

different applications, their performance, operation and maintenance requirements

• Framework for the selection of systems and technologies for various developments

In short term – Focus on High-rise developments and wastewater resource

• Collection and analysis of existing data and information on water and contaminant flows

• Identification of knowledge gaps and develop monitoring program with stakeholders

• Develop understanding of the impacts of flows and contaminants on total water cycle

Methodology

Assess current systems

- Water flows- Contaminant sources - Contaminant flows

Identify potential impacts of decentralised system on

human health, environment, treatment system and

infrastructure and total water cycle. Assess potential for

resource recovery

Review current guidelines for

decentralised systems in SEQ

Review previous monitoring programs and testing protocols

Develop monitoring program

Implement monitoring program

Develop generic guidelines for specific

development type

Decentralised systems database (NAIAD?)

Develop framework for technology selection

Year 1 –Deliverables for

high density residential and

commercial building

Review current monitoring programs, protocols and guidelines for decentralised systems

Monitoring programs• Payne Road, The Gap, Brisbane – small sub-division with extensive

monitoring of water and energy. Greywater, rainwater and stormwater

• CH2 and 60L, Melbourne – Office buildings, one new build, one retrofit. Sewer mining and on-site wastewater treatment, raintanks and stormwater

Protocols• Greywater technology testing• International standards

Guidelines• Existing Qld EPA monitoring requirements• Existing technical guidance and reports

Assess water and contaminant balance

• Water flows– Residential –laundry, kitchen, toilet, irrigation, evaporation,

cooling– Commercial (office) – cooling, toilets, cleaning (DNW and

Sydney Water in GHD report, 2007)• Contaminant sources

– Wastewater/ greywater – household products (hygiene, laundry, cleaning) urine, faeces, infrastructure, mains water

– Rainwater/stormwater – collection area, atmosphere, infrastructure

• Contaminants flows– Residential – CSIRO/Smart Water Fund Wastewater

Contaminants project– Commercial – BCC, UQ, CH2, 60L

High density development

High density case study sites (some currently out to tender)• Admiralty Towers – completed project with sewer mining for

irrigation• BCC building – dual pipe installed, currently out for tender for

the wastewater recycling facility• Green Square – dual pipe installed• Mechanical Engineering Building at UQ – treatment process

for wastewater treatment and energy generation• CH2, 60L, Bendigo Bank

Other case study sites• Payne Road• The Currumbin Ecovillage

Progress• Appointment of an Engineer for the project• Information on monitoring and available data on water and contaminant

balances collected through NWC WSU developments project• Literature search on water and contaminant flow in high-rise developments• Negotiations with stakeholders having access to available data• Identification of possible sites for monitoring

Challenges• Monitoring of flows and contaminants is expensive and time consuming• Decentralised systems -comparatively new - new technologies emerging –

long term validation


SYSTEMATIC SOCIAL ANALYSISCommunity Partnerships and Sustainable Water Resources

Blair NancarrowProject Leader

11 March 2008

Challenges for Social Science

PRWIt is a matter of history that Decide Announce Defend approaches to the

introduction of potable reuse of wastewater are prone to failure– Nervousness increases as the time to turn on the tap approaches

DEMAND MANAGEMENT• Conservation and sustainability attitudes do not automatically

translate to water conserving behaviours and management of this is poorly understood– How do we achieve long term, sustainable behavioural change?

Challenges for Social Science

ALTERNATIVE SUPPLY SYSTEMS• It is not generally known what alternative neighbourhood water

supply systems might be acceptable to the community and why– Developers, planners and engineers have a wealth of innovative

WSUDs available, but which are acceptable to the community and what factors are important in acceptability decisions?

MOVING WATER AROUND THE GRID• Defining “fairness” that is agreed by the range of stakeholders, and

measuring benefits from water on a TBL are both problematical– The first easily degenerates to arguments and conflict– The second has methodological issues

Year 1 - PRW

Baseline Behavioural

Measure

Trust Fairness(Social Justice) EmotionRisk

Recommendationsfor Communication

& Information(Jan 2008)

Preliminary Recommendations

forCommunication

(Nov 2007)

Evaluation & Behaviour

Re-measure

Ongoing Recommendations

(June 2008)

Predicting Intended Behaviour

SubjectiveNorm

Health Risk

Trust

.81

.27

.70

.63

-.13

Strong ContributionModerate Contribution Weak Contribution

Fairness

Emotion

Behaviour

.26

.81

.69

86% of variance explained

.81

.22

-.20

System Risk

-.55

-.37

.86

Some Key Findings – The Good News

• Considerable support for PRW

• The behavioural model provides a good baseline measure of community decision making

• There is some trust in specific bodies to responsibly manage and operate the scheme, and to provide reliable information – Trust in scientists, and CSIRO in particular, is significantly higher

than for all organisations

Some Key Findings - Caution

• Support for PRW drops markedly– in the case of environmental harm– if other management options could provide water supply

• There may be up to 1/3 of those supportive of PRW who are not aware they will be in a PRW supply area– support could therefore be more sentiment than intended

behaviour

• Trust in private companies is significantly lower than for all other groups/organisations to provide reliable information

• Lesser trust in Veolia Water than other bodies to perform required functions, though not a lot is known about them

• Trust in a regulating “Queensland Government Body” is low (but as yet an “unknown”)

Some Key Findings – Understand, Monitor and Manage

• There is nervousness and uncertainty about system risk

• Both trust and emotion strongly influence perceptions of system risk

• System risk predicts health risk

Scoping Workshops

• December – 9 scoping community workshops throughout SEQ to explore in-depth the key drivers of behavioural decisions

– Support for PRW was cautious reflecting feelings of inevitability

– Confirmation that system risk and its influence on health risk are major concerns in the community

– Interrelationship of trust, risk, emotion and fairness again strongly emerged, indicating a need to carefully monitor and manage all four variables

– A need for accessible and ‘living’ information was strongly expressed• The workshop experience was apparently positive and informative

What Now?

• Risk– Professionals and community need to talk risk with a common

understanding (or at least by understanding the differences)– Q-method is being utilised for experts and community to identify the

different dimensions in which they make risk judgements about PRW

• Fairness & Emotion– Fairness has links to cost, risk and emotion– Distributive justice – involvement of industry and manufacturing

stakeholders– Emotion (“disgust” / “yuck factor”) is the wild card– CADS and opponents play on emotions to influence the general

community

• Demand Management– Originally planned for Year 2, now looking at ways to bring it forward

Thank You

http://www.urbanwateralliance.org.au/publications.html

Nancarrow, B. E., Leviston, Z., Tucker, D., Greenhill, M. P., Price, J. & Dzidic, P. (2007).Community Acceptability of the Indirect Potable Use of Purified Recycled Water in South East Queensland and Preferences for Alternative Water Sources: A Baseline Measure. CSIRO Water for a Healthy Country National Research Flagship Perth.

Australian Research Centre for Water in SocietyCSIRO Land and WaterBlair E. Nancarrow

Phone: +61 8 9333 6290Email: [email protected]: www.clw.csiro.au/research/society/arcwis

http://www.urbanwateralliance.org.au/publications.html

Trust to Perform Roles and Responsibilities

1

2

3

4

5

Scientists Queensland Health NRW Veolia Water Qld Govt body

CompleteTrust

No trust at all

Some trust

Trust to Provide Reliable Information CompleteTrust

No trust at all

Some trust

1

2

3

4

5

CSIRO Medicaldoctors

Universities EPA NRW Consumergroups

Environmentalgroups

QWC QueenslandHealth

Veolia Water Privatecompanies

Support for PRW (80% of sample; n=465)

*41%

*60%

*26%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Rained Environmental harm Other options

Changed mindUnsureContinued support

* = % of total sample(n=583)

Opposition to PRW (20% of the sample; n=117)

*11% *11%

*6%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

No severe restrictions No water No ill-health

Continued oppositionUnsureChanged mind

* = % of total sample(n=583)


ENHANCING INSTITUTIONAL CAPABILITIES

Brian HeadProject Leader

11 March 2008

Purpose of this project• We are examining the evolving “institutional”

foundations for building effective and efficient long-term arrangements for water management in SEQ.

• “Institutional” includes various aspects:– Organisational roles – Legal and regulatory– Performance objectives/measures– Links and relationships– Consultation – Learning and evaluation– Behavioural and attitudinal change– Governments (3 levels), businesses, communities, and

individuals.

Purpose (cont’d)

• The challenges and urgency of building these new arrangements are significant, given national and regional refocus on urban water issues:– the rediscovery of urban water issues by the

National Water Commission and possible revisions to the NWI.

– the scale and rapidity of change in SEQ and the change-management challenges

– the establishment of QWC itself, with strong new powers and responsibilities, notably for “supply-side” water security

– re-negotiating and designing other bodies’ responsibilities concerning water planning, water quality etc.

Purpose (cont’d)

• The project will provide research information to the principal stakeholders (NRW and QWC), and to wider scientific and decision-making communities.

• We complement the 8 scientific/engineering projects which are investigating the feasibility of delivering high-quality technical solutions.

• We explore the organisational pathways for achieving long-term multiple benefits through these new institutional arrangements.

• We take a multi-scale approach by looking at how decisions are “nested” in federal – state – regional layers, with their local rules and perspectives.

• We note there are interacting regulatory rules and networks which help or hinder the delivery of multiple water outcomes.

Links between diverse issues

Community attitudes & behaviours

Agency roles andPartnership arrangements

Scientific & stakeholderinformation

Scope of project

• Institutional Context: we analyse the institutional reform directions for SEQ in context of successful institutional innovation in Queensland, other relevant jurisdictions, and national/international developments.

• Supply, Quality and Efficiency issues: we note that water quality and water-use efficiency are also important dimensions of water security. Their inter-relations require analysis of broader program and policy frameworks.

• Tools and instruments: improved water outcomes will be delivered through a mix of instruments/actions, e.g. market based incentives, regulatory directives, partnerships, and voluntary actions by business and citizens. We explore this mix of instruments.

Scope (cont’d)The core outcomes for water management in SEQ include:• Security of water supply• Efficiency and effectiveness of water operations• Effective governance and control mechanisms.

Other important related outcome areas will also need to be explicitly addressed as the implementation unfolds, e.g.:

• Continuous innovation, development and implementation of water use efficiency among all end-users (including effective demand-management).

• Sustainable management (triple bottom line outcomes) throughout the integrated water cycle and “water-sensitive urban design”.

• Management of externalities and associated environmental outcomes (e.g. storage catchment management, land-use issues and water quality).

Methods and progressCurrent status:• Team recruitment and two quarterly meetings held with

Reference Group.• Team is currently undertaking background research on

institutional arrangements in SEQ, other relevant states/regions of Australia, and the national frameworks:

• To map and understand the context in which water reform implementation takes place

• To clarify the processes by which decisions are made, including process for risk assessment and future needs, and process for integrating multiple objectives in water cycle management in various jurisdictions.

• Planning an initial round of focus-groups/interviews and a survey of key water managers in SEQ to establish the perceptions of key stakeholders early in the change process; prelude to a further survey in a later year.

Further steps in next 12 months

• Complete initial survey/interviews process.• Research possible areas for developing measures in

integrated water management (IWM) based on comparative analysis of other IWM systems.

• Finalise detailed map of specific institutional roles and the transactional requirements for policy, regulatory oversight, and inter-entity transactions.

• Consider criteria for understanding and evaluating (enhanced) institutional capacity to address necessary linkages and partnerships for IWM.

Research challenges

• Understanding the types of relationships needed to plan and achieve long-term objectives for integrated water management outcomes at regional and national levels.

• The intersection of responsibility for water security and linkages to broader issues of ecological health, land-use decision-making and natural resource management.

• Clarifying the evolving responsibilities of three levels of government, businesses and citizens;

• Integrating the findings and insights across several research projects, including attitudinal data on the critical thresholds/limits of behavioural change.


CLIMATE AND WATER

Wenju CaiProject Leader

11 March 2008

Outline …

(i) What the project is / purpose

(ii) Progress to date

(iii) Proposed activities for next 6-12 months

(iv) Key messages for stakeholders

Long-term rainfall trend

Accumulated rainfall deficit: Brisbane catchment

(The Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine dams)

Courtesy of QCCCE

Nesting Structure

Dom ain1800km × 1800kmResolution 22.5km

Dom ain600km × 600kmResolution 7.5km

CSIRO global climate model

200km x 200km

Science capability

GU: Integration at local and basin scalesto determine the impact on stormwater runoff and inflows to reservoirs.

CSIRO dynamical downscaling model

20km x 20km

Climate change attribution

Modelling historical rainfall

Easterlies are decreasingRainfall are decreasing

ENSO

Uncertainty in models

Uncertainty in emission

Present to 2020s:uncertainties in climate & hydrological models dominate

2050s to 2100s:uncertainties in GHG emission scenarios dominate

Run models with various emission scenarios:6 proposed

Work Progress

• Examine deficiencies in climate model simulation in the SEQ region

• Conduct a downscaling experiment in to future climate

• Establish a system linking model outputs with inflows to dams

Consensus

• El Niño-like warming pattern

• More extreme weather

• Impact of rising temperature may be very significant


LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS AND INTEGRATED MODELLING

Steven KenwayProject Leader

Shiroma Maheepala, Murray Hall, Joe Lane, Peter Daniels,Paul Lant, David DeHaas, Roger Braddock, Jeff Foley,

Stephen McFallen, Tim Baynes, and others

11 March 2008

Overview

• Background

• Aims, Scope, Focus

• Progress

• Next steps

Project Aims and Scope

• Develop a decision-support system and integrated water cycle modelling tool focussed on water, nutrient, energy, and greenhouse gas emissions

• Assist understanding of the system through improved use of knowledge and data

• Inform water policy and planning phases including key performance indicators of efficiency

• Contribute to the development of new options or approaches not yet on the table

Influences on SEQ Water and Project Focus

SOP (Monthly-Instantaneous)Flows, storage, treatment, pumping, pressure, energy

SEQRWSS – Annual- Daily, 5-10 y horizonDetailed Water quantity, nutrient/sediment, contaminants, receiving water quality, total water cycle modelling and analysis, energy consumption

Regional Plan – Annual+, 30-50 y horizonDemographics, Population, Land Use, Energy, Emissions, Buildings, Hydrology, Food/Nutrients

Data flows & storage

System Processes & Plans

Key Questions

How do future configurations of SEQ drive the water system and regional impacts?

How do proposed future water supply, stormwater and wastewater management strategies impact on hydrological flows, energy and waterway health?Which options offer the best overall solutions for SEQ?

How do we operate the Water Grid to optimise performance and minimise impacts?

IQQM, E2, EUM, WATHNET, Ecological Models

ASFF (Stocks and Flows)

RQMM (MBP)

Operational models, scada and telemetric systems

System performance, and impacts on water, nutrient and energy flows

Climate models

Impact analysis methodologies (e.g. Simmapro)

SEQ W

AF

Data sources in state, local govt, research providers filtered and provided to and from SEQWAF

Models

Product functional area

Scenario Analysis

Linked hydrological models

LCA and mass flow analysis and modelling

Components of StudyScenario Analysis

User

Integrated quantity and quality modelling

Wathnet/IQQM

E2

Stormwater module

End-Use Model

Wastewater module

Receiving water quality

Life cycle impacts / energy analysis

Population Development and Land Use change

Energy analysis

Bulk supplies

Wastewater

Stormwater

LCA process energy directly

Water and nutrient flows and ultimately energy flows

Possible use of energy from LCA process units

Possible use of nutrients from LCA process units

Mas

s Fl

ow &

Ec

onom

ic U

sesEnvironmental

& economic assessment for

Decision-Making

Use

Urb

an W

ater

LC

A M

odel

Future Water Supply System

• How do water supply options affect water, nutrient and energy balances, ghg emissions

• Does integrated modelling improve resolution• Assumption validity

AWT’s

Desalination

New storages and bulk pipelines

Demand management?

Stormwater harvesting?

Decentralised Options?

Focus areas

H20 – supply, security, restrictions, risk

Total N & P (NOx)

MJ, C02-e (CH4, N20)

Metals, materials & chemicals

Social impacts

Environmental impacts Focus is on the red

area such that:•SEQRWSS and

alternatives analysed • related TBL analysis

can be undertaken

Construction Operation Decommission

Economic impacts

Progress to Feb’ 08• Stakeholder engagement (QWC, NRW, eWater)• Project Reference Panel formed - (MBP, EPA, QWC,

SEQ Councils, OuM, eWater and Tim Grant), • Research question contextualisation & concepts• Draft model review criteria & models list (some held)• Data and information needs defined (preliminary)• Energy characterisation in water cycle commenced

(BW and GCW)• Accounting framework review commenced• Draft functionality specification for IUWM tool

• Data & info (QWC, NRW), LCI inventory…. SEQRWSS, End-Use/SEQWAF, iterative with research question, IP agreements

• Model review & functionality specification…. clear user needs, and functionality / outputs definition, single model functionality versus functionality “as a group”

• Focus research questions & area of application of IUWM tool…. all of SEQ versus detailed component

• Modelling workshop with project reference panel &SEQWAF workshop

Next steps and challenges


WATER QUALITY MONITORING TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION

MANAGEMENT(Water Quality Information Management)

Huijun ZhaoProject Leader

11 March 2008

Scope of the Project• Developing water quality monitoring techniques that are capable of

collecting critically important water quality information in a rapid and effective manner

Development of new analytical data treatment/processing methods utilising data collected from existing commercial sensorsImproving the applicability and effectiveness of existing sensors to suit the PRW systemDevelopment of new sensing techniques for PRW systemIntegrate the developed sensing technologies to PRW operation system

• Developing a water quality information management strategyensures the collected water quality information is in a coherent form that enables interoperability to improve the usability and availability of the data for the purpose of maintaining barrier’s integrity.

Progress to Date• Strategic relationships have been established with external

stakeholders• Staff have been appointed into SEQ to develop relationships with

external partners • The original WQIMS Project Proposal has been fully defined and

agreed by the BoardRevised project proposal has been submitted to the Board for approvalDetailed project implementation plan dealing with the scope changes is currently under development

• Collection and collation of existing water information and gap analysis is currently under investigation

• In depth review of existing water quality monitoring technologies and their suitability for PRW system are currently under investigation

Proposed Activities for Next 6-12 months

• Further strengthening the established strategic relationships with key stakeholders

• Completing the detailed implementation project plan• Continuing existing water quality data collection, collation and gap

analysis• Identifying data shortfalls (gaps) related to the Barriers 1 and 2• Identifying the targeted sensing technology focusing on the Barriers

1 and 2• Developing the targeted sensing technologies• Completing in-depth review of existing water quality monitoring

technologies and their suitability for PRW system

Challenges

• Budget allocation / operation• Coordination with key stakeholders to ensure the research findings

can be adopted


SYSTEMS LOSSES

Stewart BurnProject Leader

11 March 2008

Vision

• To enhance the water availability throughout SEQ by– Reducing evaporative loss from reservoirs– Identifying and reducing leakage in

potable reticulations systems using advanced system

• Partners– CSIRO, GU, NRW, QWC

Evaporation ControlProgress to Date

• Evaporation mitigation literature collated - underpins analysis of techniques

• Model for determining the energy balance and evaporation from storages developed– Based on readily available data– Accounts for changes in heat stores– Model modified to enable effects of monolayers to be

assessed

• Methodology for estimating evaporation from different sized water bodies developed

• Evaporation reduction and effectiveness of monolayers assessed

Initial findings – evaporation model

• Evaporation from major storages 1500-1600 mm• At full storage level (3 major storages) = 260GL • Annual supply to SEQ ~300GL

– 1 LITRE LOST FOR EACH LITRE SUPPLIED!

Wivenhoe

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

14.00

16.00

18.00

20.00

11/10/1983 28/04/1984 14/11/1984 02/06/1985 19/12/1985 07/07/1986 23/01/1987 11/08/1987

Evap

orat

ion

(mm

/d)

Initial findings - monolayers

• Long term evaporation reduction of ~10% expected. • This is MUCH less than the 30-50% claimed by some

manufacturers• Most studies short term nature (usually<2 months)

– Evaporation reductions initially high (~35%), taper off significantly as the water body reaches a new temperature equilibrium (takes ~6 months)

• Monolayers cause significant rise in temperature which may have effects on water quality and ecology of the storages – Average increase of 2.2C (3.0C in summer and 1.0C in winter)

Wivenhoe

Initial findings - monolayers

• Based on a full storage at Wivenhoe…– Annual cost of monolayer product per year $11-13 Million– Cost per kL saved - $0.64 - $0.74 (not including application and labour costs)

• Potential side effects – other studies suggest this is minimal but these are mostly short term. Possible longer term effects:

– Reduced oxygen levels– Increased acidity– Changes to gas diffusion processes– Algal blooms

• Technique warrants further investigation as costs less than desalination (~$1.60/kL)

Where to from here?• Analyse potential of remaining techniques (aiming for April 08)

– Surface runoff enhancement (CSIRO)– Manipulation of volume : surface area (CSIRO)– Hard covers (GU)– Shade covers (GU)– Wind breaks (GU)– Biological covers (GU)– Water column mixing (GU)

• Consult with reference panel as to preferred options for field testing

• Design monitoring program for testing of preferred options and development of proposal for commencement of monitoring into 2008/09. – Design will include involvement of commercial product suppliers,

water resource management bodies and scientists.

Reticulation Systems LeakageProgress to date

• Literature completed re current state of the art – a range of papers identified discussing the fundamentals of leak detection

• Training algorithms are currently being developed

• Data sets being sourced from Adelaide University

Where to from Here

• Train leak detection algorithm on signals from Adelaide University

• Experimental set up for measurement of pressure transients in the field

• Develop statistical techniques to extrapolate limited leak detection tests to large parts of the network

Messages and Challenges• Evaporation Control methods show promise

at a lower cost than desalination– Monolayers not as efficient as previously believed

• Field Trials – Currently unfunded, a problem to be solved

• Reticulation Leakage data sets to be resolved

• Some problems with staff availability

Advanced WaterManagement Centre

Technologies to enhance existing recycling plant performance to

achieve PRW

Prof Jürg KellerAdvanced Water Management Centre

University of Queensland


PRW plants today

MF & RO Membranes

AOP

Concentrate TreatmentDischarge

Nutrient Removal WWTP

Biosolids

Advantages:+ Removal of pathogens+ Removal of chemicals (EDCs, PPCP)+ Reliable technology


PRW plants todayDrawbacks:

-10% to 15% concentrated waste stream: must be treated and disposed, unsuitable for locations not close to saline/brackish waterways

- Complex and “high tech” process: might not be suitable for small to medium size plants

Need for development ofalternative treatment trains


Scopes of the projectAssessment of the capability of existing non membrane recycling plants to produce PRW:• Comparison with similar plants overseas• Comparison with membrane based technologies• Risk assessment

Evaluation of novel technologies generating no or reduced waste stream:

• Alternative treatment options producing PRW• Additional treatment steps to existing plants to

achieve PRW quality


ScheduleTask 1: develop tailored experimental methodologyTask 2: chemical and bio-analytical monitoring of process unitsTask 3: identify sensitive process parameters for removal efficiencyTask 4: determine possible limitation of current processesTask 5: testing and evaluating novel treatment optionsTask 6: Integration effects of novel treatment processes in process


South Caboolture Water Recycling Plant

High water quality standard: A+


South Caboolture Water Recycling PlantMicrobial tests carried out over an extended

period showed minor pathogen risk

Each single step of the overall treatment train will be evaluated:

• chemical analysis: EDCs, PPCPs, pesticides.

• bioassays: toxicity, carcinogenicity, endrogenocity,…

Risk assessment => is there a need for further treatment to achieve PRW quality?


Additional or alternative technologies

Biological DOC removal: water filtration trough a media (GAC) supporting micro-organisms capable of degrading organics(separate project with CRC Water Quality & Treatment)

Membrane distillation: water purification via transportation of vapour through a membrane (project work with CSIRO)


Biological DOC Removal

Ongoing research project at Caboolture (to mid 08)

Results to date indicate that biological GAC leads to 4-6 mg/L removal of DOC from WWTP effluent with 1-4 h of contact time

May not be suitable for large plants but could be a simple and reliable treatment for small to medium size application

Efficiency in removing chemicals of concern must be assessed

Membrane Distillation (Dr Manh Hoang, CSIRO)

Features:•Thermally driven process

•Only vapour molecules transport through hydrophobic membranes

Advantages:•Feed water does not require extensive pretreatment

•Low operating pressures

•Simplicity

•Better process safety

•Operated for a wide range of salinity

Membrane Distillation for water recycling

Project tasks

• Test feed water from Caboolture and other small scale tmt processes

• Determine maximal water recovery from such feeds

• Demonstrate operation in small pilot-scale unit

• Evaluate costs and operating conditions for water recycling


Enhanced Treatment Project

Evaluate possible alternatives to MF-RO membrane processes for PRW production

Determine current treatment performance and need for enhanced process options/additions

Test additional process steps for performance improvement

Focus on treatment for small-medium scale applications without (large) concentrate generation


Determination of NDMA potential and possible precursor sources

Prof Jürg KellerAdvanced Water Management Centre

University of Queensland


NDMA effects

Genotoxic: gene and chromosomal mutation, DNA damageMutagenic metabolitesCarcinogenic:• esophagus, liver, urinary bladder, brain, and

lungs• optimal conditions for carcinogenicity involve low-

dose exposure over long periods of time

N-Nitrosodimethylamine: (CH3)2N-N=O


NDMA source and occurrence in watersNDMA may be a disinfection by-product from:

• Chloramination (main source)• Chlorination• Ozonation

NDMA concentration in waters:• In drinking water: in the 10ng/L range• In disinfected wastewater: in the 100ng/L range


NDMA precursors and formationDimethylamine (DMA):• known precursor• present in wastewaters• can not account for the total formation of NDMA

Other N-compounds suspected:• Tertiary amines containing DMA moieties• Nitrogen-containing coagulants• Ammonia

Mechanism of NDMA formation: unknown


NDMA level control

Prevention of NDMA formation: removal of precursors prior to disinfection• Reverse osmosis removes most/all precursors• Biological treatment remove mainly DMA

Degradation of NDMA:• UV photolysis (UV lamps and sunlight)• Oxidation


NDMA challenges

Mechanism

Formationpotential

Prevention Degradation

Precursors


Scope of the project

Establish a NDMA formation potential (FP) method

Identify source streams and operating conditions with increased NDMA FP

Characterise critical component groups correlated with a NDMA FP increase


NDMA formation potential methodCareful reaction, sampling and measurement method

NDMA analysis by QHSS

Close collaboration with EnTox and QHSS

Further support by Prof David Sedlak (UC Berkeley)


Conditions influencing NDMA FP

Measurement of NDMA FP in water recycling plants in SEQ

Correlation between wastewater treatment plant performances and NDMA FP (?)

Need for further treatments (?)


Precursor identification

Major challenge

Technique: Excitation-Emission-Matrix method & detailed LC-MS3 analysis

Would help to develop targeted treatment steps to minimise NDMA formation

Urban Water Security Research Alliance …...2008/03/11 · SEQ Urban Water Security Research...

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Transcript of Urban Water Security Research Alliance …...2008/03/11 · SEQ Urban Water Security Research...